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http://sacandomelao.blogspot.com/2008/01/la-fundita-presidencial-qu-contiene-y.html Kissing OUT In Military
It has (apparently) been the norm in the DR for male and female soldiers to salute superiors of the opposite gender with a cheek brush kiss but as from last Thursday a new rule requires the salute to be the more standardised hand salute used throughout the world with local variations. Those who do not comply will, it appears, be disciplined! Councillors Salaries
All this week the papers have been full of the decision by councillors in San Cristobal to increase their benefits from RD$100,000 per month to RD$150,000. In many quarters it was condemned, in others it was imitated as councillors in other areas sought to increase their benefits. What made the San Cristobal case so distateful was the councillors seeming reluctance to increase the salary of the RD$3500 pesos per month manual labourer. Public pressure had some success however - the original decision was left without effect and it was replaced by an increase of RD$25,000. 30 Tons Of Drugs Airlifted In 2007
The drug statistics for 2007 indicate some 16 aerial drops per month, some 200 plus illicit flights during the year and a total of some 30 tons of drugs brought in. And that presumably is the ones they know about! http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12298 DR Poultry Ban Means Shortages In Haiti
'A ban on poultry imports from the Dominican Republic is causing food shortages in neighboring Haiti, adding to concerns about food prices in this impoverished country. Haitian officials declared the ban this week after 115 Dominican chickens tested positive for a strain of avian flu that, while not a threat to humans, has forced the killing of millions of chickens in Asia. Egg prices at the market in Port-au-Prince's La Saline district jumped 25 percent, to more than $3 for a carton of 24. Long lines snaked around stalls at the outdoor market as buyers and merchants panicked that supplies could soon run out.' Read on: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/caribbean/sfl-flahaiti0111sbjan11,0,3932411.story?track=rss http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2008/01/10/4766113-ap.html Dominican Banana Exports To Fall
' Dominican banana producers will lose millions of dollars as they struggle to restore cultivated fields razed by tropical storms last year, an industry leader said. Roughly half of the country's 24,710 acres of banana plantations were destroyed during the 2007 hurricane season, causing $27 million in losses, Eddy Cabrera, president of the Dominican Association of Banana Producers said Tuesday. He criticized the Dominican government for failing to deliver about $12 million in aid it promised after Tropical Storm Olga barreled through the Caribbean nation in December, killing at least 33 people and displacing 62,000. The storm also left 8,000 banana workers jobless, he said.' The story continues: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080109/dominican_banana_losses.html?.v=1 Stowaways From Puerto Plata
'Two Dominican migrants were plucked from the water of the St. Johns River near Jacksonville and three others recovered by authorities after they had stowed away on a Trailer Bridge barge in the Dominican Republic. One other man was still missing, the U.S. Coast Guard said Monday. The Coast Guard said the stowaways had apparently been aboard the Trailer Bridge barge Chicago Bridge, which was coming into the Port of Jacksonville Sunday night from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.' More here: Western Union In 10 Year DR Agreement
'The Western Union Company, a global leader in money transfer services, and Grupo Vimenca, a privately held group of financial services companies in the Dominican Republic, have renewed their relationship by entering into a 10-year agreement. The deal, ratified at a signing ceremony in Santo Domingo to commemorate the companies' 18-year business relationship, will continue to provide consumers the ability to send and receive intra-country and outbound global money transfers through the Western Union(R) Agent network. Christina Gold, President and CEO Western Union, and Don Victor Mendez Capellan, President and Founder Grupo Vimenca, represented their companies at the event'. Read on but you will not find a mention of sankie pension schemes! Rotarians Build Classrooms In San Juan De La Maguana
'In an act of international goodwill, a group of Northern Michigan residents have ventured to the Dominican Republic to help build an addition to a schoolhouse and provide aid to residents there. Among the group, which includes members of the Gaylord and Grayling Rotary clubs, is Herald Times’ General Manager Marilyn Kaczanowski. She is joined by 46th Circuit Court administrator Rudi Edel, who has been sending daily commentary and photos of the progress on the project, as well as what life is like in the Caribbean nation.' The story continues: http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com/articles/2008/01/11/news/local_news/doc4783ec11b85f9184114522.txt http://gaylordheraldtimes.com/blogs/ http://gaylordheraldtimes.com/articles/2008/01/11/blogs/doc47839d6806b2e557472476.txt Culture Shock?
Read the story of Emma Clisante a teacher from the DR who teaches in Utah and who slept in her classroom rather than brave the snow outside. Russian Gun-Toting Artist With DR Studio
'Picture a Russian high school student - not just any student but the one best known in her class for dismantling a Kalashnikov rifle in the fastest time - while wearing a blindfold. The image in your mind is likely to be far removed from the reality. Marta Grigorieva was that student, but it is with a painter's palette rather than with a rifle that the petite doctor's daughter from St Petersburg is making her name on both sides of the Atlantic.' Read on: Dominican Troubadour Puerto Plata Makes A Comeback
'In the early part of the 20th century, the musical style known as son became all the rage not only in Cuba, but the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico as well. Performed by a trio or quartet wielding acoustic guitars and light percussion, son's lyrics told stories about the lives and loves of the people. But in the early '30s in the Dominican Republic, the infamous dictator Rafael Trujillo denounced it in favor of a watered-down ballroom-style big-band merengue, and Dominican son was forced into the shadows. "El Señor, the dictator, made his law, and said here we must play only [Cuban] danzón, [Puerto Rican] danza and, principally, [Dominican] merengue," said José Manuel Cobles, popularly known as Puerto Plata. Cobles, who will be playing as part of globalFEST, to be held at Manhattan's Webster Hall (866-448-7849) Sunday, is a prominent purveyor of Dominican son. Last year, at age 83, Cobles released his first album, "Mujer de Cabaret (Cabaret Woman)" on IASO Records.' Read the fascinating story in Newsday: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-fflat5531883jan13,0,5923685.story?track=rss Touting Punta Perla
'Looking for the latest property hotspot? Punta Perla golf property offers investors more than your average return…If you think the property market is cooling, think again. Dominican Republic off plan property is currently one of the hottest deals for investors. Attracting great interest at the moment is the Punta Perla Golf Resort on the eastern tip of the coastline. Investors can enjoy a whole package of financial incentives, including £1,000 cashback on completion from one agent for buyers paying deposits before the end of January 2008.' Be advised that is is a Press Release issued by a UK company out of Lincolshire and includes gems like 'Buying property in the Dominican Republic is relatively straightforward.' Ask Seek & Buy Properties if they have first hand experience................and then go and consult with expats who have. And maybe ask Seek and Buy if they have heard rumours of any alleged connection between some parts of Punta Perla, a Dominican politician and foreign resources http://prweb.com/releases/2008/1/prweb602341.htm http://www.seek-and-buy-punta-perla-properties.co.uk/index.html Dreams Punta Cana Sold
'Playa Hotels & Resorts, S.L. today announced it has closed on the purchase of five resorts, operated and branded by AMResorts, located throughout Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The properties include: Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun, Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa, Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Sunscape Puerto Aventuras Riviera Maya and Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa, Dominican Republic.The acquisition of these five upscale Unlimited Luxury(R) and Unlimited Fun(R) resorts complements Playa's existing portfolio of 12 resorts throughout Mexico and the Dominican Republic operated by Barcelo Hotels & Resorts and AMResorts. As part of the arrangement with AMResorts, Playa has committed to spend over $25 million over the next 12 months to upgrade the five properties which will retain their AMResorts branding and management.' More here: DR Honeymooners
'An East Kilbride couple whose wedding dreams were shattered by the closure of a local hotel are now happily married. Calderwood couple Michael, 27, and Claire Guinan, 25, were devastated to find out the Stuart Hotel had closed suddenly just weeks before their wedding was due to take place. The devastated couple lost the £1500 they had paid as a deposit for their wedding reception which was due to take place in the hotel last summer. The first the couple knew of the closure was when they read an exclusive report in the News.' More here: No World Cup Football Games In DR
'The Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, Montserrat and Surinam will not be allowed to host World Cup qualifiers because their stadiums do not meet FIFA's new stadium standards. FIFA, soccer's governing body, said Friday that those nations' first-round qualifiers will now be one game instead of the home-and-home, total-goals series originally called for in the format for the North and Central American and Caribbean region. CONCACAF deputy secretary general Ted Howard said the new standards deal with safety, security and quality. The Dominican Republic will play at Puerto Rico in late March.' More here: Book News
New outlet for US customers! Quisqueya: Mad Dogs and English Couple is now available from The Dominican Bookshop: http://www.dominicanbookshop.com/Quisqueya_Mad_Dogs_and_English_Couple_p/978-1904502524.htm http://www.bestbooksonline.co.uk/shop/specials.php?id=68 And surprise, surprise at long last Quisqueya did show up on Amazon.com as being available but this was shortlived and the blurb has reverted to its former inaccuracy! Reviews of the book are available at the above Amazon links as well as British Expat and Dominican Today. http://dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=25127 http://www.britishexpat.com/Book-Reviews-Quisqueya.1347.0.html Canadian In Distress - Weekend News 6th. January 2008
It will be remembered that following the death by drowning of 11 year old Canadian Adam Vitaterna at Damajagua Falls, Imbert in January 2005 various safety measures were introduced to make the Falls tour safer for tourists. It could be that Mr. Purcel's campaign will achieve the same for the Punta Cana area. http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20080103_173602_496 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D77xgMo0PfI http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=85468 http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/01/03/4751368-cp.html http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/071231/canada/world_dominican_missing_3 http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/12/31/dominican-missing.html?ref=rss http://www.diariohorizonte.com/view/articulonacional.aspx?articleid=16919&zoneid=9 Santiago Recovery Efforts
While some of the Santiago dam opening victims are still waiting for their 15,000 pesos relocation rent according to Listin Diario, Hoy had an article on the loans which the Government are taking on from the Interamerican Development Bank in order to assist the recovery effort. In order to prevent residents returning to areas which will doubtless be flooded again, SOECI, the Ecological Society of the Cibao, has suggested that an ecological corridor should be established down the banks of the Yaque River and should be policed to ensure compliance. Meanwhile the Commission of Enquiry into the Tavera tragedy had its first meeting on Thursday, fixed its agenda, organised its committees of experts and will meet again on January 17th. Opposition Presidential contender Aristy Castro has been asking why, in the case of the Tavera, Government functionaries closed their ears to the advice of the technicians and he has said that those culpable should be brought to justice either under this Government or the next one! http://listin.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=42633 http://www.hoy.com.do/article.aspx?id=137327 http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12261 http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=133454 http://www.hoy.com.do/article.aspx?id=137433 President In Puerto Plata
Last Sunday President Fernandez toured downtown barrios of Puerto Plata distributing Christmas food boxes. On Friday he was due to come back and do the same in other parts of the province. It looks as if the weather meant this was moved to Saturday when it did not happen either because a helicopter trip was not possible according to El Nuevo Diario. The Three Kings Day presents to children were distributed by others including the Governor. http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/enero2008/leonelvuelveapp.htm http://www.periodicoelfaro.info/news/125/ARTICLE/2247/2007-12-30.html Rain Doesn't Stop Play
Heavy rain in Montellano on Saturday morning did not stop some 2000 people queuing for food bags nor hundreds of children lining up for toys in the sports centre. http://youtube.com/watch?v=B7yg6sJDfZw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=108az3BC9Rw http://sacandomelao.blogspot.com/2008/01/bajo-lluvia-rebul-de-gente-buscando.html http://sacandomelao.blogspot.com/2008/01/nios-tambin-crean-tremendo-rebul-en-la.html British Teenagers Arrested In Luperon
Two British teenagers were arrested in Luperon in possession of marijuana. As they are 17 years of age names were not supplied in keeping with the new Penal Code. http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/enero2008/dncdapresa.htm Expat Sues Dominican Lawyer
Hotel owner Helmet José Maurerbauer won his case against Lic. Jesús García Tallaj and the company García Tallaj & Asociados in Puerto Plata Court of First Instance. Lic. Jesús García Tallaj was found guilty of misappropriating US$350,000 and was sentenced to a year imprisonment and 5 million peso damages to the plaintiff as well as the return of the US$350,000. An appeal has been lodged. http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/enero2008/noticiasvariadasdel5012008.htm http://www.periodicoelfaro.info/news/125/ARTICLE/2302/2008-01-03.html US Citizen Accidentally Shoots Self
Terry Larson, 49, apparently accidently injured himself in a cabaña, Isla del Paraíso, on the main Cabarete road in Gaspar Hernandez. According to Puerto Plata Digital the gun, which had no legal documentation, is now in police hands and Mr. Larson was taken to a clinic. http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/enero2008/noticiasvariadasdel5012008.htm 60 Metre Rule Broken In Cabarete?
Litigation is being brought by various environmental groups against those allegedly infracting the 60 metre rule and building too near the beach in Cabarete. http://www.periodicoelfaro.info/news/127/ARTICLE/2293/2008-01-03.html Villa Liberación Falling Down
One of the buildings in Villa Liberación started crumbling, apparently due to an over economic cement mix. This is the new development in La Union designed to house those from El Tablon in Sosua. http://sacandomelao.blogspot.com/2008/01/se-derrumba-edificin-apartamentos-en.html Economic Challenges for 2008
According to economist Bernardo Vega the DR faces a number of economic challenges in 2008, not least the rising cost of food much of which the DR imports. Electronic Bracelets
The DR has introduced a pilot scheme to use electronic bracelets as an alternative to remand in custody and the first 10 cases are now under way. Seven of these are for minor offences and three are charged with domestic violence. There has been some concern expressed that the use of such devices could conflict with the 'presumption of innocence' which is now part of the Penal Code, according to an article in El Caribe. Interestingly other countries using these devices do not seem plagued by the same doubts. http://listin.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=42981 http://www.clavedigital.com/Noticias/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=18576 Firemen Sacked For Selling Confiscated Fireworks
Six members of Santiago Fire Department have been...........................fired after they sold confiscated fireworks to children. The fireworks had been confiscated under new administrative orders from the Secretary of the Interior to combat the sale of fieworks by unlicensed vendors and it is presumed the fireworks so confiscated were being stored at the Fire Department. Three children were injured by the fireworks sold by the Fire Department. http://www.clavedigital.com/Noticias/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=18577 Wagons Roll for Metro
http://www.hoy.com.do/article.aspx?id=137663 http://elnacional.com.do/article.aspx?id=35472 http://elnacional.com.do/article.aspx?id=35330 Laura Vogel Memorial Trip
'USM students and faculty are returning to the Dominican Republic, one year after a car accident killed one of the volunteers on the trip. 27-year-old Laura Vogel was a USM masters student and a nurse. She died when the truck she was in flipped over an embankment. The group was on a humanitarian trip in the country, providing health services to local villages.' More here: UK Firm Circumvents Anti-Bribery Law In DR Deal
'One of the richest families in Britain is being accused in a courtroom battle of circumventing anti-bribery laws. The Mabey family firm, whose worldwide empire is based on exports of steel bridges, is accused by its former sales manager of misconduct in sales to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Panama. The former manager, Jonathan Danos, says that large secret payments of "commissions" to middlemen were artificially split to make them look smaller, and thus avoid official scrutiny.' Read on: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2234048,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=11 http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12267 Dolphin Makes Spash In DR
'Dolphin Capital Investors Ltd said it is entering into a joint venture with Aman Resorts for the acquisition and development of Playa Grande resort in the Dominican Republic. The real estate investment company said it will participate with a stake of at least 70 pct in the joint venture, which has acquired 100 pct of Playa Grande Holdings, the entity owning the site, for an enterprise value of up to 57 mln usd. The remaining shares in the joint venture will be owned by Aman Resorts with a stake of up to 25 pct, and private investors of up to 5 pct.' Read on: http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=3103110&c=1 http://www.sharewatch.com/story.php?storynumber=148925 http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/01/03/afx4490158.html Caribbean Tourist Taxes And Fees
'Examples of room taxes charged in the Caribbean include: Antigua and Barbuda: 8.5% Bahamas: 12% Barbados: 7.5% Dominica: 5% Dominican Republic: 23% Grenada: 8% Haiti: 10% Jamaica: 15% St. Kitts and Nevis: 7% St. Lucia: 8% St. Vincent and the Grenadines: generally 7% Trinidad and Tobago: 10%'. More here: http://gocaribbean.about.com/od/beforeyougo/a/Taxesandfees.htm Bird Flu Ban Hits PR Cockfights
'A ban on bird imports has forced the cancellation of more than 100 cockfights and dealt a blow to the lucrative industry in this U.S. territory, a government official said Friday. Puerto Rico halted all bird imports Thursday after a rare outbreak of avian flu was reported in the neighboring Dominican Republic, where authorities killed more than 100 chickens including fighting roosters that tested positive for the virus. The cancellations could cost the industry millions of dollars in lost revenue, said Carlos Quinones, the cockfighting director for the island's sports and recreation department.' The strory continues: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080104/puerto_rico_cockfights.html?.v=1 Sea To Rise 6 Metres By 2050?
 José Santana, Director of the International Advisory Commission on Science and Technology, presented a report to Congress on the implications for tourism of future rising sea levels in the DR. Listin has a map of the likely affected areas in the next 50 years. Included at the second link are Arizona University Dept. of Geosciences maps which show effects at different levels of sea rise.Punta Cana Hotels 'Not The DR But A Green Piece Of Europe'
'Benjamin Castillo also has a bottle of "Dominican vitamins" with him, which is his term for the country's brown rum. The boat carrying his tour group stopped about 30 metres from the catamaran, and the sea is softly bathing the legs and navels of his companions too. Castillo is a tour guide from Higuey, the largest town in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic. There are few job opportunities for people like him except in tourism. Yes, there are fields of sugar cane south of Higuey. "But cocoa, coffee, bananas, cattle breeding, sugar cane - only the rich people who own the land live on that," Castillo said. "All of the poor people live on tourism." ' Read on: Helping Out In Puerto Plata
'........While staying in Puerto Plata on the northern coast, the couple journeyed beyond their hotel and saw widespread poverty in the streets outside the tourist area. Spurred by the sight, the Avallones began a tri-monthly tradition of donating clothing, food and candy to the people of Puerto Plata. They work with their hotel as a medium to ensure that the goods get delivered. "In nine years, we've sent about 100 packages," Ralph Avallone. On return trips to the country (February will mark their 10th visit), the couple purchase 20 pounds of rice and beans to give to their hotel.' More here: http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071230/COMMUNITIES30/712300363 Book News
New outlet for US customers! Quisqueya: Mad Dogs and English Couple is now available from The Dominican Bookshop: http://www.dominicanbookshop.com/Quisqueya_Mad_Dogs_and_English_Couple_p/978-1904502524.htm http://www.bestbooksonline.co.uk/shop/specials.php?id=68 And surprise, surprise at long last Quisqueya did show up on Amazon.com as being available but this was shortlived and the blurb has reverted to its former inaccuracy! Reviews of the book are available at the above Amazon links as well as British Expat and Dominican Today. http://dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=25127 http://www.britishexpat.com/Book-Reviews-Quisqueya.1347.0.html And a happy New Year to all our readers! Santiago Tragedy After Christmas - Weekend News 30th. December 2007
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84398 http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=132484 http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12205 http://elnacional.com.do/article.aspx?id=34829 http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84619 http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12218 http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=132767 http://www.hoy.com.do/article.aspx?id=136602 http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84618 http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=132819 http://www.periodicoelfaro.info/news/127/ARTICLE/2178/2007-12-27.html UN Increases DR Appeal
'The United Nations is seeking an additional $4.1 million to aid storm victims in the Dominican Republic, bringing the total requested over the past two months to $18.5 million. The additional funds are needed to assist those affected earlier this month by tropical storm Olga, which killed up to 33 people and displaced another 61,000, bringing new hardship and significantly disrupting recovery and relief efforts after tropical storm Noel struck the Caribbean country at the end of October, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement today. Two weeks after Olga hit, nearly 14,000 people remain in 42 shelters while 47,700 others are staying with family and friends. Material damage is also significant, with over 12,000 houses affected, of which 370 were completely destroyed. Together, the two storms killed over 160 people and directly affected more than 130,000.' The story continues: First Choice Flight - No Snow!
On Christmas Day, a British citizen, Proud Dbie, 43, was detained with 16 kilos of cocaine at Puerto Plata airport whilst attempting to board a First Choice flight for Manchester, UK. The next day a Dutch woman, Felize Vera, was arrested at the same airport also for muling. Not so proud and not so 'feliz' (happy)! And not so surprising that Head of the DNCD Major General Rafael Radhamés Ramírez Ferreira refers to 2007 as a 'bumper' year for drug busts. Since he took up office some 18 months ago, 32,000 kilos of drugs have been detected, representing a third of the haul in the past seven years according to El Nacional. http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/diciembre2007_1/detieneninglesaportrafico.htm DR Reaction To Tragedy In Pakistan
http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/...Articulo=12231 http://elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84819 http://elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84760 http://www.elcaribecdn.com/articulo_...0D7&Seccion=63 http://www.hoy.com.do/article.aspx?id=136913 http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=133007 http://elnacional.com.do/article.aspx?id=34971 http://www.almomento.net/news/127/AR...007-12-28.html http://www.dominicanoshoy.com/app/ar...=2031&zoneid=4 http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-39/1198912515283460.xml&coll=6 Canadian Tourist Suicide In Cabarete
A Canadian tourist, Karl Leclerc, 37, apparently committed suicide by hanging using his shoelaces according to a piece in El Nacional. The deceased and his girlfriend, Linda Tate, were staying at Orilla del Mar, Cabarete and had arrived in the DR three days before the event. Mr. Leclerc had apparently attempted suicide before. German Tourist Dies Celebrating
German tourist Karl Heinz apparently died in a Sosua clinic from a surfeit of Christmas celebration. He had been staying at Canta la Rana Hotel, Sabaneta de Yásica. Tourists Drown
An American tourist drowned while swimming in the sea on Friday. Jane MacDonald, 45, was a guest in Secrets Hotel, Uvero Alto. Canadian tourist Hady Hon Kit Qan, 30, a guest in the same hotel, tried to assist the victim but he, too, was beaten by the waves and disappeared. Playa Dorada Full
From December 24th. all the Playa Dorada hotels have registered a 100% occupancy rate, according to a piece in El Faro. http://www.periodicoelfaro.info/news/127/ARTICLE/2129/2007-12-23.html Must Be Catching!
http://www.hoy.com.do/article.aspx?id=136571 http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84490 http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12207 http://www.almomento.net/news/128/ARTICLE/2089/2007-12-24.html More Jobs For Opposition
Despite the hue and cry the last time that the President attempted to stack the re-election cards by appointing ex-opposition militants to Governmental positions, still it continues! This week ex-Reformista Licelot Marte de Barrios got the presidency of the Consejo Directivo de la Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica Dominicana (ETED) and General Camilo Antonio Nazir Tejada was named as a member of the Consejo Directivo de la Empresa de Generación Hidroeléctrica Dominicana (EGEHID). Seemingly 'hue and cry' doesn't get heard. Which sends an unfortunate message that something louder is needed. Sports Centre At Callejón De La Loma
A new sports centre has opened at Callejón de la Loma, Cabarete, funded by the Ocean Dream group and Cabarete Ayuntamiento. It was inaugurated this week. http://elnuevonorte.com/Inicio/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/486/ItemID/497/Default.aspx http://www.periodicoelfaro.info/news/126/ARTICLE/2142/2007-12-27.html Too Poor For Christmas Dinner
The stark reality of life for many in the DR is never very far away. El Nacional interviewed people who could not afford to celebrate Nochebuena with any form of special dinner. Butt Out, Newbie
Not quite what the Foreign Secretary said about the new US Ambassador, but close. Carlos Morales Troncoso was speaking on his return from Cuba with the President and in answer to Ambassador Fanning's expressed concern that if the JCE did not get their full 2008 Budget requirement next May's Presidential elections would be affected. Secretary Morales Troncoso said 'We don't comment on US elections and only Dominicans are entitled to comment on Dominican elections'. He continued that probably Ambassador Fanning was not very informed about the reality of Dominican elections due to his short time in this country. Airport Extortion In DR
A new report highlights Dominican airports as having high charges and many officials practising extortion. Customs and Immigration would appear to have particular expertise in this area. And who complained? Two week charter tourists from the UK? No. Canadians moving to the DR as new residents? No. Dominicans visiting their motherland............ http://www.dominicanoshoy.com/app/article.asp?articleid=1905&zoneid=1 http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/diciembre2007_1/informehabladecorrucion.htm More Airports In 2008
Unrelated to the previous item (but probably not for long!) comes the announcement that 2008 will see continued work on the San Juan de la Maguana airport and new airports to be built at Jimaní, Pedernales and San Francisco de Macorís. The airport at Montecristi will also be inaugurated. All of these allow for extension of........er............entrepreneurial activities! Russia To Punta Cana
Russian airline company Transaero will be using a Boeing 747 for its weekly tourist flights from Moscow to Punta Cana. The charters are due to start in February 2008. Crime Hushed Up In Casa De Campo?
According to a report in Dominicanoshoy.com crime in Casa de Campo is being hushed up. Two weeks ago a woman was killed but no reports about this appeared. Neroliza Moreno Mañaná worked at a pharmacy alongside the Pepperoni Restaurant and was captured during a robbery, raped and later shot and her body dumped on the La Romana–San Pedro de Macorís road. Police have apparently been told not to share crime stories with the media presumably because of the likely adverse effect on Casa de Campo. And police, it would appear, do as they are asked because Casa de Campo looks after them, according to the report in Dominicanoshoy. http://www.dominicanoshoy.com/app/article.asp?articleid=1858&zoneid=1 Dateline NBC Passport Investigation
'At the Santo Domingo airport in the Dominican Republic, a foreign visitor makes his way through the Immigration line. An agent swipes his passport through the computer. Everything checks out. The official stamps the passport. Another tourist has entered the country. In this case, though, the traveler is not who he appears to be. He is an undercover investigator. His passport is real, but it has been issued under a false identity. He has just demonstrated how easy it is to obtain and use fraudulent travel documents.' The story continues: Drug Route Grows Through Haiti
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-drugs23dec23,1,6281440.story?track=rss 90 Kilo Haul Christmas Eve
Security services at Las Americas Airport, Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana sequestered a total haul of some 90 kilos of cocaine outward bound on Christmas Eve. 65 kilos were found at Las Americas bound for Italy, 16 kilos at Puerto Plata bound for Spain and 12 kilos with two French sisters out of Punta Cana bound for Holland. Yes the total comes to 93 killos but 90 is the total printed by Diario Horizonte. http://www.diariohorizonte.com/view/articulonacional.aspx?articleid=16816&zoneid=9 Plane Crash Survivors Talk
'Two men who survived a plane crash are now sharing their story. As they traveled from the Dominican Republic back to Venice Airport in Sarasota County, the engine on their cessna died. Rocky Miller explained, “We were probably about 45 minutes out and all at once everything just stopped... the engine just like.. like we put on the brakes. About 25 hundred feet we knew we were going to have to put in the water.. so we set up for a final glide that would put us about a 100 feet from this sail boat.” ' The story continues at the link where there is also a video. This story was initially reported in last weeks news at the second link. http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?s=rss&storyid=70492 First Xmas Away From DR
'Elida Fernández, 53, is spending her first Christmas away from the Dominican Republic, her homeland. Unfortunately, this holiday season is not a joyous one for her, nor for her daughter Judy Gabot, 30, who is working two jobs in an effort to keep her mother alive. Fifteen years ago, Mrs. Fernández was told she had stage-four breast cancer and had only three months to live. Her four children were devastated by the news.' Read on: Life Beyond The Beaches
'The masses of Quebecers who hit the beaches of the Dominican Republic during the winter are ignoring a larger reality only kilometres away: The slavery-like conditions of hundreds of thousands of undocumented Haitians who work the country's sugar-cane fields, a Montreal aid group says. To raise awareness among the all-inclusive crowd - and perhaps also to prick their conscience a bit - the group has come up with something to remind Quebec tourists of the workers' plight: a 2008 wall calendar.' More here: South To South Migration
'The scrap-wood shanties on a muddy hillside are a poor man's promised land. They have leaky roofs and dirt floors, with no lights or running water. But hundreds of Haitian migrants have risked their lives to come here and work the surrounding fields, and they are part of a global trend: migrants who move to poor countries from even poorer ones. Among them is Anes Moises, 45, a dark-skinned man with flecks of gray hair, who has worked the Dominican banana fields for more than a decade, always illegally. Farm bosses pay him $5 a day and tell him that Haitians stink. Soldiers have called him a dark-skinned "devil" and deported him four times.' Read on: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/27/america/27migration.php?page=1 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/world/americas/27migration.html Busy LA Year For UN Disaster Teams
'The United Nations office that sends expert teams around the world to help governments deal with natural disasters was busier than ever in Latin America this year, a fact it at least partially blames on climate change. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said in a statement that a record nine missions were dispatched to the region during 2007, among 14 sent around the globe, itself a higher than usual number.' The Guardian article continues: http://www.guardian.co.uk/weather/Story/0,,2232599,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12 How To Find Your Resort
'Q. My husband and I wanted to go to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, so we booked a place on the Internet. When we got to Punta Cana, we couldn't find our resort. We did find signs pointing to Sunscape, which is where we booked, but it was about 40 minutes away, so we didn't think that could be it. It was. Although it was fine, it wasn't what we wanted. How can travelers make sure they get the location they paid for? A. You can't - at least, if you rely only on a name. Rule No. 1 of trip planning: If you want to know exactly where something is, look it up. "Punta Cana is a very large area and includes many towns," wrote James Berryman in an e-mail. Berryman is assistant to the general manager of Dreams Punta Cana and regional director of operations at AMResorts Dominican Republic. Rule No. 2: Look at the address of your destination.' Next week: how to learn the alphabet.....................! More here, if you can bear it! http://www.twincities.com/ci_7771400?source=rss&nclick_check=1 Odebrecht Preps DR Toll Road Issue
'Brazil’s Grupo Odebrecht is assembling a $360m project finance bond to build and operate the Autopista El Coral in the Dominican Republic. The deal, to be launched in the first half of 2008, will include a relatively novel structure that has been used before in Peru for the IIRSA toll roads, but never outside that country. The so-called Certificados de Registro de Pago de Inversiones (CRPI) is an adaptation of the successful CRPAO used in Peru, whereby the government agrees to service bonds whose proceeds are incrementally fed to the builder as it achieves construction milestones. Merrill Lynch, the bank that was largely responsible for adding the financing innovation that permitted multiple investor bases to participate, was tapped to lead the El Coral financing.' Stowaways To Florida
'Five stowaways are expected to be deported back to the Dominican Republic. They were caught hiding on a barge headed to Blount Island.' More here: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=98809&ref=rss U.S. Coast Guard Honoured For DR Rescue
'Stranded in a mountain town with a burst appendix, if not for the Coast Guard, the little boy would not have survived. The town was cut off because of severe mudslides and flooding after Tropical Storm Noel slammed into the Dominican Republic. Also caught on tape was the rescue of a severely dehydrated pregnant woman. This series of saves in the Dominican was shot by local Coast Guard Chief Donnie Brzuska.' Read on: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=98886&ref=rss Successful Surgery
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/NEWS/712290321 Book News
New outlet for US customers! Quisqueya: Mad Dogs and English Couple is now available from The Dominican Bookshop: http://www.dominicanbookshop.com/Quisqueya_Mad_Dogs_and_English_Couple_p/978-1904502524.htm http://www.bestbooksonline.co.uk/shop/specials.php?id=68 And surprise, surprise and at long last Quisqueya is showing up on Amazon.com: Reviews of the book are available at the above Amazon links as well as British Expat and Dominican Today. http://dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=25127 http://www.britishexpat.com/Book-Reviews-Quisqueya.1347.0.html Merry Xmas To All Our Readers! Weekend News 23rd. December 2007
After The Santiago Tragedy
Alongside all the posturing and denial some hard technical information is also being uncovered. In an interview carried out by Marino Zapete on Esta es la Vida, Channel 45, with Augusto Rodríguez Gallart, ex-director of INDRHI and an engineer with experience of dam construction, it was noted that in a study carried out in 1976 on the Tavera Dam by the US Bureau of Reclamations (funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank) it was recommended that each June when hurricane season started, the Tavera level should be reduced to 322 metres to avoid flooding. However in the past 10 years those recommendations were not carried out and the Tavera was kept at maximum level to produce electricity. Diario Libre has been looking into the operations manual of the Tavera and explaining what it mandates. And daily on his blog engineer Luis Arthur makes it abundantly clear that the overriding themes here are ignorance and negligence in the way that the matter was handled. Readers of Spanish are urged to read this blog on a daily basis. While the political 'clean up' continues, so, too, does the actual clean up as residents of affected parts of Santiago and all the other flooded areas are facing a greyish brown rather than a white Christmas no matter how much mud they remove. And all the while the displaced with no homes at all wander the streets in search of Governmental responses which are more than just promises, according to a piece in Saturday's Clave Digital. http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=83699 http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=131722 http://elnacional.com.do/article.aspx?id=34421 http://listin.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=41624 http://listin.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=41067 http://mariasoldevila.blogspot.com/ http://mariasoldevila.blogspot.com/2007/12/ms-intercambios-entre-nasa-onamet-y.html http://listin.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=41357 http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=83974 http://elnacional.com.do/article.aspx?id=34182 http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/diciembre2007_1/cuestionanvisitadirector.htm http://www.periodicoelfaro.info/news/131/ARTICLE/1978/2007-12-13.html http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84094 http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84094 http://www.diariohorizonte.com/view/articulopolitica.aspx?articleid=16635&zoneid=44 http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12130 http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=131918 http://luisharthur.blogspot.com/ http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12187 Canadian Murdered In Torre Alta
Last weekend a 62 year old Canadian resident of Puerto Plata was found murdered in his home in Torre Alta. According to Puerto Plata Digital Robert Belanller and his Dominican wife lived at Manzana 6, Casa #1, in Torre Alta IV. Police are investigating. http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/diciembre2007_1/policiales17.htm Extortion In Puerto Plata
New Public Hospital For Puerto Plata?
The President of the Dominican Medical College, Dr. Arnulfo Suero, says that Puerto Plata needs another public hospital to replace Ricardo Limardo. Ricardo Limardo was built in 1960 and since then the population of Puerto Plata has doubled. A maternity and childrens hospital is a particular need. http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/diciembre2007_1/noticiacmd.htm Promises Not Met In Aguas Negras
The Puerto Plata barrio of Aguas Negras has apparently received promises but little help in the wake of Tropical Storm Olga. According to José Darío Roque, President of the Junta de Vecinos, the barrio received promises of assistance from Governor Cesar José de los Santos but as yet these have not been met. http://www.puertoplatadigital.com/noticias/nacionales/diciembre2007_1/sectoraguasnegras.htm Traffickers Get 20 Years In Puerto Plata
The three men involved in the attempt to smuggle 51 kilos of cocaine from Puerto Plata port aboard the Habib Express to Miami in February of this year have each been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Kudos to the judges and it is to be hoped that no appeal will overturn this decision. Puerto Plata 46th. Most Popular Destination For 2008
In the New York Times article The 53 Places to Go in 2008, Puerto Plata features as number 46 one place above London, United Kingdom. According to the New York Times 'Puerto Plata, the rowdy beach resort on the Dominican Republic's north coast, is about to get rowdier. Maxim, the racy men's magazine, is opening a 108-bungalow resort on Cofresi Beach, near the Las Vegas-style Ocean World Marina and Casino. Expect the drinking to start onboard JetBlue, which is offering nonstop flights between Kennedy Airport and Puerto Plata next month.' But............is 'rowdy' an attractive description and is it even accurate? More at the first link. Travelzoo places the DR fourth for its hot deal destinations in 2008 - more at the third link. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/travel/09where.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin http://www.periodicoelfaro.info/news/125/ARTICLE/2085/2007-12-20.html FBI On Kidnapping Case
Readers will recall the kidnapping of Susan Rash last September in Las Galeras - the details are at the first link. On Friday the FBI submitted proceedings to the Attorney General although the identities of those named have not been released. The proceedings have been passed to the Samana judiciary for action. Doubtless many will be monitoring this case with interest. Christmas For The President
President Fernandez intends having Christmas dinner on the evening of December 24th. with a poor family in Jeringa barrio near the River Nigua in what is described as an 'unprecedented' event. Other descriptive adjectives might also apply! Meanwhile Clave Digital has an interesting article by sociologist Enmanuel Castillo on this administration's achievements and faults. http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84363 http://www.clavedigital.com/Portada/Articulo.asp?Id_Articulo=12127 Trouble At Land Registry
Three Government officials, all working in the Land Registry, have tendered their resignations to the Supreme Court - one is the National Director of Measurements and Catastrals, one is the regional director and the third is a German adviser. It would appear that an internal conflict has been brewing for some time. This particular department is responsible for the registration of CODIA professionals as well as the law relating to measurement issues. DR To Enter Bolivarian Alternative For The Americas?
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez opened the Petrocaribe oil summit in the Cuban city of Cienfuegos Friday, announcing, "We have begun to create a new geopolitics of oil that is not at the service of big money interest." Top officials including heads of states from the Latin American and Caribbean regions have gathered in the coastal city to discuss petroleum deals to benefit smaller countries in the 16 member bloc. The hawkish Venezuelan leader called on his Caribbean and Latin American counterparts to come together against the "failed dictatorship of world capitalism." He said he wants to use Venezuela's oil reserves to help create a confederation of republics free of U.S. interests. Chavez also called for creating an international fund to promote alternative energy sources. "Despite the Yankees, our gas is at the service of Venezuela first, and next to our brothers in the Caribbean," he added. President Chavez is criticized for the Venezuelan initiative to supply cheap oil to regional allies. Critics say he is manipulating the country's oil wealth to extend his and Cuba's political influence.' Read more at the first link. President Fernandez has expressed the DR's interest in joining ALBA, the Bolivarian Alternative For The Americas, according to a piece in El Nuevo Diario. ALBA is an international cooperation organization based upon the idea of social, political, and economic integration between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Such a move would have much potential for the poor of the DR particularly in terms of education (Venezuela has virtually eradicated illiteracy) but would probably be fiercely resisted by business interests. http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=84240 http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/2590 http://www.perspectivaciudadana.com/contenido.php?itemid=19530 Aircraft Ditches Near La Romana
http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=132426 http://listin.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=41662 Engine Failure After DR Mission Flight
'Two flying missionaries bound for South Florida escaped injury after their Cessna 208 lost power and went down in the Atlantic near Andros Island in the Bahamas on Thursday afternoon. They were rescued by a good Samaritan in a sailboat named Impetuous, authorities said Friday. Rocky Miller, a pastor, and Paolo Costa, both pilots from the Sarasota area, were flying for Agape Flights Inc., of Venice, a missionary organization that regularly delivers supplies to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, said John Niesen, who works for the group. Niesen said the men had dropped off cargo in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, and were on their way to Palm Beach International Airport to clear U.S. Customs. From there, they had intended to fly back to Venice.' The story continues: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/sfl-1221planedown,0,1603982.story?track=rss http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?s=rss&storyid=70281 Reaching Out And Giving Gifts
'As the Dominican Republic has struggled to recover from the one-two punch of Hurricane Noel in October and Tropical Storm Olga in December, Paterson's large Dominican community has marshaled its resources to help. In November, Paterson's Dominican community started a movement to help the victims of the weather-beaten Caribbean country. On Sunday, 15 tons of food, water and medicine donated by New Jersey residents arrived in Santo Domingo, the capital city. The shipment was accompanied by five Dominicans from New Jersey, including three volunteers from the city of Passaic. Now, local organizers like Yunior Fermin and Ramon Leon and the Liga Cibao softball team they lead have committed to providing toys to poor children in the Dominican Republican in time for Three Kings Day, on Jan. 6, a traditional gift-giving occasion commemorating the day the three wise men brought gifts to the Christ child in Bethlehem.' The story continues: Where Golf Is Good
'And the winner is, six under par: Dominican Republic. It has 23 courses and more under construction. Only three golf courses in the Caribbean made Golf Digest magazine's list of "100 Best Golf Courses Outside the U.S." this year, and two are in the Dominican Republic. Teeth of the Dog at the Casa de Campo resort is widely considered the best course in the Caribbean and was ranked 20th. It is challenging and windy, says Peter Finch, a senior editor at Golf Digest. He adds that two other Pete Dye-designed courses at the resort, the Links and the unfortunately named Dye Fore, are first-rate as well.' More here: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/travel/20071209_Courses_for_the_par__Where_golf_is_good.html Ethanol From Municipal Solid Waste In DR
'Masada Resource Group, LLC of Birmingham, Alabama, the world's leading municipal solid waste-to-ethanol technology firm, has teamed with RJ Zapata & Associates S.A., one of the largest privately owned groups of waste management companies in the Dominican Republic, to develop and operate commercial-scale waste-to-ethanol and electricity production facilities in the country. The two companies signed a long-term joint-venture agreement last month to build facilities in the Dominican Republic that will produce fuel-grade ethanol and electricity from ordinary household garbage. Rafael Zapata, President of RJ Zapata and a leading businessman in the country, brokered the Zapata-Masada deal. "This is a historic moment for the Dominican Republic," said Zapata. "This partnership allows us to dispose of the City of Santo Domingo East's municipal solid waste and create up to 30 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol annually and substantial electrical power in the process. This is a win-win situation for everybody involved".' The story continues: |
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For those curious to know what was being distributed to the poor over Christmas click on this link for a list. Total value: 292 pesos.
Quisqueya: Mad Dogs and English Couple is now available in Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata in the Playa Dorada bookstore. It will also shortly appear in Libreria Rodali in Puerto Plata. Stay tuned for further updates! Meanwhile it is available online from the publishers, Best Books Online, and from Amazon UK. Amazon Canada are currently listing as 'temporarily out of stock' with more on order. 
Following the disappearance of Canadian tourist Hady Quan, 32, whilst attempting to rescue another tourist in distress in the sea off Excellence Punta Cana Resort and Spa, as reported in this news bulletin last week (at the fifth link) more detail is now available in Canadian media. 'The Canadian embassy in the Dominican Republic is being blasted by friends of Hady Quan, 32, for not doing enough to find the Vancouver businessman, who disappeared Friday in the waters outside a luxury resort. Quan was swimming with girlfriend Tiffany Weiland at the Excellence Punta Cana Resort and Spa on the island's east coast. They heard a man screaming in the distance. Quan and Weiland swam out to help him and were caught in a riptide, their friend Marius Purcel said from Vancouver. Rescuers on boogie boards recovered the swimmer, who is believed to have drowned, but Quan was nowhere to be found. Weiland made it back to shore, according to Purcel. Three days later, friends and family of Quan have been conducting their own search without much help from the Canadian embassy in Santo Domingo, Purcel said.' 'A YouTube posting from the friend of a missing Vancouver man has now been watched more than 800 times. Marius Purcel is desperately seeking support, after his friend Hady Quan was apparently swept away in the waters off a resort beach in the Dominican Republic six days ago. Friends of the 32 year old Quan say everyone who travels to the Dominican should know what they're getting into. Purcel says Quan's disappearance, just 30 feet away from the resort's shoreline, is something that could have happened to any one of the hundreds of resort customers he's seen swimming in that exact location. "So many people are going down there and they have no idea what they face...if anything goes wrong, you're on your own." Dominican Defensa Civil has denied lack of co-operation according to a piece in El Nuevo Diario. More here and the You Tube video 'Canadian in Distress' (with more than 60 comments and 3000 views in 3 days) is at the third link:
This week the first three of the Metro train cars arrived together with the engine at the port of Haina. They then made the slow transportation journey to Villa Mella with many onlookers turning out to watch the show and everything else being brought to a standstill in the ensuing traffic jams. Caustic comments like 'There goes my money' were heard! More cars are due to arrive in February and March and it is hoped that the Metro will begin operating on 27th. February. A ticket will cost 20 pesos according to an article in Hoy. 
A week marked by more clearing of mud by way of celebrating for Christmas! Those who lost their homes are finding it difficult to rent a new abode because landlords are fearful that the Government will not meet its promises to pay the monthly rent. They were, therefore, promised that they would be given 15,000 pesos to cover their rent until new accommodations were built in March 2008. On Christmas Eve refugees in Gregorio Urbano Gilbert Sports Club in Barrio Libertad took their protest (that they had not received the money) to Avenida Estrella Sadhalá to be met by police hitting some of them and Government functionaries pulling guns on them according to a piece in Clave Digital! Doubtless an overflowing of Christmas spirit towards people who are not criminals but victims. By Wednesday some of the Rafey residents who lost their homes had received their 15,000 pesos while those from La Javilla, Rincón de Oro and Tamarindo had not, according to El Nacional. Bella Vista residents told El Nuevo Diario that only PLD supporters and activists were in receipt of Governmental help and Rafey residents continued protesting while a psychiatrist was quoted in El Nuevo Diario as being concerned about the increased risk of suicide by people who had lost everything and could see no hope for their future. Meanwhile the President of the Environment Committee in the Chamber of Deputies went on record in Hoy as saying that the dam was kept full until the last minute because of the profit motive. Diputado Mario José Fernández Saviñón appears to have received copies of operations reports of the Tavera from 10th.-14th. December and has passed these on to journalists. And the plaint by the bereaved for criminal negligence ratcheted up a notch with the statement in Diario Libre that they would also litigate against the Commission of Enquiry set up by the Government if it did not do its job correctly. The Commission's first meeting will be on January 3rd. But the final word for this week must be left to Luis Arthur who, as usual, sums up the whole situation with acerbic clarity. Happy New Year!
The murder of Benazir Bhutto resonated in the DR as indeed it did throughout the world. All of the Dominican newspapers covered the tragic event and many had stories of personal links between the deceased and the DR Government and opposition. El Nuevo Diario ran a piece about the meeting of Peggy Cabral, widow of the late Peña Gomez, and Ms. Bhutto at the International Socialist conference in Geneva last October. Miguel Vargas, opposition Presidential candidate, who also met Ms. Bhutto at the same conference, paid homage to her in an article in Listin Diario. The Foreign Secretary, Carlos Morales Troncoso, paid tribute on behalf of the DR Government as described in El Nuevo Diario which also had an editorial on the same tragic event. Diario Libre also ran an editorial on the subject. Diputada Minou Tavarez Mirabal, of Mirabel family fame, was interviewed by El Caribe about Benazir Bhutto and about the invitation extended to her by Ms. Bhutto's political party to act as an observer at the forthcoming Pakistani elections. There is an interview in English with Pakistan's Consul General to the DR while Ms. Bhutto was in office, Humayun Hamid, at the last link.
Last Sunday this news bulletin reported that the President intended having Christmas dinner with a poor family in the Jeringa barrio of San Cristóbal. On Monday Hoy reported that the other two main Presidential candidates Miguel Vargas of the PRD and Amable Aristy Castro of the PRSC intended doing the same, Vargas in Cristo Rey and Aristy in Higuey. Meanwhile before the dinner Miguelina Camarena, mother of the family so honoured, said she hoped she would get a house out of it, according to an interview in El Nuevo Diario - Miguelina lost her home during Tropical Storm Noel. The dinner was an intimate affair - just the President and his family, the Camarena family and some 200 assorted politicians, functionaries, security personnel et al. Plus another 2000 people from the barrio who lined up for their food afterwards. According to Al Momento four minutes after the President left there was a power blackout which made some of the remaining Armed Forces personnel somewhat nervous - fortunately it did not last long and security personnel were able to withdraw. And in an article in Tuesday's El Nuevo Diario it looks like Miguelina was able to get a promise from the President that she would get both a house and help with setting up a business. Doubtless the flood victims of Santiago would be advising Miguelina not to hold her breath! For those who read Spanish, the Al Momento link below has some pointed readers' letters.
'Three beefy men wearing wraparound sunglasses and gold chains leaned against their SUV at this remote border crossing with the Dominican Republic. As one of them muttered into a walkie-talkie, four Haitian policemen pulled up looking like they meant business. The SUV's back hatch was opened. The cops eyeballed its load of opaque-plastic-wrapped bundles. One officer picked up a package the size of a bread loaf, appraising its weight with his forearm. Then the police and the gold-bedecked trio knocked fists in solidarity, traded vehicles and drove off toward the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. And thus ended the drug bust that wasn't............Narco-trafficking enterprises already are entrenched in central Haiti, having cropped up along the one passable road from the capital to the northern coast. "We are looking for bandits and gangsters, but we are also finding police and congressmen among them," said Andresol, who concedes that he can't trust most of the 5,000 men on his force. Local politicians in Haiti also offer protection to drug runners, he said, fostering transshipment in exchange for a share of the profits that can be doled out to impoverished constituents to bolster their clout.' Read on in the Los Angeles Times:
'David Lauriano-Cedeno had undergone nine intestinal surgeries during his seven years of life in the Dominican Republic and was facing a lifetime of digestive problems. But now it appears he will able to lead a normal life, thanks to a complicated surgery performed earlier this month by doctors at The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick. Since his release from the hospital last week, David and his mother, Chronne Cedeno Sanchez, have been staying with family members in Brooklyn, N.Y. They returned to Saint Peter's on Friday for a follow-up visit, and his doctors say he should be able to return to his homeland next month.' The story continues:
The royal 'our' might seem a trifle insincere but wishing a merry Christmas to all 'my' readers errs on the presumption of the possessive..............the wishes, however, are sincere. So, whoever you are, wherever you are - have a good one. And enjoy 2008 whether the US declares war on Iran or not. Look on the bright side - it would provide a diversion from the next five months of wall-to-wall political campaigning which we're going to be subjected to here in the DR.
A week of uncovering facts, finger pointing, defensiveness & capitalising on party political angles over what was a preventable tragedy which ought to rise far above the mire of party politics. Not to forget the 'making the best of it' as members of the administration break ground on construction projects to provide homes for those whose homes were washed away. Firstly the victims: an interview appeared in El Nuevo Diario with a Haitian survivor who said that the worst affected areas of Santiago had many lodging houses where Haitian construction workers lived (& died) and that these do not appear to be featuring in the official death statistics. Relatives of victims are pursuing a legal plaint against the Government under article 319 of the Penal Code (involuntary homicide) as explained in an opinion piece by the editor of Diario Libre. This plaint was submitted to the Attorney General during this week, as described in the third and fourth links. Secondly, the DR's meteorological service ONAMET has been waging war on Listin Diario for reporting NASA's satellite rainfall estimates: this battle features at links 5 to 10 but English language readers may prefer to read all correspondance in English on Maria Soldevila's blog - she is the Editor of Listin. Thirdly, INDRHI Director Pimentel has been busy denying culpability 'I only receive reports, I don't make decisions, that is down to the committee' as a piece in El Nacional makes clear and items in El Faro opine about. Fourthly, potential denial of culpability can be seen in the composition of the Commission of Enquiry to look into the tragedy - it is made up of Government officials! This Commission is due to report in March 2008 which would indeed be an inopportune time for any profound admissions of guilt seeing as how it is a mere 2 months before the Presidential election. Eight ex-presidents of CODIA have already signalled CODIA compliance with the Commission outcomes. Meanwhile at link 16 is a very interesting piece from El Nuevo Diario which holds the President to account for the tragedy and suggests that the decision to flood Santiago was taken deliberately so that the President could appear as the towns saviour in relief efforts which was needed in order to boost his flagging approval ratings. 
Six occupants of a light aircraft which ditched in the sea some 32 miles south of La Romana were rescued by the US Coastguard on Friday. An elderly passenger died. The flight was coming from Venezuela but was not a drug flight - the occupants were tourists intending vacationing in Punta Cana. According to Aviation Minister José Tomás Pérez the body of the 82 year old Venezuelan victim is inside the aircraft which rests on the sea bed at a depth which makes recovery impossible without specialised equipment.| |