AUGUST 2009

Largest commercial mall in Dominican Republic to open in December

The Blue Mall

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The largest commercial mall in the Dominican Republic, the Blue Mall, is due to open in December or the first quarter of 2010, company executives announced.

Luis Emilio Velutini and Michele De Prisco, spokespersons for the Blue Mall, also said a first phase of the office and commercial building is nearing completion, whereas the stores with lease contracts were delivered their space.

Blue Mall, on the corner of Gustavo Mejia Ricart and Winston Churchill avenues in Santo Domingo, involves a US $100 million investment and will have 180 stores located on six levels.

The project, which also has a nine-floor office tower and more than 1,200 parking spaces, mostly underground, fulfills the highest standards of commercial malls worldwide, said the executives.

Dominican Today, 03.08.09

Roberto Salcedo wants to be reelected

He says that he has a 75% approval rating in the National District

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- The mayor of the National District, Roberto Salcedo, admitted yesterday that he will seek reelection to the post for the next period, 2010-2016.

I think that at the proper moment we will officially present our candidacy, because there is certainly an attitude on our part to continue at the head of the city of Santo Domingo, until we at least get a little progress on the Strategic Development Plan » he told the Diario Libre when he was asked if he would run again.

The Strategic Development Plan of the National District is looking at 2015. The mayor said the he is willing to submit his candidacy to the PLD party base, which, according to him has 75% of the popular vote in the National District.

Diario Libre, 04.08.09

Debate continues on Constitutional Chamber

Most favor the new jurisdiction

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- The creation of a constitutional jurisdiction that would substitute the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) in its attributes on deciding constitutional issues continues to be a major item of discussion among lawyers.

For those opposed to the chamber or constitutional tribunal, the new entity would only come to charge the State with an expense that cannot be justified given the small number of cases in constitutional issues that arrive at the Supreme Court.

Jurist Julio Cury defends, moreover, the independence with which the full court of the SCJ handles things, and he questions that the proposal wants to reduce the number of judges in favor of a motion to 4 when in the actuality a decision requires a majority of 9 judges of the high court.

Nevertheless, for the executive director of the Institutionalism and Justice Foundation, Servio Tulio Castaños Guzman, far from losing independence, the creation of a specialized constitutional court would guarantee the fulfillment of all of the principles established in the new Constitution and strengthen the country’s institutions.

Also, the rector of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) Franklin Garcia Fermin, said he felt that the creation of the new tribunal cannot be conditioned to the number of cases it receives, but rather to the need to have judges that attend these cases and he added that the SCJ does not give quick and opportune answers to cases of unconstitutionality that arrive at the Supreme Court.

Isabel Bonilla, a deputy and member of the commission that studied the proposal for the National Revisory Assembly, said that in spite of the fact that the report from the commission indicated that constitutional control should remain in the jurisdiction of the full body of the Supreme Court of Justice, the issue will be pending for the country.
She said that the report, since it was a majority decision, but that she, in her own case, favors the creation of the chamber, because it would give real independence to the three powers of the state.

Diario Libre, 05.08.09

Duarte Bridge closed at night

For five days

BREAKING NEWS : SANTO DOMINGO.- The Ministry of Public Works announced it would be closing Duarte Bridge to traffic for five days from10pm to 6am to carry out maintenance on the expansion joints of the bridge over the Ozama River.

The Ministry says the pavement will be repaired, drains cleaned, and lights replaced. The evening closures will last until this Sunday.

The Ministry also reports it is closing the stretch of Luperon Avenue that goes under the overpass at Kilometer 9 of the Duarte Highway. This closure will begin at 8pm and is to facilitate repaving of the stretch.

The roadway was damaged by problems in the sewer pipes that run under the road, and this situation was also corrected.

DR1, 06.08.09

The UASD submits its report

To the Higher Education

BREAKING NEWS: The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) gave this Friday to the Secretariat of State of Higher Education Science and Technology (SEESCYT) the Five-Year Auto-Evaluation report.

The rector of the UASD, Franklin García Fermín and the Autostudy and Institutional Evaluation Commission (CAEI), delivered the Five-Year report (2004-2008) to the holder of the SEESCYT, Ligia Amada Mello de Cardona.

Mello de Cardona said that with this handing-over, there were already 22 universities which had delivered their reports and that it was hoped that as from November, the external evaluations will be terminated and the general report published.

The document contains the evaluation of some 228 standards and a whole of aspects and indicators systems established and worked out by the SEESCYT.

The report was worked out by the technical commission of the UASD, directed by Professor Juan Francisco Vitoria and supervised by inspectors of the SEESCYT.

Santo Domingo Live, 07.08.09

Government’s Strategic Plan of Communication

Evaluation of the first year

BREAKING NEWS: The Management of Information, Press and Publicity of the Presidency carried out this Saturday the Evaluation Workshop of the First Year of Execution of the Governmental Communication Strategic Plan.

This activity, in addition to evaluate the communication strategies, was the time to define the needs for new activities of governmental communication, in support for the initiatives of the government which President Leonel Fernández directs.

Rafael Núñez, director of Information, Press and Publicity of the Presidency of the Republic, who was in charge of the opening of the workshop, underlined the role of the communication in the Administration of president Fernández.

He identified the achievements and the objectives realized until now and the projected initiatives of communication which will be applied in the future.

On her side, the consultant in communication, Ángela de Leon, presented the objectives, strategies and action lines of the Strategic Plan of Governmental Communication for the next year.

For his part, Roberto Monclus, sub-manager of the press of the Presidency and coordinator of the Cabinets of Communication, made a short description of the latter, of their reason to be, of their structure, tasks and advances.

More than one hundred of communicators, people of public relations who work in Sate institutions discussed the entire day on various aspects related to the Government relations and media.

Santo Domingo Live, 10.08.09

Signature of a convention between the UASD and CONANI

Working plan

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- The National Council for the Childhood and the Adolescence (CONANI), and the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), signed a collaboration agreement through which the two organizations recognize the need to institute and to consolidate national and regional systems of information by providing data on the situation of the childhood and the adolescence in order to facilitate decision making, to define and evaluate policies and to inform the society.

The CONANI, represented by its Executive President and Secretary of State, Kirsys Fernández, is the organization which has as a function to guarantee protection mechanisms for the children and teenagers threatened or forced in their rights within the administrative and jurisdictional framework.

While the UASD is represented by its rector Doctor Franklin García Fermín.

The two institutions will develop a working plan for the practice of the students of the Social Work career, which will be carried out with the CONANI, in the four actions areas of the institution which are: multidisciplinary teams in the courts and the public ministries; refuges, centers of integration for the children and offices of legal consultations.

The development of the practice will be a process of mutual training between the CONANI and the UASD, which is the institution which trains these students.

The key to success will be the permanent balance between the training of the students and the needs of CONANI, in an atmosphere of continuous communication.

This to guarantee the setting up of the academic conditions of the study plan for the career of the social workers, which requires for their international accreditation nine hundred work hours achievement, in public and private organizations of the social sector.

Santo Domingo Live, 11.08.09

Talk of changes in Dominican Government posts spreads

To appease a society which wants heads to roll

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- A tense feeling grows among Government, military and police officials, who face the possibility that president Leonel Fernandez will carry out changes in the Administration, true to tradition by heads of State on the national holidays February 27 and August 16, and to appease a society which wants heads to roll.

A mix of lobbying, nerves, expectancy and visits to the National Palace is the norm among civilian officials, just four daysfrom the first anniversary of Fernandez’s current term, whereas the senior military feel more at ease since their statutory law guarantees two years in the post.

But the National Police is another story, because its current leadership has two years in their posts and await imminent changes.

In the hallways of Police Headquarters the comments center on that it’s chief Rafael Guzmán, may be assigned to a diplomatic post in Chile, home to his wife, Patricia Chomali.

The talk among journalists who cover the National Palace is that the changes will include the minister of Public Works Victor Diaz and of Public Health, Bautista Rojas; the head of the State-owned electrical companies CDEEE Radhamés Segura, and the State Works Supervisory Office director, Felix Bautista.

In the Armed Forces Ministry meanwhile, several vice ministers and other senior posts are expected to be placed on retirement based on age.

Dominican Today, 12.08.09

President announces war on drug sales

He promises to wipe out 19,000 sales points in the country

BREAKING NEWS: Standing in front of hundreds of young people from all over the country, President Leonel Fernandez announced that he would begin a war front against the micro-trafficking of drugs.

The goal will be the dismantlement of all of the sales points that exist in the communities and poor barrios in the country.

Recently, the head of the National Department for Drug Control (DNCD) pinpointed 19,000 of the micro-positions for distributing drugs nationwide, a number that the nation’s leader considers to be unacceptable.

In the face of this situation, Fernandez suggested that the DNCD director create a map that identifies all of the sales points, and the creation of an aggressive policy which will include all of the state security organizations.

And if these points are recycled we will have to see if there is complicity in the state’s security institutions, because what could be happening is that there really are agents that are receiving benefits from this operation and that are not fulfilling the duty that they should, expressed Fernandez.

He also promised to create opportunities for the youth of the different social sectors of the country with the idea that they have a chance to better themselves. And it so happens that for the President the existence of the micro-traffic is the principle threat to Dominican youth.

Diario Libre, 13.08.09

Inauguration of the first Reference Laboratory of Quality of Water

Sanitary policies

BREAKING NEWS: In the presence of the President of the Republic, Leonel Fernández, the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewers INAPA inaugurated the first Reference Laboratory of Quality of Water, as well as the restoration of other infrastructures of the institution, which includes the central seat, for costs higher to 54 million pesos.

This work belongs to the achievements of the current management of INAPA for the period 2008-2009, jointly with the construction of systems of drinkable water provision, as well as with sanitary solutions and sewers in all the country, at a cost of almost 6 billion pesos.

Engineer Mariano Germán, executive director of INAPA, made the central speech of the ceremony and highlighted the commitment of the Government of Leonel Fernández and his management to improve quality of life of people, through an adequate drinking water supply and by the means of sanitary policies, in agreement with the international standards.

Germán thanked for its collaboration the Spanish government, through the Technical Cooperation Agency, of which the executives were present as the ambassador of Spain, Diego Bermejo, who also made a short speech, in which he underlined with enthusiasm the construction and equipment of the National Reference Laboratory of Quality of Water.

The new inaugurated building is composed of two levels, where one will find the offices of the INAPA Commercial Sub directorate and the famous reference laboratory, unique in the country, equipped with the most modern and advanced technologies to bring to a successful conclusion processes of water collecting, analysis and diagnoses, which will allow to establish with exactitude the levels of drinkability of the liquid which is consumed.

Jointly with the construction and the equipment of the laboratory, INAPA inaugurates the reorganization and the extension of its stores and workshops, located at kilometer 18 of the Duarte highway; as well as the restoration of its central seat and the actuation of a technological platform.

The total of the investment for the realization of this work is of 54 million 407 thousand pesos.

Santo Domingo Live, 14.08.09

Leonel Fernandez makes changes

New appointments are expected in the next few hours

BREAKING NEWS : SANTO DOMINGO.- President Leonel Fernandez designated yesterday businessman Celso Marranzini as the new executive vice-president of the Dominican Corporation of State-owned Electrical Enterprises (CDEEE) in substitution of Radhames Segura. Segura was appointed Presidential advisor on energy issues as part of the shake up in the cabinet.

The disposition is contained in Decree 599-09 in which Frank Rodriguez, the former director of the Dominican Agrarian Institute, was named the director of the National Institute for Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI). Hector Rodriguez Pimentel was appointed in the Agrarian Institute.

Another entity in which the nation’s leader made some changes was the National Lottery, where Enrique Martinez was appointed director, Jose Francisco Peña Guaba was appointed executive director of the Dominican Port Authority, and Sigfrido Pared Perez was appointed to head up the Immigration Department. Jose Anibal Sanz Jiminian, the former head of Immigration was not assigned to a new post.

Another official that was dismissed was the head of the Airport Authority, Andres Vanderhorst, who was replaced by Aristides Fernandez Zucco who had been the president of the National Energy Commission. Enrique Ramirez was named to that post.

Likewise, the presidential order places Marino Vinicio Castillo as the new president of the Governing Council of the National Commission on Ethics and for Fighting Corruption, in substitution of Jose Joaquin Bido Medina who was appointed a presidential advisor on transparency policies.

In place of Enrique Martinez, who had headed the National Sugar Council (CEA), President Fernandez appointed Juan Francisco Matos Castaño.

The only change in the Foreign Service that was included in the decree was the substitution of the Dominican consul in New York, where Eduardo Selman was substituted by Rafael Evans.

At the same time, Ilse Mena was appointed Presidential advisor for Small and Medium Businesses and Emigdio Sosa was ratified in his post as the person in charge of the Presidential Social Plan.

Diario Libre, 17.08.09

Changes do not satisfy opposition

To re-launch the Government

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- The changes that Leonel Fernandez made in his cabinet do not seem to have satisfies the opposition parties. Above all, the Dominican Revolutionary Party which feels that the changes did not meet the expectations of the people.

For the PRD, Jose Leonel Cabrera (Neney) the spokesperson for the PRD bloc of deputies, and Cristian Paredes spoke out. To hear Cabrera tell it, the 16th of August should have been used by Fernandez to re-launch his government that at many instances looks tired, obsolete and disconnected with the social reality of the country.

The PRD deputy, Cristian Paredes criticized in particular, the designation of the new vice-president of the Dominican Corporation of State-owned electricity Enterprises (CDEEE), Celso Marranzini, because as he understands it, Mr. Marranzini’s administration will be based on the privatization of the sector.

In the meantime, Hatuey de Camps, the president of the Social Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRSD), expressed his feeling that things are not going to change with the new appointments, but rather the improvement will depend on the interest that President Fernandez has in changing the historic course that the country is taking.

Even though he greeted the designation of the new officials, he felt that these will only generate expectation which in the end will be frustrated, because nothing ever changes and everything stays the same. Regarding Marranzini, De Camps called him a good citizen and businessman, but he said that the energy issue requires a united effort to resolve it and not the will of one person.

Diario Libre, 18.08.09

Leonel Fernandez makes changes in the military, police

By Executive decree

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- President Leonel Fernandez yesterday appointed Police general Rolando Rosado the new president of the Drugs Control Agency (DNCD), replacing general Gilberto Delgado, who is now vice minister of the Armed Forces.

He also appointed Army general Francisco Gil director of the Border Security Corps (Cesfront), replacing general Santo Domingo Guerrero Clase.

The Head of State, by Executive decree also replaced six regional Police commanders, in the second day of changes in police and military echelons in the last few hours.

However the chief executive hasn’t made any changes in the senior heads of those institutions so far.

Dominican Today, 19.08.09

Dominican capital stiffens rules

To sell food on the street

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- The National District City Council and the Public Health Ministry will work together to regulate street vendors, to guarantee the quality of the food the population consumes.

Mayor Roberto Salcedo and Health minister Bautista Rojas said from now on all food vendors -whether fixed or mobile- must have Public Health’s sanitary permit and meet all requirements, and must undergo lab tests to uncover any disease and guarantee safety, before selling to the public.

They must also posses a good behavior document from the Police and will have to wear a uniform.

Salcedo said an ongoing census has registered around 2,500 vendors in public spaces so far, a figure he said constantly increases.

The officials said the meetings to orient the vendors have already begun, and warned that those who don’t meet the requirements won’t be able to utilize any public space, which will be organized so that several people don’t sell the same product in a one place.

Dominican Today, 20.08.09

President Fernandez calls for dialogue on Educational Quality

A nationwide push for excellence in education

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- President Leonel Fernandez invited educational leaders to a meeting today in the Presidential Palace. The idea of the meeting is to initiate a Dialogue for Educational Quality.

According to the Presidential Press Office, the activity will include government officials from the education sector as well as members of academic institutions, business people and union representatives.

The initiative is the first step by the nation’s leader as he accepted the proposal from the National Council fro Private Enterprise (CONEP) that urged a nationwide push for excellence in education.

The meeting will include the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Development and the participants at the Round Table on Education at the Summit on National Unity in the face of the World Economic Crisis that was held at the beginning of the year.

According to the press release, the dialogue should end with the signing of an agreement for the Quality of Education in the Dominican Republic.

Diario Libre, 21.08.09

The UNAPEC recognizes the Chilean Senator

As Professor Emeritus

BREAKING NEWS: The APEC University will deliver the title of Professor Emeritus to the Chilean Senator María Soledad Alvear Valenzuela, for her merits as lawyer, public, academic and political employee.

Alvear was the first woman to have the post of chancellor in the republican history of Chile, in addition to be the Prime Minister of the National Service of the Woman, between 1991 and 1994.

During a ceremony which will take place on Tuesday August 25 at the APEC University, the UNAPEC will deliver to the Chilean lawyer a title of Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Law.

The activity will be directed by the rector, Justo Pedro Castellanos and other authorities of the institution.

María Soledad Alvear Valenzuela was born in Santiago. Her university life is emphasized by her role of chair’s collaborator and as Member of the Selection Commission of the professors of the Law School.

She terminates her studies with the maximum distinction and becomes teacher of Civil law.

She works as academician in several universities, belonging to the Directing Council of Legal Academy and of the Directing Council of the University Alberto Hurtado.

In her political career, she worked under the regime of three presidents. Her first function was as Ministry of the National Service of the Woman with Patricio Aylwin; during the government of Eduardo Frei, she was in charge of the Justice portfolio; period during which she was at the head of the reform of the penal procedure, which was regarded as the principal transformation of the Chilean Judicial Power.

Under the regime of President Ricardo Lagos, she was appointed Minister of the Foreign Relations, by promoting processes like the Free Commercial Treaty with the United States, South Korea and the European Union.

The Chilean Senator is invited to the country by the Training institute Dr. Jose Francisco Pena Gómez, chaired by Peggy Cabral.

Santo Domingo Live, 24.08.09

The Expo Conde 2009 started

Until August 30

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO. – The Association of the Storekeepers of the Conde and the Colonial City, with the Town hall of the National District launched the traditional trade fair EXPO CONDE 2009, which celebrates its 15 years of existence.

EXPO CONDE will be held till Sunday August 30, from 09:00 to 20:00, with the participation of a large variety of companies of the Conde street, the Colonial City and other important commercial arteries, which were added to the fair.

Alberto Alonso, president of ASOCONDE, stressed that this year, companies of communications, drinks and craft will sale their products with the best market prices all along the famous pedestrian artery.

Alonso explained that the Town hall of the National District will present its « Artísticas group » , a plus for this large fair.

Like every year, we await a great multitude of tourists, people of the close zones, of the city and of the country, who are visiting us during this season and who will be able to benefit from all that will be offered in this big trade fair, he added.

Alonso specified that the exhibitors will offer products with reduced prices which oscillate between 20 and 50% of reduction on the shoes, clothing, accessories, craft industry, articles of beauty, food and drinks.

We also lay out a vast security program in coordination with the Tourist Police (POLITUR) and the National Police to maintain an atmosphere of confidence; said the employers’ leader.

Among the facilities, he also quoted the availabilities of the car parks with a capacity for more than 200 vehicles, placed in the Jose Reyes street at the corner with the Conde street, with a preferential rate of only 15 pesos per hour and which could be free by stamping the ticket in the establishments affiliated to the ASOCONDE.

Santo Domingo Live, 25.08.09

Marranzini asks for patience

To solve the deficiencies in the energy sector

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- The vice-president of the Dominican Corporation of State-owned electricity Enterprises (CDEEE), Celso Marranzini, denied that the blackouts have increased recently. This was the complaint of residents in the provinces and in Greater Santo Domingo.

Marranzini reiterated that the population should be patient because he does not have a magic wand to solve the problem of the interruption in the electricity service.

The official gave his declaration at the Presidential Palace after finishing a meeting with the President Leonel Fernandez, and representatives of the electricity distributors and the superintendent of electricity.

During the meeting they analyzed different strategies in the short, medium and long term that would help solve the deficiencies in the energy sector.

Marranzini said emphatically, I believe that it cannot be expected, with my arrival, that I am a magician, I am not Merlin, or anything like that. Really, for a change in this, the population has to have patience, because the things are getting better and they will improve even more, but undoubtedly they do not get solved from one day to the next.

This was his statement as he was asked about how long it would take for the public to see better service.

Diario Libre, 26.08.09

Mufflers for the motorcycles

Noise contamination

BREAKING NEWS: Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal and the director of the Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET), General Rafael Oscar Bencosme Candelier announced they are giving motorcycle owners and drivers five days to install mufflers on their bikes.

He said that after the deadline, they will be confiscating all that are driving without these. He said the motorcycles are responsible for a great part of the high noise levels of the city.

Fernandez explained that Environment Law 64-00 establishes fines and confiscation of equipment for those contributing to noise contamination.

Hoy explains that many times cars and motorcycle owners saw off the ends of their mufflers, to attract attention with their loud, disturbing noises.

DR1, 27.08.09

A plan against visual contamination

The municipalities and the AMET develop plans to withdraw scrap and businesses from sidewalks

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.-  Greater Santo Domingo is not the same. Now, different from other times, the city is suffering from an accelerated visual contamination that has forced the authorities to redesign their policy of municipal clean up.

Informal merchants of clothes, food, fruits and other stuff, as well as scraped vehicles are frequently found on sidewalks, streets and avenues of the National District and the municipalities of Santo Domingo.

Streets such as San Vicente de Paul, Duarte, Mella, and barrios like Villa Consuelo, Villa Juana, Ensanche Ozama, Los Mina and others have been practically invaded by informal and ambulatory merchants, including stores and markets that offer their products on the sidewalks, blocking pedestrian traffic.

AMET

Recently, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (AMET) has taken 255 junk vehicles off of the streets. The operation will be increased over the next few days, together with the municipalities and the Justice Department, to get the useless vehicles off of the streets and sidewalks.

The traffic and transit regulating authority has also opened a hotline (809 686 6520) for persons to lodge complaints regarding occupied public spaces. The scraped vehicles that are removed are taken to the Duquesa sanitary landfill.

Another of the steps taken by the AMET was to prohibit parking cars and the placing of vendors on Charles Sumner Street. This measure will be applied to other streets in the capital over the coming days.

The ADN

The Municipal government of the National District (ADN) has also reached an agreement with car dealers to prohibit the sale of vehicles on the sidewalks, also expects to toughen their campaign of cleaning up the National District.
But moreover they will identify the mobile vendors in order to regulate their situation and provide them with bibs.

Jesus Feliz

The mayor of North Santo Domingo, Jesus Feliz called the program a major challenge due to the informal commercial activity on the streets and that his people are carrying out a census in order to see how many non-regulated merchants there are in Villa Mella.

He pointed out that the municipality has to get the mechanics that work on the sidewalks off of the streets. A similar dilemma faces the municipalities
Of West and East Santo Domingo, both of which are working on plans to cope with the situation.

Diario Libre, 28.08.09