SEPTEMBER 2009

Pullmantur cruise lines will operate from Santo Domingo

On board of the Pacific Dream

BREAKING NEWS: The cruise lines of Pullmantur will begin its operations in Dominican Republic on next October 3 with a seven nights cruising through the Southern Caribbean on board of the Pacific Dream ship, a boat having a capacity of 1.400 passengers in double cabins.

The announcement was made by Jose Manuel Martín, business manager of Pullmantur for the Latin America, during a meeting with travel agents organized by Travel Net, representative in Dominican Republic of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and now of Pullmantur. Representatives of the principal wholesalers and travel agencies of the country attended a meeting at the Jaragua hotel to know the details of this cruising which brings among its innovations an « all inclusive » system.

The Pacific Dream will make the route Santo Domingo, St Lucie, Martinique, Guadalupe, St Martin, Tortola, with a departure every Saturday from October 3, 2009 to March 6, 2010.

Santo Domingo Live, 01.09.09

Senate approves US $48.7M loan

For overpasses

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO. - The Senate yesterday approved a US $48.7 million loan for the Duarte Corridor road works, a contract negotiated with Brazil’s State-owned BNDES bank.

With the loan the Public Works Ministry will pay the contractor Norberto Odebrecht to build overpasses on the intersections of the avenues Monumental, Núñez de Cáceres, Defilló and Manoguayabo with the Kennedy highway, and on the Ortega y Gasset with 27 de Febrero and the San Isidro highway with Charles de Gaulle.

The contract stipulates 21 months to use the funds, which will pay 100% of the materials and equipment for the project, counted from the date the contract took effect, and lasts 60 months, states president Leonel Fernandez’s letter to the senators.

Dominican Today, 02.09.09

UK helps Dominican Republic

With climate change

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO.- El Caribe is reporting that the UK will grant RD $1.4 million to help the Dominican Republic prepare its position at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The funds will be used for workshops to instruct Dominican participants on the issues at hand, trends and implications.

Minister of the Environment Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal said the issue of the environment is a priority for the Dominican Republic.

DR1, 03.09.09

Moscow may open diplomatic office in Dominican capital

A Russian honorary consulate operates in Santo Domingo since 1993

BREAKING NEWS: MOSCOW. - Russia announced Friday, on the eve of Dominican Foreign Relations minister Carlos Morales’ visit to Moscow, that it may open a diplomatic mission in Santo Domingo.

The topics regarding the opening of a diplomatic representation in Dominican Republic are under study, affirms Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement released by the local agency. It notes that a Russian honorary consulate operates in Santo Domingo since 1993.

The top Dominican diplomat will arrive in the Russian capital on Monday and the visit includes talks with Russian par Serguéi Lavrov, with leaders of both Houses of Parliament and other senior officials.

According to the Dominican Foreign Relations Ministry the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kiril, will also meet with Morales.

In Moscow the parts will exchange opinions on a series of current problems of global policy, and analyze the development of bilateral relations, the Russian Ministry adds.

The visit by the head of Dominican diplomacy will intensify the mutually beneficial political dialogue and establish cooperation diverse areas.

As part of his visit to Russia, Morales will fly to St. Petersburg, Russia’s ancient imperial capital, where he’ll meet with local authorities.

Dominican Today, 04.09.09

The Ferries del Caribe Company won’t stop the service between Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo

A trip per week

BREAKING NEWS: SANTO DOMINGO. - The Ferries del Caribe Company announced that they are going to work on improvements and on service of maintenance that are necessary to the quality of the service to the passengers, but that they would therefore don’t stop the line Puerto Rico - Dominican Republic.

The company however specified that during the time necessary for this process, the boats would navigate one time per week with a capacity for 1.100 passengers, this until October.

This year, it was initially programmed to stop the service of the Ferry for one month to complete the work of maintenance in Greece, but the company finally decided to carry out this work with Dominican and Puerto work forces under the supervision of foreign specialists.

The executive vice-president of Ferries del Caribe (FDC) and of Marine Express (ME), Liana Peña, said that two other boats had been contracted and that with the weekly trip of the ferry/cruise ship Caribbean Express; they will be able to continue to offer the excellence of the services and the punctuality to which the customers of Marine Express, an associated company, are used toustomed.

She explained that the purpose of the provisional reduction of the number of travels was to be able to continue to offer an excellent service to the growing number of company managers and of passengers who with the shuttle journeys between San Juan and Santo Domingo, made of the ferry their weekly means of transportation.

Santo Domingo Live, 07.09.09

The Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewers Corporation exhorts population to save water

Every person consumes 500 L per day

BREAKING NEWS: The director of the Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewers Corporation said today that the daily consumption per inhabitant was 500L of water, a very high number compared to international standards.

He informed that the real demand of water was too elevated for the capacity of the CAASD.

Rivas said it was necessary to save water, since many drinkable water was lost because of incontinent use of population.

He added that 20% of the produced water was lost because of failures and bad uses.

Rivas said the new aqueduct located in the Santo Domingo province was working normally, and that works were in progress to supply water in all the sectors.

He also informed that in order to improve the water supply and avoid water lost in Santo Domingo areas, the CAASD worked with the neighbors associations.

Santo Domingo Live, 09.09.09

President Leonel Fernández designates new functionaries

Directors of Public Administration and Diplomatic Representatives

BREAKING NEWS : Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández named this Wednesday several directors for public administration and a counselor for Dominican Embassy in Jamaica, between others.

With decree number 679-09, president designated Altagracia Paulino Ureña as director of the National Institute of Consumer Rights Protection (PROCONSUMIDOR).

With decree 978-09, Fernández named Nildo César de los Santos Solís to the direction of Coordination Council of Border Development Special Zone.

Trough decree 682-09 he declared that Antonio Rafael María Gómez Alba was the new deputy ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Relations, and the decree 981-09 designates Emilio Ortiz Mejía as the counselor of Dominican Republic Embassy in Jamaica.

Liliana Marty de Vidal was named sub-secretary of Women in Health Area, Reynaldo Álvarez as director of the Center of Industrial Development and Competitiveness (PROINDUSTRIA) for eastern region, and Belkys Morel deputy director of the Presidency Social Plan.

Valentinovna Lysenki was named as deputy director of the National Aquarium.

Santo Domingo Live, 10.09.09

16 countries share experiences in Santo Domingo

Concerning effectiveness of international aid

BREAKING NEWS : Government representing of 16 countries and unilateral organisms will meet from this Wednesday in Santo Domingo, in order to start a dialog concerning the necessity to create a more transparent and effective International cooperation, which results could be visible at short or medium term.

This meeting will take place on the occasion of the Regional Consulting of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) that be developed until September 18th.

The event, which will welcome representing of Latin American and Caribbean Countries, is organized by the Economy, Planning and Development Ministry (SEEPyD), the United Nations Program for development (PNUD), and the IATA, will be inaugurated tonight in the National Palace.

Formal discussions will start on Thursday September 17a the Hotel V Centenario, in the George Washington Avenue.

At the end of the meeting, the Santo Domingo Declaration will be created, containing the results of the event, and the commitment of the countries to make international aid more transparent.

Santo Domingo Live, 16.09.09

Dominican Republic pleads for more economic resources

For Latin America and Caribbean

BREAKING NEWS : The Minister of Enonomy, Planning and Development, Juan Temístocles Montás, affirmed that the lack of economic grow in Dominican Republic and Latin America and Caribbean countries put pressure on the possibility of democratic government of these one.

He also said Dominican Republic, Latin America and Caribbean countries needed solidarity of international cooperation, in order to complete the financing of programs that aim to reduce the crisis effects and its length.

Montás made these declarations as he was telling the main speech of the inauguration of Regional Consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean, concerning the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), in National Palace.

16 countries are part of this activity, as United States of America, Salvador, Bolivia, Mexico, Barbados, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Haiti and Dominican Republic between others.

Montás asked developed countries to increase aid and to create rapid access ways to international credit for countries of Latin America and Caribbean.

Meeting will end this Friday.

Santo Domingo Live, 17.09.09

Dominican First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández

Good will Ambassador of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

BREAKING NEWS : In Rome today, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FAO announced its new Ambassadors of Good Will, including Margarita Cedeño.
US Olympic champion Carl Lewis, French fashion designer Pierre Cardin, Colombian singer/songwriter Fanny Lu and Indonesian singer/songwriter Anggun, are new ambassadors for FAO too.

The FAO said that Dominican President Leonel Fernandez’s wife will receive the title of Extraordinary Ambassador in recognition of the numerous social development projects in food and agriculture she has undertaken in her own country, especially those benefiting women.

The five new ambassadors will formally receive the title in a ceremony that will be held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, on 16 October, World Food Day. This year the slogan is Obtaining secure food supplies during a time of crisis.

The Dominican First Lady will receive the title in recognition to the numerous social development projects she has conducted in her country in the scope of agriculture and nourishment, especially those whose beneficiaries are women.

Santo Domingo Live, 18.09.09

Dominican Postal Institute signs agreement with CompuExpo2009

200 domestic and foreign companies participating in the event

BREAKING NEWS : Dominican Postal Institute announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with CompuExpo 2009 in order to develop a special program of corporate and professional activities during this event.

Modesto Guzman, chief executive officer of INPOSDOM said, that this agreement had been signed as part of the efforts that makes this entity meet the demands of the modern world, which implies the diversification and improvement of its services.

CompuExpo 2009 is a great opportunity to show everyone what we are doing at INPOSDOM, which now offers services such as Export-Fácil, Inpos-pack, Express Mail Service (EMS), among others, that meet the current needs and higher quality standards, said Guzmán.

For his part, Manuel Valdez, president of CompuExpo 2009, pointed out that the agreement with INPOSDOM was a significant support for the realization of the event.
For this version of the CompuExpo, 200 national and international companies should participate.

Companies attending the CompuExpo are part of the technological domain, such as telecommunications, call centre companies, manufacturers of software, hardware etc…

Santo Domingo Live, 22.09.09

The Minister of education said that the Government is investing 4659 millions of pesos

In the construction of schools

BREAKING NEWS : Santo Domingo- Minister of education, Melanio Paredes has said on Monday that the main challenge of the Government was to eliminate the lack of classrooms and insecurity that affects the educational system.

Paredes said that to develop the all schools reorganization process, 124 rooms had been built and repaired 5129. He also explained of 47 792 desks had been rehabilitated.

Currently, these are 1866 classrooms that are underway construction or repair, with an investment of 4659 million of pesos.

The official informed his efforts institution aimed to order the Dominican education system and to provide quality.
The Minister explained that he wished that the students in the public sector have safe and welcoming schools to study.

Melanio Paredes however said that 99.9 percent of centres were functioning normally.

Santo Domingo Live, 23.09.09

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Ministry of Public Works

Announce the opening of a second track on the Duarte Bridge

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo .- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Ministry of Public Works announced Tuesday the opening of an additional lane on the bridge Duarte, that will be added to the one already in place.
It had already greatly improved the traffic from the municipality to the District Eastern National.

The measure would allow users of this new way to make the journey in less time and to end caps produced by the large number of vehicles, more than 5,000 passing through the bridge Duarte.

With the opening of the track, the load of vehicles during peak hours will be distributed on bridges Duarte and Juan Bosch.

The heavy traffic on the Duarte Bridge justified the increase of lanes by avoiding congestion whatever the circumstances.

This is in addition to other decisions taken by General de Brigade Oscar Bencosme Candelier, director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to create a smoother and better organized traffic.

Santo Domingo Live, 24.09.09

Leonel Fernández makes a payment of $ 30 million in electricity sector

To provide solutions to the national electricity

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández has made a payment of $ 30 million for businesses that generate electricity Cogentrix and AES Dominican and the Dominican Corporation of Electric Companies of the State- CDEEE.

This is in addition to the government efforts to provide solutions to national power.

The announcement was made Wednesday through the Minister of Finance Vicente Bengoa, who explained that his concern was to solve the electrical problems.

He added that he had made a remittance of 9.5 million dollars to Cogentrix and 10.5 million has AES Dominican, explaining that he hand over the remaining 10 million next week.
Bengoa argued that the Department of Treasury had given the CDEEE 274 million or $ 8 million more than had been previously established.

These dollars will not affect the exchange rate, as these funds come directly to countries through the Petro Caribe Agreement, concluded Bengoa.

Santo Domingo Live, 28.09.09

Leonel Fernández speaks of the future members of Congress outside

They will represent all Dominicans

BREAKING NEWS: President Leonel Fernández has ensured that members of Congress elected from outside the new Constitution will have the opportunity to create legislative conditions that will better represent the interests of Dominicans living abroad.

At a meeting with elected community of the United States, the President explained that those legislators who are elected for the first time elections of May 2010, will turn on legislative action that will represent the views of thousands Dominicans living in North America.

He added that members of Congress are elected for six years, and he realizes the work of thousands of Dominicans who for years wished to be represented in the legislative chambers.

The meeting, organized by Adriano Espaillat has been the opportunity to develop policies and actions that not only benefit members of Congress on the outside but also all the Dominican people.

15 elected from different communities of the United States like New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Providence and Boston, attended the meeting.

The Dominican President also met with representatives of economic groups to whom he explained the advantages possessed by the Dominican Republic for investment.

Santo Domingo Live, 29.09.09

President Fernández and the Vice-President lead a ceremony at National Palace

They give Solidarity Cards to more than 10 000 police members

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Fernández and the Vice President Rafael Alburquerque led Monday a ceremony to give 10 000 solidarity cards to members of the Preventive Police, equivalent to a monthly payment of more than 9 million pesos.

During the ceremony, which took place on the front porch of the National Palace, Mr. Alburquerque, who is also coordinator of the Solidarity Program, said that officers working in the field are assigned the Bonogás and Comer es Primero in order to buy food.

He said that in the course of next week, these officers will receive the visit of SIUBENstaff (Single System of Beneficiaries) in order to determine the number of school-aged children in order to include in the program of educational assistance.

These agents of the preventive police, who face daily the crime and the President took the decision to integrate the Solidarity Program, said vice-president.

He added that the integration of these officers, the Solidarity Program widened even further. It currently covers 800 000 households, an average of 4 million Dominicans who receive Bonogás.

Of these 800 000 households, just over half received assistance Comer es Primero he reported.

He explained that these acts reflect the government’s Internet to the most vulnerable sectors of the population, stressing that this was added the Health Insurance Familiar.

For its part, the Chief of National Police, Rafael Guillermo Guzmán Fermín, considers that the card Solidarity benefit men and women who daily defend life and property of citizens with courage.

• Solidarity Card (Tarjeta Solidaridad) is a card furnished by the government to poor families that give them the right to receive government assistance.

Santo Domingo Live, 29.09.09