DECEMBER 2009

A Dominican delegation will attend the exhibitionaboutcivil aviation in Mexico

Seventh International Exhibition and Convention of Aviation Aeroexpo 2009

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- A Dominican delegation will attend the Seventh International Exhibition and Convention of Aviation Aeroexpo 2009 the largest civil aviation event in Latin America, to be held in Acapulco, Mexico from December 3rd to 5th.

The committee, composed by the company XXI Century Dominican Airports (Aerodom), Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) and the Airport Department, aims to promote at this important event the airport system of the Dominican Republic and the magnificent destinations where are located the airports run by Aerodom.

The General Director of Aerodom, Andrew O’Brian said it is interesting for our company and the authorities linked to the airport sector to exchange experiences with representatives of the aviation industry in Mexico and other countries and promote our airport.

The stand shared by Aerodom, the Institute of Civil Aviation and the Airport Department will be decorated with impressive images of airports and cities where they are located, pictures of beaches, mountains and the colonial area’s of the first city in the New World.

AeroExpo, which is the only non-profits international convention aviation is organized by the company Aero Eventos Mexicanos, SA de CV, and aims to develop and stimulate the aviation trade.

Santo Domingo Live, 01.12.09

The Government signed an agreement with Portuguese companies

To renovate the Quisqueya Stadium

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.-The Dominican government signed a loan agreement with Portuguese companies for $ 80 million dollars to develop the Quisqueya Complex Stadium - Park Juan Marichal, which aims to transform the field of baseball, building a four star hotel, six towers of 14 and 19 floors with 280 apartments and the Historical Museum of Baseball.

In the presence of the Dominican president, Leonel Fernández, and the Secretary of State Treasury of Portugal, Carlos Pina, the architect Joaquín Geronimo, director of the National Bank for Housing Development and Production (BNV), and Mr. Rodolfo Labrador, president of the General Fund Deposits, France Branch, signed the agreement, with which begins the project.

Companies participating in the project construction are Edivisa SA and Visacasa SA.
Quisqueya Stadium will be completely renovated to welcome the games of baseball’s Major Leagues.

Mr. Geronimo said that the Government of Mr. Leonel Fernández, as part of its development strategy, is working to attract foreign investment to the Dominican Republic, and thus generate new jobs.

He emphasized the positive impact of this project in the La Fe sector, not only because it will create jobs, but also because it will boost trade and tourism in the area.

Santo Domingo Live, 02.12.09

The Ministry of Culture is preparing an extensive art program

For the end of the year

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The Minister of Culture is preparing an extensive art program for the end of the year in Santo Domingo, on Santiago de los Caballeros and other areas of the country.

The National System of Free Schools program develops the Road for Christmas 2009, which includes folkloric presentations, exhibitions of paintings, food fairs, performances of dance, percussion festival, craft fairs, an exhibition of costume jewelry, theater and performed in over 40 communities.

The program of the end of the year of the Minister of Culture also includes the completion of the Long Night of Museums, to be held December 10th. To date, Day of Cultural Heritage, the museum will remain open until midnight, with artist demonstrations.

On Saturday, December 5th, will be held the Good Morning Guavaberry Festival 2009 dedicated to a group of carnival Los guloyas. The event will last all day in San Pedro de Macoris, in tribute to Daniel Henderson (Linda) and Luis Felipe Simons, who wore these typical costumes.

From December 9th to the 13th, the Christmas Craft Fair will take place in Park Colón, and this year will be dedicated to the craftsmen of Miches. On December 11will be the opening entertainment Cascanueces with the National Ballet in Room Carlos Piantini of National Theatre Eduardo Brito.

On December 15th at 8pm, will be the grand opening fashion show called Fashion is culture, on the open ground of the Palace of Fine Arts, with the participation of a group of top designers Dominicans. This is the first time this type of event is held at the Fine Arts.

On December 16 will take place the VI Meeting of Cultural Management, with participation of heads of 126 departments and agencies of the Minister of Culture, to planificate the activities in 2010.

Friday 17, will be put into circulation of the traditional calendar in 2010 the Minister of Culture, which this year will be dedicated to the theatrical spaces in the Dominican Republic, with photographs signed Mariano Gómez Hernández and Walder. The activity will take place in Room Art Ramón Oviedo.

From Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 of December, will take place in the gardens of Fines Arts the program Christmas at Palace of Fine Arts totally free to the public.

Santo Domingo Live, 03.12.09

Santo Domingo Festival

The Malecón will be transformed into the largest nightclub in the world

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The city of Santo Domingo will vibrate this weekend with the grand festival to be held on the Malecón, this Sunday, December 6^th from 4_pm, with the participation of more than 40 artists of national music.

The George Washington Avenue will be closed to traffic to accommodate more than one million people that came to celebrate in the greatest nightclub in the world, said artistic director Luis Medrano, organizer of the event, during the press conference that was held at the Hotel Jaragua, in the presence of some of the artists who will sing this Sunday.

Merengue, Salsa, Reggaeton, Rap, Bachata, Son, Rock, Pop Balade andTypical Merengue will be represented by the artists in this unforgettable concert, where the public will be able to dance and listen to music around the five podiums scattered all along the Malecón.

Among the singers take the stage, will be present Sergio Vargas, Rubby Perez, Omega, Kinito Méndez, Krisspy, Pochy Familia, Ramon Orlando, Sexapeal, Julián Oro Duro, Miriam Cruz, Cherito, Darlyn, Chavelly, Los Potros of Jandy Ventura, Rafely Rosario, La Big Band Masa, Peña Suazo, El Jefrey, Kiko el Presidente, Tulile, Juliana, Las Caribeñas, Silvio Mora, Bonny Cepeda, Don Miguelo, Vakero, Mayuri Reyna His Abril, Nux, Nelson Poket to former Los Novios, Issa Gadala. El Kata Monchy Capricho El Perfecto Sin Defectos, Asdrúbal, C-Ducion, Maniel, La Banda Real, Marcos Caminero, Jucafry and Huellas Invisibles.

The five podiums will be located near the two Obelisks, and at the intersection of George Washington  and Máximo Gómez Avenues.

Santo Domingo Live, 04.12.09

The Dominican and French governments have created a university cooperation program

President Leonel Fernández returned Monday to the country

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández returned on Monday to the country, around 4pm, in a private flight that landed at the Air Base of San Isidro, after his tour in Europe and New York.

At his arrival in New York on Saturday, the Head of State described positively the Dominican Republic results obtained in Spain, Portugal and France.

Last Friday, the Dominican Republic and French governments have agreed to create a program of academic cooperation of a higher level, involving universities and institutes of higher education in both countries.

The draft agreement approved by the Ministers of External Relations and the Ministries of Higher Education of both countries, seek to expand the scholarship program, which has been developed by the two nations, in order to help a greater number of disadvantaged Dominican students.

The two countries pledged to develop and enhance their educational and scientific cooperation in the fields of higher education and research on social sciences and humanities, health sciences, agronomy, environment and to teach the French language.

President Leonel Fernández, along with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Ligia Amada Melo, and Dominican Ambassador in France, Laura Faxas, met Friday with representatives from prestigious French universities which are part of this agreement.

Among these universities there are Pantheon-Sorbonne, Sciences Po Paris, Montpellier, Paris X, Paris I, Paris III, National Institute of Applied Sciences, Paris II… etc

The Dominican Republic, participated in the agreement with, Carlos Morales Troncoso, Minister of External Relations, Ligia Amado Melo, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

On the French side were present Alain Joyandet, Minister of State for Cooperation and Francophonie, and Valerie Pécresse, Minister of Higher Education and Research.

Santo Domingo Live, 08.12.09

8th edition of the Christmas Craft Fair 2009

In the Colon Park of the Colonial Zone

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The 8th edition of the Christmas Craft Fair, organized by the Minister of Culture, in cooperation with the Office of the First Lady and in collaboration with the Peace Corps of the United States, will be inaugurated on Wednesday 9th at the Colon Park in the Colonial Zone, and will run until Sunday 13th.

The Christmas Craft Fair presents objects created by men and women, from materials such as wood, silver, gold, paper, leather and clay.

Its purpose is to promote handcrafts, to stimulate the production of new craft projects, as well as contributing to the protection and dissemination of cultural heritage of quality, through a direct selling market in public with the support of sponsors.

At the Craft Fair, the work of the Goldsmith art school-workshop will be exposed, and a music show with and handmade clay drum from Nigeria called Udu will be presented.

Craftsmen from Herrera, Capotillo, Haina, Villa Juana, Villa Mella, Hoyo de Chulin, Yamasa, Monte Plata, Boca Chica, Seibo, Miches, Hato Mayor, San Pedro, Jarabacoa, Tamboril, Moca, Santiago, Samaná, Sánchez, Barahona, Azua and the Federation of Women Mamá Tingo (FEMEC) that will attend the event.

Like all years, craft competitions will be organized to encourage Dominican artisans. The best ones will be rewarded, and creativity, design, aesthetics, finish work and materials will be observed to choose the winner.

The fair will offer local crafts, manufactured in the country, such as the neo-Taino pottery and contemporary jewellery in amber and Larimar, aromatic candles, musical instruments and a variety of objects in calabash, leather, metal, natural fibers, shells, paper etc.…

The activity is supported by official institutions, international agencies and private companies, such as the Minister of Tourism, the Association of Hotels in Santo Domingo, Colonial Market, and Melia Hotel, among others.

The Fair will run from 9am until 9pm at the Colon Park.

Santo Domingo Live, 09.12.09

Leonel Fernández receives Douglas Fraser

Chief of Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the United States

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández received Tuesday at the National Palace the Chief of Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the United States, Gen. Douglas M. Fraser, who visited the Dominican Head of State. Both men began a discussion on the mutual interests of the Dominican Republic and the United States.

Mr. Douglas said that the United States and the Dominican Republic maintained a strong friendship for several years now we are working with the Dominican Republic and our neighbors to assist with the challenges of mutual security and our vision of the future, a sure America for all our citizens.

General Fraser said that the links between the two countries went further than the common commitment to achieving peace and stability in the region.

Our nations are intimately united by strong cultural, historical, geographical and economic links.

He explained that during the meeting with Mr. Fernández, the two men discussed subjects of mutual interest, such as drug trafficking, training, and explained that the U.S. should continue to provide medical assistance to Dominicans.

Mr. Fraser noted that this year, with the help of some 200 Dominicans, the hospital ship had took care of more than 10 000 patients. In addition, this year, medical operations provided care to more than 70 000 people in Santo Domingo.

He said his Government had long helped its neighbors during natural disasters, as in the passage of Noel Storm in the Dominican Republic in November 2007, with distribution of 200 000 items of primary necessity, in addition to medical assistance.

This is the first visit of General Douglas M. Fraser to the Dominican Republic.

He thanked the Chief of the Armed Forces, Pedro Rafael Peña Antonio, and the President for the opportunity to discuss interests that concern the two countries in the areas of security and cooperation.

Santo Domingo Live, 10.12.09

The Long Night of Museums

National Heritage Day

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Culture announced the running for the second consecutive year of the Long Night of Museums on the occasion of the commemoration of the National Heritage Day, today, December 10^th.

The formal opening of this activity will be held this Thursday at 6pm at the Museum Alcázar de Don Diego Colón, in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo.

The aim of this initiative is to promote the history of monuments and museums, and their precious collections through various activities and to invite the Dominicans of all ages and all levels of society to visit the museums.

Ms. Ana María Conde Victores, Director General of Museums, recalled the origins of this initiative and explained that this year’s event had been extended to several other cities.

She informed that the participating museums have developed an interesting program to meet the most diverse tastes, the museums and cultural institutions involved did their best this year with many activities planned for all attendees.

For his part the director of the Fortress of Santo Domingo, Jose Bobadilla, said that the country possessed the most interesting colonial first monuments of all Latin America, and took the example of the Fortress, the colonial building is the oldest of all in America.

He explained that The Long Night of Museums, thought to promote assistance to all public companies in the Dominican national cultural offerings.

This evening until midnight, various activities will take place in museums in the colonial zone and cultural centres, such as Quinta Dominica and Casa de Teatro, and the Place of Culture in Santo Domingo, León Center in Santiago and the colonial fortress of San Felipe, Puerto Plata.

Santo Domingo Live, 10.12.09

The Super Tucano planes arrived in the country

President Leonel Fernández leads the ceremony

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- On Thursday, President Leonel Fernández led the welcome ceremony of the first two Super Tucano aircrafts A-29B, acquired by the government in Brazil to watch over the airspace and tackle drug trafficking.

During the ceremony at the Air Base of San Isidro, the President received military honors.

Leonel Fernández received a replica of the Super Tucano aircraft from the Army Forces Minister, Pedro Rafael Peña Antonio and then boarded the plane from Brazil, alongside the Head of the Dominican Air Force ( FAD), Carlos Altuna Tezanos.

During his speech, the Chief of the FAD said that the arrival of these two aircrafts was a strategic and fundamental acquisition for this institution and the Dominican State.

Today we are again witnessing a new government success in providing our institution a key instrument for ensuring the defense and security of our borders, with the incorporation of both AT-29B aircraft, the FAD -2900 and 2901, a total of eight planes, you Mr. President, give to the Dominican Air Force’s capacity to monitor, control and have sovereignty of our national airspace, assured the head of the entity.

He explained that these planes were added to the acquisition project of a three-dimensional military radars system, which, with the reactivation of FAD south air commandos at the Maria Montez Airport in the province of Barahona, will be the Tripod air defense of the Dominican Republic.

For its part, the Armed Forces Minister, Antonio Pena, has highlighted the fact that these planes will watch over Dominican airspaces.

The acquisition of these aircrafts AT-Super Tucano, made by one of the most prestigious companies in the world, shows once again the government’s unwavering decision to offset our weaknesses in protection against drug trafficking, said Peña Antonio.

Santo Domingo Live, 14.12.09

Martha Heredia arrives home today

She will present two free concerts for her fans

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The winner of the contest Latin American Idol, Martha Heredia, will sing free for all Dominican, in two public places, to thank her fans for their support before, during and after the competition.

Accompanied by a band, Friday, December 18^th Martha will sing in Santiago, her home-town, on a podium located in front of the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration, and Sunday 20^th during a concert at the Sports Palace Virgilio Travieso Soto .

Both concerts are free and broadcasted live by Telesistema, Channel 11. The young Dominican became a national idol. She should arrive in the country on Monday at 1:30_pm at the Las Americas International Airport.

Her new manager and representative, Caesar Suarez informed that Martha will be received Monday by President Leonel Fernández and the mayor of Santo Domingo, Roberto Salcedo, at the National Palace.

Tuesday, Martha will be received by the municipal authorities of Santiago, including Mayor Jose Enrique Sued. Wednesday she will perform 4 songs at the National Palace for Christmas.

The artistic career of Martha will now be headed by Sony Music for 5 years, and in the country by SCJ and Cesar Suarez Productions, local representatives of Sony Entertainment Television.

Santo Domingo Live, 15.12.09

President Leonel Fernandez receives Martha Heredia in National Palace

He highlights artistic and personal qualities

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández received this Monday in the Ambassadors’ Lounge of the National Palace in company of the First Lady, Margarita Cedeño De Fernández, the young singer Martha Heredia, winner last Thursday of the reality show Latin American Idol.

The first agent chief executive recognized the exceptional conditions, so much vocal as personnel of Martha Heredia, to whom he augured big successes in her artistic career.

As he emphasized the popularity which Heredia enjoys, Fernández expressed: The luck of the politicians is that you do not postulate for the Presidency, because you would challenge us to all together, the leader specified while welcoming the new Latin American Idol, who came with her parents Marino Heredia y Maritza Rivas.

President Fernández, who was accompanied by the first lady, Margarita Cedeño De Fernandez, highlighted that the Dominican people were paying a lot of attention; they were attentive to the details and certainly constantly calling in order for this victory to take place.

Fernández expressed that in the lounge of the National Palace in which Heredia was received big events had been celebrated by figures emphasized in diverse areas, but that one had never seen so many happiness in the Presidential Palace as it happened this Monday, and that this one is the tribute of the Dominican people to Martha.

In the matter of fact, he indicated that in the latest weeks we all have seen the Dominican people very attentively to what it was going on in this great competition in Argentina, where Martha Heredia also was part of.

He expressed that this support, indicates that this is a nation that assumes its values and that it makes a sense of the national identity across Martha, and that across her representation of the Dominican Republic.

So that it is a combination of many factors and of personal qualities, this sweetness, this happiness, this charisma that transmits us, this safety, this confidence that expresses, plus her artistic exceptional qualities, undoubtedly someone that they have crowned her with the success, added Fernandez.

When some words were said, it first that exclaimed Martha Heredia was Hola Baby (Hello Baby), receiving right there the applauses of the public that was congregated in the lounge with the Dominican flag.

I just want to be grateful to Mr. Fernandez and to the first lady for this reception that they prepared, and to all of the people who have supported us and to all those who sent a message, the young woman emphasized.

The Dominican representative in the Latin American Idol, said that she went to the event really to wake an enthusiasm up in all the Dominican young men in order that when they dream try to make real, since nothing is impossible, it is never late and that there’s always something you can do to achieve what their hearts wish.

She exhorted the Dominican youth to always, at the moment of tackling some project, to put God ahead of everything, because with him everything can happen and faster.

Before the president of the Republic greeted her, she was awaited by the Administrative Secretaries of the Presidency, Luis Manuel Bonetti, and the Minister of Culture, Rafael Lantigua.

Santo Domingo Live, 16.12.09

Brazil will extend cooperation programs with Dominican Republic

From January, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The ambassador of Brazil in the country said that his government will extend the programs of technical and scientific cooperation with the Dominican Republic at the beginning of next January.

Joao Solano Carneiro da Cunha demonstrated that first a technical multidisciplinary mission at the beginning of the year will be sent to organize the work of the representation of the government as for cooperation.

He added that the official delegation will realize a chronogram of technical cooperation activities in all the sectors of the country that concerns the development, especially, in the farming area.

The Brazilian ambassador spoke in these terms during a formal visit to the secretary of Agriculture, Salvador (Chío) Jiménez, with whom he, treated diverse topics related to the farming sector. Carneiro da Cunha said that the sources of cooperation are different and diverse, depending on the field, among them, agriculture, scientific and technical.

He indicated that Brasil always will be in disposition to cooperate in everything that is necessary for the engineering development and scientist of the farming sector and other areas of the Dominican production.

Jiménez and Carneiro da Cunha shared for more than half an hour in the office of the civil servant where they exchanged impressions on diverse topics of Dominican and the world happened economically.

In last October Jiménez he signed a memorandum of understanding with the minister of Agriculture of Brazil, Reinold Stephanes, to consolidate the cooperation of this Dominican nation.

Carneiro Cunha emphasized the good relations between Dominican Republic and Brazil, especially in what concerns the technical and scientific support of this nation in favor of the national development.

Santo Domingo Live, 17.12.09

Department of Tourism overseas Promotion strategy trace

With the directors of the Tourist Promotion Offices

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Tourism minister met in Santo Domingo with the directors of the Tourist Promotion Office (OPT) on the outside, which defined the plans and strategies to follow during 2010, with the aim of increasing the number of foreign visitors to the Dominican Republic.

Francisco Javier García urged the directors of the OPT abroad to work in a timely manner with the main actors in the tourist markets, in order to maintain the Dominican Republic as a leading destination for the Caribbean region.

He reported that next year will produce an increase in the budget for international promotion of the Dominican destination, which will play the markets in Canada, USA, Europe and South America.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the offices of Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Montreal, Toronto, Miami, New York, Chicago, Puerto Rico, Germany, France, Britain, Spain and Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Russia, Republic and Sweden.

García Fernández highlighted that tourism in the Dominican Republic is well positioned and that 2010 is a great opportunity for the country, since the contribution to the economy during 2008 was U.S. $ 4.200 million for this year is in the same direction.

He also said that as an incentive to South American markets, which have maintained a significant performance increase, meetings held next year with key tourism representants in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and that in Europe, work on time the market in Italy.

Santo Domingo Live, 18.12.09

Dominican Republic should reach U.S. $ 2.150 billion in foreign investment

According to the Center for Exports and Investment of the Dominican Republic

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic plans to close this year with foreign investment of U.S. $ 2.150 millions. By 2010 it is estimated sending global markets products and merchandise for US $ 5,000 millions.

The estimates were made yesterday by the director of the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD), Eddy Martinez Manzueta, who said in September that foreign investment had reached U.S. $ 1.758 millions.

In the end export performance has been better than originally planned, explained the director of the CEI-RD.

In the case of Haiti, Dominican exports reach 17%. Therefore, the neighboring country and became the second largest market for trading the Dominican nation, beating Puerto Rico.

Exports to Haiti had become far this year about $ 700 million, only in the formal, not counting the informal part.

For the next three years, the CEI-RD hopes Haitians buy Dominican products and goods worth U.S. $ 1,000 million, taking into account the growth that this market every day experiences.

Some of the items that contributed to the export figures in general were less negative, are : renewable energy, communications, tourism, real estate, business and industry.

Santo Domingo Live, 21.12.09

Continental Airlines increases flight frequency

From Santo Domingo to Newark Liberty

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Continental Airlines has announced it will increase the frequency of its flights to and from the Dominican Republic to the 10^th of February 2010, in order to respond to passengers’ demand to that destination.

The airline will operate a second frequency, five days a week, departing at 7:00 _am from Santo Domingo and arriving at Newark Liberty at 10:12 _am.
With this new frequency will streamline the air traffic to Dominican territory.

Continental Airlines, operates 150 destinations in the U.S.and 120 international destinations, of which 65 are located in 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, enabling the Dominican Republic to be connected with major international destinations.

Santo Domingo Live, 21.12.09