FEBRUARY 2010

Martha Heredia received the top honor of National Youth Award

There was a moment of silence for the earthquake victims in Haiti

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Santiago native Martha Heredia, winner of the Latin American Idol, won last night the top prize at the XIV National Youth Award at a ceremony led by Vice President Rafael Albuquerque and the Minister of Youth, Franklin Rodriguez.

The event started after 7:00 pm, at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Rodriguez noted the large number of youth that has valuable to the Dominican Republic.

One example of this is the amount of cases that were referred to both the headquarters of the youth portfolio as at provincial and regional opting for the award, he said.

He recalled that the selection was recognized by a Multisectoral Council. Upon receiving the award the young Martha Heredia said excitedly:

Thanks baby. May God bless you all. Our country is moving forward. I’m in love with you and this country so beautiful. At the request of Celinés and the public played a cappella a verse of the song Music.

Also received special recognition from First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, Mari Perez Marranzini, actress Zoe Saldana, Mrs. Melba Segura de Grullon, Dr. Antonio Cruz Jiminián,

Kathleen Martinez and Dominican presenter based in the United States Tony Andrade. The welcoming remarks were made by act Eugenio Ravinet, President of the Iberoamerican Youth Organization.

Invited Artists

The artistic part of the ceremony was conducted by the international finalists Latin-American Idol, Rubén Álvarez of Chile, Eduardo Aguirre, of Costa Rica, and Sara Bellomo, of Venezuela.

Anais Martinez, Gio, Rakim y Ken Y and Miguel Angel Don Miguelo also performed. There was a segment dedicated to highlight the Merengue. At the start of the event was a moment of silence for the victims of earthquake in the neighboring nation of Haiti.

Winners will receive RD $ 50,000, a laptop, a ring and a scholarship to attend a course on leadership at Miami Dade College, USA.

Santo Domingo Live, 01.02.10

Presidents of Dominican Republic and Ecuador meet

Help should strengthen Haitian government

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández met on Saturday in his office with his counterpart in Ecuador, Rafael Correa, who agreed on the need for aid to the Haitian people and strengthen the government institutions of the devastated Caribbean island nation.

This was stated at the end of the meeting, which lasted about an hour, the president of Ecuador, who also confirmed his presence at the International Summit for Haiti to be held on April the 14th in the Dominican Republic.

He said that this meeting will be a good venue to get the Haitian government to strengthen weakened and this unfortunately has more opportunities and hope for the citizens of the neighboring country.

At a press conference in the hall of the National Palace, Orlando Martinez, President Correa warned that although all the measures are good, there are now many scattered initiatives, both NGOs and international agencies.

Ecuador’s President noted that it is not enough to want to help but know how to help, insisting that this is a good opportunity for the Haitian people have a better chance.

He said that in his time in Haiti President Rene Preval has reiterated on several occasions that he is pleased with the efficient and generous humanitarian assistance that the Dominican government and people have offered their fellow citizens in this time of grief.

Really the magnitude of the tragedy is very large, very complex, and we must combine all efforts to move forward to the Republic of Haiti, now is not just about helping, it is about being able to help, said Correa.

On the other hand, President Correa said that coincides with his Leonel Fernández in the sense that it requires an amendment to the Inter-American Charter of the Organization of American States for the purpose of tightening measures to illegitimate governments when a coup.

Correa, accompanied by officials of his government, arrived at the National Palace at 11:30 _am, where he received military honors for. He was inducted into the presidential office by Vice President Rafael Alburquerque.

During his visit to Government House, the president of Ecuador was accompanied by the ambassador of that nation in the country, Carlos Lopez, the Minister Maria Del Pilar Cornejo, the honorary consul Felix Garcia, Chief of Protocol, Michael Grace, and his assistants, Mary Ruth Mariana Duenas and Pico.

Santo Domingo Live, 02.02.10

Caribbean Cinemas premiere films nominated to the Oscars

Avatar, The Blind Side, among other

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- On behalf of Caribbean Cinemas

In this day became known as the nominees for the Oscar awards expected
We wish to inform you that as part of our effort to bring the best products at the local level, we will be premiering in 2010 several of the films nominated as:

• Crazy Heart

• The Blind Side

• The Hurt Locker (the most nominated with 8 nominations)

• The Lovely Bones Invictus

• A Serious Man, among other

In addition starting this February the 4th, we in theaters (in selected theaters) for the enjoyment of those who still have not seen the following films also nominated:

• UP IN THE AIR• Avatar (has 7 nominations)

• THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

• SHERLOCK HOLMES

• COCO CHANNEL

Santo Domingo Live, 03.02.10

Public Health sends 8 thousand treatments to strengthen hospitals

From the border and Santo Domingo

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Health and Welfare sent Wednesday eight thousand treatments, syrups, antibiotics and blisters with a value of more than 13 million pesos, to reinforce the supply to hospitals in the border and Santo Domingo number of health care people who were affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

Dr. Bautista Rojas Gomez, Health Minister said that these drugs will be distributed in hospitals Melenciano General, Jimaní, Jaime Mota, Barahona, Alejandro Cabral, San Juan de la Maguana, Dario Contreras and Robert Read Cabral, Santo Domingo Ramón Matías Mella, Dajabón; Padre Fantino, Montecristi, San Bartolome, Neiba, and Duverge, in Independence.

Medicines sent to the border area contained 5,500 units of blisters Rocephin 250 mg, 5 thousand boxes of Rocephin of a milligram, as well as 5, 400 boxes of BARTRINA Forte x 10 and 200 Batrina suspension, which will cover the treatment of eight thousand patients.
He said that this shipment is for the purpose of maintaining a smooth supply of medicines to these health centers and that those affected can recover their health as soon as possible.

The drugs were donated by Roche Laboratories, a gesture that acknowledged the health minister, stressing that the substantially same impact in restoring the health of more than eight thousand patients in the border area suffering from various ailments.

The delivery of the drugs to SESPAS was made by the General Manager Roche Laboratories, Jose Martinez and Carlos Diaz Leruoux M, representative of Oscar A. Income Negron, who noted that donated drugs are to strengthen the solidarity extended by the Government and Public Health in the Caribbean nation.

Santo Domingo Live, 04.02.10

Military Organization of the United Nations and Dominican Republic cooperate

To coordinate the location of Dominican troops in Haiti

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Team Members of Military Affairs of the United Nations Organization (UN), visited the Command Center of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic in Jimaní, to coordinate the location of the Dominican Unit that will work with the Stabilization Mission United Nations in Haiti (MINUSTAH), in that neighboring country.

Major General, FAD, (DEM), Gilberto Delgado Valdez, the current coordinator of the Mano Amiga Plan, Brigadier General, EN, (DEM), Francisco Gil Ramirez, Chief of Border Security Specialized Unit (CESFRONT), and General Brigadier Jorge A. Medrano, IN, (DEM), Commander of 5^th Army Brigade based in Barahona, were in command of operations at a large committee of UN forces, with the aim of coordinating the guidelines for aid mission between Haiti and Dominican troops of MINUSTAH.

Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Sekunov, Team Leader for Military Affairs of the UN and Lt. Col. Carmen Estrella, led the embassy who visited the Dominican military command based in Jimaní.

Also present were Mr. Paramkit Singh, Representative of MINUSTAH and Mr. Efendi Singh financial officer of the Department of Support to activities on land that is running the UN.

On January the 23^rd the Minister for the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic, Lt. Gen. Pilot FAD (DEM), Pedro Rafael Pena Antonio, said that part of the Dominican troops were already provided and ready to go to the neighboring territory country to assist with members of MINUSTAH.

The UN envoys who visited the CommandCenter in Jimaní were pleased with the constraint on the capacity of response; the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic have adopted to help the neighboring nation of Haiti in their tragedy.

Santo Domingo Live, 04.02.10

Haitians and Dominicans Technicians will meet to elaborate a plan to rebuild Haiti

It will be submitted to the international community during the April 14^th Summit

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Technicians of Haiti and Dominican Republic will meet from Saturday in Santo Domingo to work in a bi-national plan for reconstruction and development of the devastated country, announced here on Saturday the Minister of Economy, Planning and Development Temistocles Montas, the term a meeting with President René Préval.

Montas was part of a delegation that traveled to Haiti’s capital led by Vice President Rafael Alburquerque and which integrated the Iberoamerican Secretary General, Enrique Iglesias, and other senior officials of the Dominican government.

Haitian and Dominican technicians will work on developing a plan for remaking of Haiti to be presented to the international community during a summit of countries to be held in Santo Domingo on April 14^th and one in the United Nations headquarters in New York, at a later date, said Montasth.

During a visit by high level officials and technical Dominicans to this devastated city, where they met with President René Préval and Prime Minister Jean Max Bellerive, Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, accompanied by the secretary general of the Ibero-American Summit, Enrique Iglesias, passed Dominican magazine delivered aid to Haitians after the earthquake that struck the nation last January the 12^th.

Santo Domingo Live, 08.02.10

President Leonel Fernández congratulates Laura Chinchilla

Elected President of Costa Rica

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández congratulated the president-elect of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla and evaluated the Costa Rican electoral process strengthened.

It’s a great honor to externalize my congratulations for having achieved a so overwhelming victory in the past elections held in February seventh, while highlighting the democratic spirit of the Costa Rican people, Fernandez said in a letter to recentrly elected President.

In his message, the Dominican president says that her election victory strengthens the process of consolidation of democracies in Latin America, we must support process from each of our countries, as a way to achieve development and stability for our peoples.

We hope that relations between the two nations remain energized and extend our congratulations to the people of Costa Rica so enthusiastic civilized and went to the polls for the successful completion of the electoral process, said Fernandez.

Santo Domingo Live, 09.02.10

Orange President met the First Lady

To present the rural broadband project

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The chairman of the telecommunications company Orange Dominicana, Jean Marc Harion visited in his office at the First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, aiming to present the rural broadband project offered by his company and can meet the technological needs of the Community Technology Centers (CTC) located throughout the country.

Mrs. Cedeño de Fernandez and Mr.Marc Harion exchanged views in a meeting held in the Gallery of First Ladies Hall, located at the headquarters of the institution, where they agreed to create a pilot plan in those very remote rural communities to see how works the Net Orange 3G + network in these zones.

The First Lady of the Republic strives to ensure that the all the CTC have Broadband Internet so community members to benefit from the educational opportunities offered there. Similarly, to develop skills and abilities that will ensure them a dignified life and productive, thereby reducing the social and digital divide that separates the rich from those who have less.

The communes of these communities favor of online courses as BachiNET which is a new form of distance education that allows high school students perform behind using as through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

They also conduct technical courses that help them quickly inserted into working life are the Office how-to, mini workshops for Advanced Internet, Web Blog, Create Video Clips with Movie Maker, Family albums created with Power Point, among others.

Other programs that led to the CTC to win the Campaign for Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean 2007 Cisco Networking Academy performing Latin American and Caribbean Women on the Net is that trains low-income women in telecommunications networks, programming and multimedia, and seeks to reduce inequalities in access to professional development opportunities between men and women.

Another project to be executed is the implementation of telemedicine to provide remote medical services to men and women of the communities.

During his visit, the president of Orange was found that the villagers have access to ICT education and online courses conducted at the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico, research and cultural activities, creating digital content and especially promote their products and local culture through the Internet.

As part of the meeting, Mr. Marc Harion presented what is Net Orange 3G + in the country, a new technology that aims at bringing Internet access Broadband.

In the meeting were David Perez and Jose Alfredo Rizek, representing the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) Telecommunications Orange Dominicana, Daniel Lugo, and officials of the DPD.

Santo Domingo Live, 10.02.10

President Fernández receives the First Lady of Haiti

She is thankful for the help given to her country

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández received in his office a visit from the first lady of Haiti, Elizabeth Debrosse de Préval.
She reached the office of the Dominican president with his Dominican counterpart, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández.

The wife of Haitian President and President Fernández discussed with the situation being experienced by herr countrymen since the earthquake of January the 12^th and thanked the assistance given by the Dominican Government and people to her country.

During his visit to President Fernández, First Lady of Haiti, was accompanied by the Haitian Ministry of Education Joel Desrosiers Jean-Pierre and that nation’s ambassador in the country, Fritz Cineas.

Also present at the visit, the Dominican ambassador in Haiti Ruben Silie and the Dominican Minister for Education Melanio Paredes.

The visit of the Haitian First Lady joins the other international figures who have helped Haiti and came to visit Leonel Fernández to thank him for his support.
During his visit to the Dominican Republic, first lady Elizabeth Debrosse de Préval made a tour of the school of Haiti, the Dario Contreras hospital, the Children’s Library Dominican Republic and the Office of the First Lady.

Santo Domingo Live, 11.02.10

Angelina Jolie highlights Dominican solidarity in Haiti

As Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The goodwill ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Angelina Jolie, was pleased by the generosity and commitments made by the Dominican authorities to Haiti.

Jolie, a prominent American actress, recently visited the country, where she met with President Leonel Fernández.
An information note from the United Nations Agency for Refugees states that the outstanding actress took a positive impression of the solidarity of Dominicans to the Haitian people.

I was thrilled to see the care provided by Dominican doctors and nurses, and I was very impressed by the generosity of local society, which deals with patients and their families once they are discharged and are recovering, she said.

The artist and ambassador for the UNHCR praised the leadership of President of the Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández.

In that sense, she said I am pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with President Leonel Fernández and thank him for the Dominican people’s immediate response to the tragedy of Haiti. There are clearly vulnerable Haitians in the Dominican Republic, earthquake victims, who still need this solidarity.

Santo Domingo Live, 12.02.10

Dominican Republic has invested $ 800 MM in Haitian patients

Their transfer to Haitian territory will involve the transport, medicines and food

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- At least 25 hospitals in the public health system in the country were involved in patient care for the Haitians earthquake victims, an assistance that closes for the first month with an investment in medical care over RD $ 800 million.

The input ranges from emergency care, hospitalization, diagnostic studies, major and minor surgeries, several different procedures, transfers and even the use of medical equipment, among other assistance, according to the estimate by the Minister of Public Health, Bautista Rojas Gómez.

According to an attendance register of the Ministry of Public Health, which runs from January the 12^th, when the tragedy happened, until last ninth day of February, the country’s hospitals had made an estimate of medical care 6.789, 1.896 hospitalizations, 2.489 emergencies, 608 minor surgeries, 591 major surgeries and other procedures 1.205.

Hospitals that much attentions have offered and continue to offer are General Melenciano, Jimaní, the Taiwan regional, Azua, the Dario Contreras, Luis Eduardo Aybar and Robert Reid Cabral, Santo Domingo, Juan Pablo Pina, San Cristoba, San Bartolome, Neiba, Jose Maria Cabral y Baez, Santiago, Jaime Sánchez and Jaime Mota, Barahona, Rosa Duarte, Elías Piña, Alejandro Cabral of San Juan de la Maguana, Ramon Mella, in Dajabón; Padre Fantinoin Monte Cristi, and General Santiago Rodríguez.

Interviewed by telephone, the Minister of Health said yesterday that attendance has been declining and that in the center enabled in Font Parisien, only have three clinics, two doctors and three Dominican nurses, and that left the restin the hands of foreign doctors.

I understand that care and investment exceeds 800 million dollars, not just drug use, nails, plaster and other materials, but also on computers that will be left to the country, such as ventilators, X-rays, tomographythat reinforced notably health region IV, Vázquez said Rojas.

Bautista Rojas Gómez said that in the future every effort will focus on moving to see how Haitian territory still remaining patients admitted to hospitals in the country, but are a medical discharge, which is guaranteed to transport, medicines and nutrition.

Rojas Gomez said that the response of the country presented to the emergency in Haiti, left as an experience that the plan emergency and disaster is correct and operational, because the response has been good.

Santo Domingo Live, 15.02.10

The Boca Chica Boulevard project will benefit tourism in the area

It will lead to the rebirth of the hotel business

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Tourism Ministry has discussed in public hearings with the social sectors of the municipality of Boca Chica the benefits for this community that would provide the project Boca Chica Boulevard.

This project seeks to improve the quality of life of people with the reconstruction of the recreational areas and creating new sources of jobs, leading the rebirth of the hotel business, trade and the promotion of tourism within two years.

A delegation, representing the Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia, presented the plan to local authorities led by Joselín Pena and members of boards of community residents during a meeting at the premises of the municipal council, as collected The Caribbean.

Maribel Villalona Architect, Director of Planning and Projects Department of the Ministry of Tourism, explained that the project for the revival of Boca Chica as a tourist attraction not only for foreign tourists visiting the country, but for more than three million people living in the great Santo Domingo .

Villalona has announced that the Ministry of Tourism has budgeted items for the investment needed and turn it into reality. Answering questions and concerns of those attending the ceremony, the official urged them to join the project ensures that Boca Chica has a promising future tourism.

The project is part of what the Tourist Land Management Plan developed by the Ministry throughout the country.

This plan would include the reconstruction of the coastal area of the municipality of Boca Chica.

Santo Domingo Live, 16.02.10

Proclamation of the city of Santo Domingo as Capital of Culture 2010

Dominican Republic is the first Caribbean country to be designated with this distinction

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President Leonel Fernández led the event of the proclamation of Santo Domingo as American Capital of Culture 2010 contained in Decree 797-09.

The president said I pledge to declare Santo Domingo American Capital of Culture 2010 that will be of great success, thank you very much.

The International Bureau of Cultural Capitals chose to Santo Domingo as American Capital of Culture, through the initiative of the Center for European Studies at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (PUCAMM).

The application for nomination to the International Bureau was made by the Ministry of Culture, and the official announcement was released on March 11^th 2009.

From this moment the Dominican Republic becomes the first country in the Caribbean area to be designated with this distinction, since it has a strong conception of the Institutional and excellent cultural and monumental heritage.

The activity was held in the Hall of Ambassadors of the National Palace attended by First Lady of the Republic, Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez, Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, the president of the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals, Javier Tudela, the Ministers of the Presidency and Culture, Cesar Pina and Jose Rafael Lantigua, the Administrative Secretary of the Presidency, Luis Manuel Bonetti, among other officials and personalities.

Santo Domingo Live, 17.02.10

Finance Minister appreciated the International Monetary Fund report

About Dominican economy

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The Finance Minister, Vicente Bengoa, praised the report presented Wednesday by the International Monetary Fund IMF on the 3.5 percent growth in the economy, which is derived from the plan considered countercyclical prepared by the Dominican authorities to address the global economic crisis in 2009.

Bengoa said that the plan is expressed in the Budget for the year 2010, which has more than 50 billion pesos intended primarily for public investment.

He said the IMF assessed all this and understood that the country has had a positive performance, so good that performance is higher than it has had Latin America and especially the countries similar to us than are those of Central America, that is what is expressed in the declaration of the IMF, Bengoa said.

The IMF said in a general sense that the Dominican economy passed the test, amid a huge international crisis, the Finance Minister, told a news conference at the headquarters of the institution.

He said that last year the GDP of planet earth decreased 1.1 percent and that the DR grew 3.5 percent, which is formally accepted by the IMF. He explained that this means that the Dominican Republic grew more than 4 times than decreased the global economy, that is, that while the global economy was decreasing, the Dominican economy was growing.

He noted that in 2009 the Dominican economy had acceptable performance, inflation levels were below the programmed, that the Haitian issue for the country may represent a stimulus for Dominican exports to that country in the short term because they can contribute a reactivation of the Dominican economy, producing for export to Haiti a number of products that can represent the recovery of that country.

Referring to the increased budget deficits posed by the IMF, said that was mainly due to the transfer had to increase the electricity sector over the budgeted figure, and that year there was to be transferred to the power sector amounting to more thanwhat was budgeted.

The Finance Minister said that when that happens it takes more of what they had estimated to spend, and also more importantly, the budget deficit arose because there was a shortfall between the amounts of estimated revenues and recoveries actually made 22 thousand million pesos.

If you do not enter everything I had estimated that incomes, but also to increase costs, because you have to transfer more resources to the electricity sector, then obviously the deficit increased in those proportions, he said.

Santo Domingo Live, 18.02.10

Tribute to Dominican Flag at Altar de la Patria

With the presence of government members and thousands of students

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- President of the Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernández, led Thursday the traditional tribute to the flag as part of the activities of the Homeland Month ending on February the 27^th to commemorate the 166^th anniversary of the proclamation of national independence.

The activity met at the Altar de la Patria to the first lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, Vice President Rafael Albuquerque and his wife Martha Montes de Oca, as well as ministers and government officials and thousands of school students of Santo Domingo and the National District.

In the emotional event, the chairman of the Standing Committee Ephemeris Patrias, Juan Daniel Balcácer, highlighted that the new Constitution of the Republic national symbols have been elevated to its proper dimension, because the executive was able to appear in a special chapter most directly linked to national identity.

Also appreciated the importance of the momentous event of February the 27^th, 1844 when he proclaimed the nation-state, called by Juan Pablo Duarte Dominican Republic and was first hoisted the national flag.

Since then, our tricolor has flown freely taught in the national territory and only for two stages of becoming a Republican, it has been replaced by another foreign: during the period of annexation to Spain and the military occupation.

For his part, Minister of Education, Bachelor Melanio Paredes, used this opportunity to urge the national education system stakeholders to contribute to the transformation of schools for students to promote the love of study and work.

He also brought up that the daily attendance of more than two and a half million students in the classroom is a valuable civic lesson, heartfelt love and reverence for national symbols.

Paredes said that the honors that he surrender to the Dominican flag while recognizing also the story of struggle and sacrifice of a group of notables who bequeathed to his surrender an identity and a free country.

At the ceremony, Minister of Education took the oath of Allegiance to a group of students and then followed a dramatization of the origin of the National Flag.

Santo Domingo Live, 19.02.10

Creation of a Caribbean energy grid

Based on the electrical interconnection of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Haiti

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico will work to establish an energy network in the Caribbean, based on the electrical interconnection of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Haiti, as part of an energy alliance issued by both nations to secure the future of the region in terms of production and supply of electricity.

Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso Luis Fortuño and governor held a strategy meeting where they agreed and also agreed to pursue in the U.S. Congress the approach of President Leonel Fernández to establish a program of fiscal and economic incentive for U.S. companies make investment projects and job creation in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Haiti and the U.S. state of Florida.

Fortuño, who will soon visit the country in the interest of strengthening the commercial relationship between both nations, met with Morales in the offices of the government of Puerto Rico at La Fortaleza and ratified the common will to implement the power interconnection project as an outreach initiative regional.

At first it was referred to the submarine cable project between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico but taking into account regional needs and with a long-term, consider developing an electricity interconnection project size and regional impact, said the Chancellor during a press conference along with Secretary of State of Puerto Rico, Kenneth McClintock, the headquarters of the local State Department after his conversation with Fortuño.

Chancellor explained that the energy alliance between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico is designed to create a strategic reserve for the use of the nations involved and promote the use of economic and cleaner sources and collaborate in joint energy purchases as a way to reduce costs.

Santo Domingo Live, 23.02.10

Latin American and Caribbean States create a community

In the Rio Group Summit, Mexico

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Creation of a Community of Latin American and Caribbean States without U.S. and Canada presence marked the Rio Group Summit in Mexico, which closed Tuesday with signs of internal disagreements, despite the official message of unity.
The leaders met for two days in the resort of Playa del Carmen in the Mexican Caribbean, approved a total of ten statements most notably the launch of the new body itself as a regional space that will unite all the states, said Mexican President Felipe Calderón.

The 32 nations present voted favorably by the creation of this bloc to be a voice of the Latin American and Caribbean countries in international forums.

The Summit concluded after two days, with the determination to establish this sovereign body that defends the interests of Latin America and the Caribbean. The statement said that it has laid the groundwork for the creation of a regional body bringing together the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean without the participation of the United States or Canada.

Another resolution is to support Haiti’s reconstruction and strengthening cooperation between countries to boost the security systems in the region.

Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico, made after a decision of 87 points signed by the Presidents and Heads of State and government at the highest level of 32 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The statement refers to various points, political, economic and social, as the position of the region on the international financial crisis, trade, energy, physical integration in infrastructure, science and technology, social development, migration, sustainable development, natural disasters, human rights, security issues and South-South cooperation.

The new body was supported by the chairmen Attendees who created space for the drafting of statutes and regulations that will regulate their operation probably already set to the next meeting of the Rio Group summit to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, next year.

The body to be created meets the Rio Group and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and running parallel to the Organization of American States (OAS).

The intention of the participants is that this entity, which will begin working in order to be formed on the peaks of Venezuela (2011) and Chile (2012), assume the legacy of the Rio Group and the Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean (CALC).

The host president stated that pending completion of the process of incorporation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States will remain the Rio Group and CALC in a unified way with their working methods, practices and procedures to ensure the fulfilling their mandates.

Santo Domingo Live, 24.02.10

Health City is in final phase of construction

The hospital Dr. Ney Arias Lora will open in May

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- The government chaired by Dr. Leonel Fernández will soon inaugurate the new hospital specializing in trauma, Dr. Ney Arias Lora, whose opening is scheduled for next May 2010.

The hospital would be the first hospital to be put into operation the Health City (Ciudad de la Salud), an ambitious and modern hospital complex that consists of more than 5 centers specializing in various branches of health and which is located on Avenue Charles de Gaulle, in the heart of Villa Mella, in the municipality Santo Domingo Norte.

For this week the center is expected to recruit staff in medical, administrative, technical and other areas.

The hospital complex, comprising a traumatology and orthopedics hospital, and one pediatric another maternity, and one general and specialty stores as well as promises, will have a construction area of 99,633.36 meters square, the system will provide 1.080new beds and will have a joint investment of U.S. $ 179.80 million.

The modern building will have five levels and will have emergency area with capacity to serve more than 20 patients at the same time, and will be equipped with recovery area, intensive care, diagnostic imaging, hemodialysis unit, about 200 rooms internment, 12 operating rooms and more than 50 clinics, among other services, explained the engineer in charge of the work Frank Báez.

Other hospitals are the pediatric building with a capacity of 220 beds, the maternity, to be 220 beds and the general, with 320 beds. The center emerged as a necessity, given the overcrowding of patients who go to the Dario Contreras hospital. The medical care center’s mission is to decrease the volume of patients receiving the Dario Contreras.

The Medical City is built on more than 100,000 square meters, located near the temple located next to the church in Aaron Mita, between Avenues Hermanas Mirabal and the crossing of Sabana Perdida.In the health center will be located also the gathering point of the Essential Drugs Program (PROMESE).

Santo Domingo Live, 25.02.10

Dominican First Lady delivers 15 classrooms libraries in Haiti

A cultural space for children victims of earthquake

BREAKING NEWS: Santo Domingo.- Dominican First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, visited the city of Port au Prince, where she handed over the first 15 classrooms-libraries that serve as space for children who remained outside the education system in Haiti to do some educational and recreational activities.

Cedeño de Fernández toured the facility destroyed the presidential palace, accompanied by the president and first lady, René Préval, Elisabeth Delatour de Préval, with whom participated in a press conference where he gave details of educational activities that children can develop and Haitian children in the classroom libraries began to be installed in different parts of the city.

Today we delivered units of non-formal education and recreation. They are buses that we have rescued and turned into classrooms to enable children and young people maintain links with education, while the country is returning to normal, he said.

Library Classrooms are attractive and comfortable about learning spaces with room for two classrooms, which also serve to provide educational workshops, games rooms, reading rooms of short stories, computer, and educational games, among others.

All units are reinforced both at home and in your body; they are also equipped with a ventilation system for infants to feel comfortable and relaxed.

Equipment provided each has a colorful bookcase crammed with interesting reading books, stories and other educational materials in French as well as an area with children’s educational games appropriate to the student population, information panel to facilitate the development of activities didactic tables and benches attached to the sides, a small desk and a blackboard.

During the meeting with representatives of the press, the First Lady Dominican reported that his office works closely with UNICEF in the aspect of psycho-emotional recovery of children and young Haitians.

We have reached 600, 500 are in Haiti and 100 in Jimaní. With this work we follow a small addition that we understand they have a future ahead, so you should try to turn negative emotions into positive and want to advance and explore desires, the First Lady Dominican.

Shortly after this meeting in the National Palace Gardens, Cedeño de Fernández went to Petionville, where he was accompanied by dominican Education Secretary Melanio Paredes and Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Haiti, Jose Silie, where he undertook the formal delivery classroom libraries. It was a moving ceremony where Haitian children greeted her with flowers, music, clowns and much joy.

The idea of installing these classroom libraries was greeted with enthusiasm by the first lady of Haiti, Elisabeth Delatour de Préval, who on a recent visit to his Dominican counterpart, thanks for the help and said she was pleased with the donation, stressing that the Haitian current priority is the education of children.

Santo Domingo Live, 26.02.10