DR News
The 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published on 29 January 2019, by Transparency International shows the Dominican Republic improved one point, moving from 29 to 30 in the ranking. The DR is in 129th position and is listed 23rd of 31 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This places the country in the bottom third of the most corrupt, well below the average score that is only 43. In the Americas, the DR only ranked higher than Bolivia, Honduras, Paraguay, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela.
The overall conclusions of the report are not good. Overall the CPI 2018 shows anti-corruption efforts have stalled in most countries. The 2018 CPI draws on 13 surveys and expert assessments to measure public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, giving each a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). More than two-thirds of countries score below 50, with the average score of only 43.
Transparency International explains that the cross analysis with global democracy data reveals a link between corruption and the health of democracies. Full democracies score an average of 75 on the CPI; flawed democracies score an average of 49; hybrid regimes – which show elements of autocratic tendencies – score 35; autocratic regimes perform worst, with an average score of just 30 on the CPI.
Source: DR1, Transparency
Feb 4, 2019
The Customs’ Agency (DGA) has begun the process of the Unique Customs Registration (RUA) for all of those who use courier services in the Dominican Republic. The DGA explains the system is implemented as a tool to safeguard the rights of users and speed up online goods imports, says the agency.
The system seeks to differentiate those who use the US$200 tax exemption authorized for online purchases for commercial reasons and those who are purchasing for themselves.
RUA was set up in February 2018 and means that the user has to complete their information on the DGA website and state what purpose the goods are for, commercial use, personal use or for someone in the family.
Since Monday 28 January there is a six-month timeframe for users to register and if not done by 28 July 2019, their goods will be retained until they have completed the process.
The DGA has said that the RUA is not necessary for those using international express transport companies.
The RUA can be found at:
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/de-inter%…istro-courier/
Source: DR1, Aduanas
Feb 4, 2019
With an unknown amount of money, central government via the National Housing Institute (INVI) has begun the construction of a housing project to benefit 100 families in Puerto Plata. The location is on former sugar cane land in Villa Esperanza, Puerto Plata on the road to Sosua from Puerto Plata city.
Seventeen 3-floor buildings with 100 apartments of 65 square meters will be built, according to INVI director, Mayobanex Escoto. Escoto said the construction is part of the government plan to build low cost housing in joint actions with the private sector to reduce the housing deficit.
He thanked the collaboration of the State Sugar Board (CEA) for the donation of the land to build the project which will be known as Villa Esperanza Montellano. He said that those interested in having an apartment should contact INVI to begin the application process.
At the ground-breaking ceremony were the Deputy Felix Castillo, director of the CEA, Pedro Mota; governor, Iván Rivera; mayors of the municipalities of Montellano and San Felipe de Puerto Plata, Héctor Rojas Padilla (Chino) and Walter Musa Meyreles, among other distinguished guests and officials.
In 2015, the media reported on the construction of 250 single home dwellings for undocumented Haitians in Villa Esperanza by the Canadian organization, Fundacion El Samaritano.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Feb 4, 2019
Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo, who heads the 911 National System of Attention to Emergencies and Safety 911, announced plans to expand the system to 10 new provinces and 38 municipalities in 2019. This would bring almost total coverage of the service nationwide.
He also announced that the People’s Republic of China had donated 40 fire trucks that would begin to arrive next week and are part of agreements signed during President Danilo Medina’s visit to Beijing in November 2019.
He also presented a plan drawn up by the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office with a strategy to fight the irregular activation of cell phones.
The meeting was held at the 911 Head Office and included Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez; Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance, Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas; National Police director, Ney Aldrin Bautista; the president of Indotel, among others.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Feb 4, 2019
PUERTO PLATA.- With a millionaire investment, the reconstruction of the 92 kilometers of the coastal highway, which connects Puerto Plata, Espaillat and María Trinidad Sánchez, will be undertaken.
It was learned that the initiative of the central government will be implemented, despite the fact that the road adaptation on the battered Puerto Plata-Navarrete highway has not yet been completed, a work that has been in progress for more than five years “at a turtle pace”.
The information was confirmed on Friday afternoon by journalist and lawyer Hugo Gómez Guzmán, who is the assistant in this jurisdiction of the Minister of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), Gonzalo Castillo Terrero.
“In compliance with the instructions of President Danilo Medina, the Ministry of Public Works under the direction of Mr. Gonzalo Castillo, will begin work on the construction of the Nagua-Puerto Plata highway in the coming days,” said Gómez Guzmán.
It is recalled that the reconstruction of this road was promised by government officials days before Holy Week last year, but as always nothing was done, so this new announcement has been taken with much care and concern by the population.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Feb 4, 2019
PUERTO PLATA. – With a large attendance of public among those dozens of foreign tourists, the first Sunday of Carnival Puerto Plata 2019 was a success on, showing great creativity tinged with color and joy, dedicated to the Lifestyle Group.
This festival organized by the Carnavalesque Union of Puerto Plata (UCAPPLATA), was characterized by the irradiation of the Taimáscaros tribes, groups of traditional Cojuelos devils, as well as numerous groups and individual characters.
The cultural and folkloric event held in the upper part of the Malecón near Long Beach, began with the entrance of the Carnival Queen; Alenny Victoria and King Momo; Nelson Mendoza, while a group of officials made the jury that evaluated each of the participating groups.
It is highlighted that the Carnival of Puerto Plata is characterized by being the only one in the country that every Sunday in February rewards the participating groups with cash and other incentives, which this year is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, in addition to the Casa Brugal and other private companies.
Also, the mayor Walter Musa accompanied by his wife Denisse Ricart de Musa, congratulated the president of the UCAPPLATA, Dr. Yanco Souffront, for making the carnival puertoplateño a multicultural reality with enough quality to compete nationally and internationally.
After the evaluation of the jury, the most outstanding troupes were “Los Soldaditos de Infancia”, “Venice seen at Carnival”, “El Barrendero” and Robalasgallinas “, awarded, in the same way the winner in the individual category were:” Guerra de dos Mundo “,” El Pavo came “and” El Brujo de comerió la niña “.
Financial incentives were also given to the Taimáscaros tribe “Manaya” and to the group of traditional Cojuelos devils “Los Machacones de Altamira”, closing the night with an artistic show by the Diomedes merengue band and the Mío group, in addition to the urban exponent Shadow Blow.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Feb 4, 2019
PUERTO PLATA. – A strong tremor was felt today in this province of Puerto Plata causing panic to dozens of citizens who were in homes, as well as public and private offices.
The earthquake that had a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale, was recorded exactly at 10:33 in the morning of Monday and caused “a run-in” in several places in this town.
According to the Seismological Institute of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), the epicenter of this earthquake was 94 kilometers deep, about 135 kilometers south-southeast of Punta Cana.
In this regard, due to a strong earthquake in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic, geologists urge the population to remain calm and prudent, since earth tremors are common in our island due to several tectonic faults.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Feb 4, 2019
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Sat 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
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Tel: 809 492 5202
Tel: 849 360 5842
Carretera km 1, Sosua
Across from Supermercado Pola
Dominican Republic
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PUERTO PLATA. – In an act held this Friday morning, officials of the Ministry of Culture delivered the certificate that accredits Puerto Plata as the province to which the Grand National Parade of Carnival 2019 will be dedicated.
To ponder the dedication, the Deputy Minister of Identity and Citizenship, Ediltrudis Pichardo (Edilí), said that they are very proud for the state portfolio to announce that the national carnival galas of this year are dedicated to Puerto Plata.
The official said that the choice of Puerto Plata is to highlight the contributions of this Atlantic town for being a community of rich traditional elements of our roots and where abundant creativity highlights the integral essences of Dominican folklore.
Pichardo explained that the great national parade that takes place every year in the Malecón de Santo Domingo, shows that the carnival is the summit expression of the popular culture of our country, since it brings together the works carried out by the carnival artists of all the national territory.
In the activity carried out in Casa de Cultura, the presence of other officials of the Ministry of Culture, such as the Deputy Minister of Decentralization and Territorial Reorganization, Juan Antonio Morales and the National Director of Carnival and Folklore, Reyes Moore, stands out.
Also, awards were given to the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Companies of the North Zone (ASHONORTE) and the Municipal Council of Puerto Plata, for their contributions to the carnival of this tourist resort located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Likewise, they were present at the ceremony where the dedication certificate of the National Carnival Parade was delivered to the province of Puerto Plata, the vice minister of Tourism, Julio Almonte Nina, the deputy Felix Castillo, the provincial director of Culture, Arsenio Díaz, the deputy mayor Marisol Almonte and councilor Rosa Dúncan Smith (Rochy).
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Jan 26, 2019
The persevering Mallens finally achieved their goal: a Dominican Professional Winter Baseball Championship for the Estrellas Orientales of San Pedro de Macorís. José Mallén, president and José Mallén Calac, general manager, together with Miguel Feris Chalas and Francisco Domínguez Brito received the BHD Leon trophy from the president of the Dominican Baseball League (Lidom), Vitelio Mejía after the 4-0 win over the Toros del Este at the La Romana Francisco Micheli Stadium. It was the first Estrellas pennant in 51 years.
The “green dream” happened at 11:57pm on 23 January 2019, thanks to general manager Fernando Tatis who dedicated the win to the loyal fans of the town of San Pedro de Macoris. Playing on the team was his son, Fernando Tatis Jr., who had an outstanding performance during the tournament.
José Sirí was named the Most Valuable Player of the series, the Estrellas won 5-1, in a series that could have gone to nine games. The 2018-2019 Dominican Professional Winter Baseball Championship was dedicated to Cooperstown immortal Vladimir Guerrero.
The Estrellas had not won a pennant since 14 February 1968, despite making it to the playoffs 17 times. This is the team’s third crown of champions. Their first team title was obtained in 1954 against the Tigres del Licey, then again in 1968 against the Leones del Escogido.
The Estrellas did a clean sweep of the 2018-2019 Dominican Professional Winter Baseball Championship. The team won the regular series (29-11), the round robin (11-7) and the playoffs (5-1).
The Estrellas now will represent the Dominican Republic at the Caribbean Series that is scheduled to take place 2-8 February 2019 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. The celebration of the Caribbean Series in Venezuela, nevertheless, is in doubt, given the worsening of the political crisis in that South American country. Juan Puello Herrera, Caribbean Baseball Commissioner, called for a telephone conference of the presidents of the regional leagues. Venezuela has not been able to finish its championship.
http://www.estrellasorientales.com.do/
Source: DR1, Eldia
Jan 26, 2019
