| The Dominican Sun |
| "Daily Dominican Republic News in English Since 2004" |
| Saturday, May 19th, 2012 |
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Hipolito`s first 100 days
Story Text & Photos © 2012 by DR1 May 19 2012 23:01PM
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DR1 - During an interview with Listin Diario, PRD Presidential candidate Hipolito Mejia Dominguez said that should he win, in his first 100 days in government he would concentrate on agriculture as a way to energize the economy, given his knowledge of the countryside.
As well as supporting agriculture, especially bean cultivation in San Juan de la Maguana, Mejia promised to start building 10,000 homes in each region, which he said would create 40,000 jobs for each 10,000 homes.
He acknowledged that his pledge to assign 4% of GDP to education as soon as he took office would have to wait until next year, while confirming that education was a priority, including repairing schools.
His plan states that 75% of children between the ages of two and five would receive pre-school education and 98% of children aged between six and 13, primary education. He would also build 2,500 classrooms for kindergarten and 12,775 for primary. The funds for the increase to 4% of GDP to be spent on education would come from a reduction in State bureaucracy.
Mejia said that another of his main tasks would be to improve health services and extend the social security system. He said that it needed to be integrated with the hospitals, which at present were an embarrassment.
He said that the police force needed to be increased, adding that a heavy-handed approach was not the only solution, and that people needed to feel safe, especially tourists.
A profile of Hipolito Mejia was also printed in Listin Diario.
Read original at DR1.
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DRSol Evening Weather Summary for May 21, 2013
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by The Dominican Sun May 21 2013 23:29PM
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 The Dominican Sun - Across the Dominican Republic in the last 24 hours the highest observed temperature by DRSol was 88 at Santiago. The coolest reading came from Las Americas with an overnight low of 70. A few spotty light to moderate showers and thunderstorms were reported, and rain is being observed right now as well at Punta Cana, Las Americas and La Isabella. Skies were generally partly cloudy. Winds are averaging 10 mph from the SE, with a peak gust to 23 mph seen at 2PM this afternoon at Samana. By the Numbers DR cities reported rain 8% of the time, and thunderstorms 3%. Average reported rainfall intensity on a scale of 0 to 100 was 40. Cloud cover totaled 49%. Click above to view summaries for the last week or last month. Last updated at 7:28PM. Read original at The Dominican Sun.
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Management “snubs“ labor as wage hike talks fizzle
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 21:29PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- The president of Dominican Republic’s federation of labor unions grouped in the CNUS on Tuesday said the business sector had “snubbed“ them when they were no-shows at the talks to negotiate a wage increase for the private sector.
Rafael -Pepe- Abreu said it’s pointless to hold the National Wage Committee meeting next Thursday if employers stick to their proposed hike of just 11 percent. “When the business leaders asked to recess the wage meeting they did so based on their pledge to hold an internal point-by-point meeting with us and we would then go to the National Wage Committee on Thursday. “
Today’s development is the second time labor and management have failed to strike an agreement to increase salaries, despite mediation by the National Wage Committee, which is scheduled to meet next Thursday.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Conference focuses on ecotourism as tourism’s new paradigm
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 21:29PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo. - Ecotourism as tourism’s new paradigm will be the focus of a conference hosted by the Environment Ministry and the Science Faculty of the Santo Domingo State University UASD.
Environment Ministry and South Korea ecotourism consultant Geraldo Yun will dictate the conference “Tourism Development and Lifestyle according to the paradigm of Ecotourism growth in the Dominican Republic, life styles and creating a better country to visit. “
Students and teachers from various careers will lean the perspective of green tourism development and the opportunity it offers to develop rural communities in and around protected areas.
The Environment Ministry Ecotourism Department’s conference aims to create awareness in future professionals on the best environment-friendly and sustainable practices.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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AES supplies energy at Central America and the Caribbean’s most competitive prices
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 20:59PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- The consolidated portfolio of energy generators that the power company AES manages offer the most competitive electricity prices in the local market as well as the Central America and Caribbean region.
This was revealed by Marco De la Rosa, during breakfast the Energy Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAMDR), explaining that “AES sells a kilowatt hour of electricity 26% lower than Dominican Republic’s hydroelectrics, 40 % below the average of other technologies in Central America and the Caribbean, and less than half the average price of other contracts and the local spot market.
De La Rosa attributed this competitive advantage to factors such as the technologies used by AES Dominicana’s power plants and the types of fuel, such as natural gas and coal, coupled with an efficient administrative management taking advantage of economies of scale made possible by being part of a global company such as AES Corporation.
“We reaffirm AES’ long term commitment with the country to continue contributing to the development of the Dominican energy sector and improve the quality of life of the communities where we operate, in line with our corporate mission,“ noted De La Rosa during the activity.
In that aspect he affirmed that it’s very positive that the CDEEE has within its strategic plan to expand electricity production based on coal with the expansion of the Itabo III unit, utilizing the existing platform, which would add 300 megawatts to the National Interconnected Electric System (SENI), which “ will undoubtedly result in savings to the state coffers through a significant reduction in the electricity sector’s financial deficit which is covered with central government funds. “
He said the energy base’s continued diversification, reduced dependence on oil, with bolstered and expanded high voltage grids and refurbished power lines, installation of meters and continuously more efficient technical management and commercial sector distribution systems, are the main challenges facing the electric power sector in the short and medium term.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Cross-border reforestation helps both Hispaniola nations
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 16:59PM
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 Dominican Today -
Dajabon, Dominican Republic- The Environment Ministry, other government agencies and private organizations on Sunday began a cross-border reforestation program along the line that divides Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Environment minister Bautista Rojas said it’s an initiative that will strongly impact both countries, with increased the forest cover in areas that have been devastated in recent decades, especially the Haiti side of Hispaniola.
“In fact the initiative that started on Sunday in Dajabón will contribute not only with regard to the vegetation, but preserve water sources and, therefore, improve the lives of people on both sides of the border,“ Rojas said.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Justice Minister’s statement on children of Haitians draws wide rebuke
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 16:59PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo- Justice minister Francisco Dominguez’s statement published in the media that children of Haitians born in Dominican Republic are Dominican has drawn quick rebuke, staring with Senate president Reinaldo Pared, who via Twitter said “it’s not true that those born to mothers who aren’t legal residents are Dominicans. “
Central Electoral Board (JCE) president Roberto Rosario also rejected Dominguez’s statement, noting that he suspects they were manipulated.
Pared also believes that Dominguez wouldn’t have made such a statement. “I don’t think my friend Dominguez would misinterpret the constitutional provision on nationality. “
“The children born in the country of Haitian mothers are as Dominicans as they come,“ Dominguez was quoted as saying.
Prominent attorney Vinicio Castillo Seman also rebuked the statement, and criticized the official for staging a confrontation with the Immigration Agency.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Orb the favorite in Preakness with Dominican jockey
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 16:30PM
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 Dominican Today -
Baltimore, Maryland, US. – Joel Rosario, the leading jockey in the United States and the first Dominican ever to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby horse race two weeks ago, is favorite Saturday in the Preakness Horse race in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Santo Domingo born jockey will once again ride Orb unbeaten in his last Five starts in the second race that make ups horse racings Triple Cown.
The Triple Crown consists of three major horse races annually run during the months of may and june in the United States, The Kentucly Derby, The Preakness and the final race in New York, the Belmont Stakes.
Odds makers have 3 year Orb favorite Saturday. The last time one horse won all three races was 35 years ago.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Justice minister´s initiative minimized by some sectors
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 16:29PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo. – Justice minister Francisco Dominguez Brito regretted yesterday that his initiative to fight against human traffickers and those who pay for sex, is minimized by some sectors. Dominguez said his proposal can not be considered as simple, because it is a struggle aimed at fighting “major international trafficking rings for sexual purposes operating here illegally, and they also recruit minors. “ According to the also Attorney General, prostitution has long been practiced openly in much of the Dominican
Republic but the trafficking of people for the sex trade has become so widespread that the government
believes it must now impose controls on the industry. “We are talking in many cases about young girls who are semi-enslaved,“ he pointed out and added that added that the government will work in programs for prostitution prevention and social reintegration of these women.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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President Medina, Electoral Board chief mull funding crunch
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 16:29PM
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 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo. – A Central Electoral Board (JCE) committee, led by its president Roberto Rosario, met with president Danilo Medina on Friday to discuss the agency’s financial woes, a concern that local media have reported in the last few days.
After the meeting, Rosario Marquez said the encounter was requested by the JCE last week, and “answered promptly by President Medina, who received him and talked a lot. “
In addition to the JCE president, the committee included Cesar F. Feliz, coordinator of the Electoral Board Budget Committee; financial director Diomedes Ogando; Secretary General Hilario Espiñeira, and Communications director, Felix Reyna.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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Medina says he’ll boost tourism, agro in poor regions
Story Text & Photos © 2013 by Dominican Today May 21 2013 16:29PM
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 Dominican Today -
Pedernales, Dominican Republic- President Danilo Medina on Sunday affirmed that despite having shown an interest in developing the southwest region’s tourism, when the Bahia de las Aguilas land title conflict arose, “I didn’t see any one who have titles come to defend themselves. “
“You know that I gave a clear demonstration that I want to develop tourism in the region, but the boycott surged from some sectors of Dominican society with the problem of land titles and I didn’t see anyone of those title-holders coming to defend themselves,“ Medina said during a tour Pedernales, Bahoruco and Monseñor Noel provinces.
Speaking to hundreds of citizens who demand the development of their poverty-ravaged province, the chief executive also pledged RD$80. 0 million in funding for agriculture.
In nearby Neiba meanwhile, the head of state said new varieties of disease-resistant coffee varieties will be imported from Brazil, to help nursery cooperatives plant 1. 5 million seedlings.
Medina’s announcements came during a surprise visits with just a handful of officials, where he announced small-scale public works and vowed support for the national wine industry, headquartered in Neiba.
Read original at Dominican Today.
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