DR News
The National Police have yet to produce any results in relation to the fatal shooting of two Canadian citizens in the town of Sosua, in the province of Puerto Plata on the north coast. Neither the Police nor the judiciary has offered any possible causes for the crimes that took the lives of Mike DiBattista, 43, and Jason McGuire, also 43. DiBattista was shot 12 times as he was driving his vehicle. According to the Diario Libre, he was wanted on federal warrants for international drug trafficking and lived in the residential area of Lomas del Sol in Sosua. McGuire was shot once in the head inside his apartment in La Mulata II. Although several people have been interrogated, there have been no arrests.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
May 9, 2019
There are contradictory results in the Mark Penn-Noticias SIN poll recently released. The poll was carried out 14 to 17 April 2019 poll. Some 1,007 eligible voters were polled. The survey has a 3.1% margin of error.
To the question: “How satisfied is the country with the government of Danilo Medina?” The poll revealed that 60% gave Medina a satisfactory grade, while 38% answered unsatisfactory. 2% were undecided. This compares to responses of 59%-41% in August 2018, 69%-28% in October 2017, and 82%-16% in April 2016.
Yet, to the question: “Do you believe that the Dominican Republic is on the right or wrong path?” 60% said the country is headed in the right direction, and 35% in the wrong direction.
To the question: “Do you think the main problems of the country will improve?” 47% expect they will improve a lot, but 47% said they believe they will not improve much or anything at all. 6% were undecided. Of those who identified themselves as voting for the ruling PLD party, 63% were optimistic there would be improvements; 53% among those for the opposition party PRM; 51% for independent political parties. 48% of the ruling PLD voters say that there now is more corruption, whereas 88% of the PRM voters gave this answer.
To the question: “For many years the Dominican economy has been growing. Who do you think is benefiting from this growth?” 52% of those polled believe it is the government.
To the question: “Do you believe there is more corruption in the Medina government, or more or less the same corruption as in past years?” 62% said there is more corruption, while 18% said there is less corruption, 16% say the same, and 4% were undecided.
According to the poll, 34% say the growing economy only benefits the government, 18% say it benefits politicians. Men are more optimistic than women. 59% of men feel there is more corruption now than in previous governments, versus to 65% of the women polled.
Source: DR1, Noticiassin
May 5, 2019
The Dominican Medical Guild (CMD), National Council of Specialized Medical Societies (Conasomep) and the National Association of Clinics and Hospitals (Andeclip) are not accepting ARS Humano medical plans as of Wednesday, 1 May 2019. This affects around 1.5 million participants. ARS Humano is the largest medical plan insurance company in the Dominican Republic.
The boycott of the service went into effect despite the announcement by Labor Minister Winston Santos and Superintendence of Health and Labor Risks (Sisaslril) head Pedro Luis Castellanos that ARS Humano had agreed to comply with the 31 May 2017 agreements signed with the medical representatives. The medical organizations are demanding the agreements of 2017 be met, including increases in fees and tariffs, start of primary care plan with the subsidized regime, and the free election of service by the patients, among other points.
The president of the CMD, Wilson Roa, told the press that after a meeting with Labor Minister Winston Santos and representatives of the ADARS, an agreement was not reached, each only presented proposals. Roa complained that the ARS continues to set aside only RD$262 per consultation for many physicians.
Former CMD president Waldo Suero said the government will not amend the Social Security Law so as to not confront big business. He said this is despite the fact that the Executive Branch sent to Congress an amendment to Law 87-01 on Social Security. He said if Medina really wanted to change the law he would meet with the Political Committee to agree on the changes and order these changes be drafted by majority PLD legislators, just as he did when he wanted to be reelected. “He is not going to do it because it is not politically convenient,” he said. He said the Social Security Law 87-01 was drafted to benefit big business and bankers and that the social security system in the Dominican Republic has collapsed.
Meanwhile, the general manager of the National Social Security Council (CNSS), Rafael Perez Modesto, disputed a recent public statement by the Dominican Association of Health Risk Administrators (ADARS), the association that groups medical plan administrators. ADARS had said that the claims made by the medics and clinics are decided by CNSS. CNSS says that they have no contractual or financial relationship with the providers. “The role of the CNSS is to draft the policies and norms of the Dominican Social Security System,” he stated. He explained that the way the system works is that the physicians and other health service providers sign contracts with the Health Risk Administrators (ARS), who in turn are regulated and supervised by Sisalril. Perez Modesto said that the Sisalril is the competent government organization to resolve the impasse between the ARS the medical groups.
ARS Humano said plan members that are affected can call their call center 24/7 at 809 476-3535 in Santo Domingo and 1 809 200-4903 outside Greater Santo Domingo.
Source: DR1, Elcaribe
May 5, 2019
The Dominican Armada stopped an illegal journey to Puerto Rico run by a man condemned to 15 years in jail for the death of 57 people on board a boat that sank off Samaná in December 2012. Víctor Hernández Rosario, better known as Berto, was freed from jail having served half of his sentence. However last Sunday, 28 April 2019, the Navy stopped another illegal journey to Puerto Rico organized by Berto that left from Las Coles in Samaná.
In January 2019 another illegal journey run by Berto was also registered. Berto is now being sought across the country, but specifically in the northeast. The Navy Commander General has asked Víctor Hernández Rosario (Berto) to give himself up.
Source: DR1, Hoy
May 5, 2019
A Ukrainian tourist was fatally injured by a boat propeller while diving off the beach in Bayahibe in front of the Dominican Army barracks.
Oleksil Kushnir, age 28, was underwater when the boat drove on top of him, causing multiple cuts in his skull, neck and upper limbs. According to a medical examiner, Pamela Santana, he died of blood loss.
Kushnir had arrived at Punta Cana airport on 22 April 2019 with his wife. They were due to leave on 2 May and were staying at a Punta Cana resort. The authorities have arrested the captain of the boat.
Source: DR1, Listindiario
May 5, 2019
The Ministry of Hacienda announced the signing of the US$90 million loan with the InterAmerican Development Bank for the second phase of Santo Domingo’s Colonial City urban renewal project. The loan still requires congressional approval prior to its implementation.
The Ministry of Hacienda said that the works will be implemented by the Ministry of Tourism with the technical support of the National District City Government (ADN) and the Ministry of Culture. The first phase was the exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism.
The US$90 million project contemplates US$49 million will be invested in improvements to public spaces and historic monuments, such as the San Francisco Monastery, the Columbus Alcazar, the Royal Houses Museum (Museo de Casas Reales), the Fortaleza de Santo Domingo and the Santo Domingo Cathedral museum, among others. The loan will also be used to improve parking and lighting in the Colonial City.
A first US$30 million loan has been implemented with works completed in the core area known as the Ciudad Ovandina. The works were completed in 2017. Miguel Coronado, local representative of the IDB said that the first phase resulted in an increase in visitors of around 67% from 410,000 in 2010 to 682,000 in 2017. Hotel occupancy increased from 55% in 2014 to 74% in 2016. Tourist spending is up from US$88 in 2017 to US$138 in 2019. The improvements in the area resulted in around US$100 million in business investments and an increase in cruise ship arrivals.
Source: DR1, Hacienda
May 5, 2019
The Dominican Medical Guild (CMD) together with the Board of the Specialized Medical Societies (Conasomep) and the National Association of Private Clinics (Andeclip) have announced the suspension of consultations and elective procedures for those patients holding ARS Humano medical insurance. There has been no announcement as to the length of time this suspension will last. The boycott is to start on Wednesday, 1 May 2019 when only emergencies and those patients in intensive care will be able to claim under their insurance with Humano.
The announcement comes as the organizations say they will step up actions in favor of increases in the fees and tariffs for their services. The intention is to extend the boycott to the other around 20 medical insurance providers authorized in the Dominican Republic. CMD president Wilson Roa said that the physicians cannot take it anymore and that according to the CMD regulations they had no choice but to take corrective and disciplinary measures. Roa says that the ARS Humano has not complied with agreements that had been signed in 2017, as reported by Diario Libre.
ARS Humano is the country’s leading private medical insurance plan with around 33% of the medical insurance plan market, serving around 2.5 million people.
The other leading medical plans are Palic Salud, Universal and the governmental Senasa that covers those on the subsidized regime.
The Colegio Médico Dominicano, Consejo de Sociedades Médicas Especilizadas and the Asociación de Clínicas y Hospitales Privados say medical services fees have stagnated despite Social Security Law 87-01 ordering revisions every three years. Adjustments have mostly affected the difference patients pay that can range from RD$250 to RD$1,100 depending on the clinic and the plan. In most cases, the difference is more than they are paid by the medical plan companies.
The medical organizations also demand that patients maintain free choice in medical services, and that primary care begin with the subsidized regime. The insurance scheme has proven to be highly profitable for the medical plan operators. ARS Humano recently inaugurated a large office building on Av.. John F. Kennedy.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
May 5, 2019
The Dominican government has rejected a recent ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (known by its Spanish acronym, CIDH) against it, arguing that the Dominican Republic is a sovereign nation responsible for its own immigration policies. CIDH issued a resolution on 13 March 2019 annulling Dominican Constitutional Court ruling TC256-14, which rejected the authority of the CIDH in its 2005 and 2014 rulings against the DR for violating the rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent to national citizenship and ordering reparation measures.
The latest CIDH ruling, published on 23 April 2019, says the Dominican Republic still must comply with its prior rulings in line with its obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights, which the DR is a party to.
Flavio Darío Espinal, the legal advisor to President Danilo Medina and a former Dominican ambassador to the United States and to the Organization of American States (OAS), asserted that ruling TC256-14 is definitive, citing Article 184 of the Constitution that states that the Constitutional Court’s decisions are final and irrevocable and constitute binding precedents for the branches of government and all state agencies.
Speaking in a press briefing at the Presidential Palace, Espinal stated:
“Contrary to what is stated by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Dominican legal system does not generate statelessness. The Dominican state has provided itself with a normative base, both at the constitutional and legal level that responds to the different situations that may arise in the country regarding nationality. This has been recognized by other international organizations and agencies, as well as by different national and international players that follow up this issue.
“The Dominican government reiterates that regulation of how nationality is defined is a sovereign and inalienable attribute of the Dominican state, which objectively and impartially applies its constitutional and legal provisions on this matter.”
Source: DR1, Elcaribe
May 5, 2019
From Saturday 27 April, drivers who are in vehicles with bald tires will be fined by agents from the Ground Transit and Transport Agency (Digesett) and can be fined between one and 10 minimum salaries and their vehicles could be confiscated.
The measure is in compliance with resolution 002-209 of the National Institute of Ground Transit and Transport (Intrant) issued on 25 February 2019 that gave drivers 60 days to ensure their tires are in good condition. The timeframe has now ended.
Tires now need to be inflated to the correct pressure. A minimum of 1.6 millimeters of tread for light vehicles and 2.5 millimeters for heavy vehicles has been set. Other requirements are that there should not be any deformities of the tires, no protuberances and the tires should not be more than four years old.
Intrant spokesman, Viviano de León, said that the Digesett agents had been trained and have the correct equipment for checking the tires.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
May 5, 2019
According to research carried out by the Global Peace Index (GPI), the Dominican Republic is third on the list for people who do not feel safe walking outside at night. The country with the highest percentage of insecurity for walking at night was Venezuela, with 88 %; followed by El Salvador, with 72 % In the Dominican Republic, some 67 % of Dominicans do not feel safe walking in their neighborhoods at night.
In the same list, the DR is followed by Liberia (65 %), Brazil (64 %), Afghanistan (64 %), South Africa (63 %), Botswana (62 %) and Mauritania (61 %).
Looking at other indicators of the GPI, the highest increases registered in the country where the rate of homicides with a 4.7-point increase, perception of crime with a 4-point increase and domestic violence increase by three points.
Source: DR1, CDN
Apr 28, 2019
