Fernandez says

BREAKING NEWS : TRIPOLI.- President Leonel Fernandez yesterday questioned before the African Union that despite the world’s condemnation of the coup in Honduras, the de facto government remains unperturbed usurping power.

He said something is lacking in the international community which keeps it from turning its declarations and principles into concrete actions which lead to the solution of conflicts, which in his view is what’s happening in Honduras. How it is possible that despite the entire world’s unanimous rebuke of the coup in Honduras, and the demand to restore the legitimate and constitutional order, this has yet to be obtained ?

Fernandez spoke before presidents and heads of delegations of the countries taking part in the African Union Summit, which concluded yesterday with his speech.

The Dominican chief executive said that for Latin America and the Caribbean the case of Honduras is politically important, since the continent had reached stability for more than three decades.

Situation of concern

Fernandez affirmed that Honduras’ situation is of great concern for the Africans, whom just as the Latin Americans are interested in preventing and controlling their nations’ conflicts which alter economic and social development.

Dominican Today, 01.09.09

Erika’s track edges closer to Dominican Republic’s NE

On Friday

BREAKING NEWS: MIAMI.- The National Hurricane Center issued its latest bulleting on Tropical Storm Erika, located at 16.5N Latitude, 59.5 W Longitude, around 400 miles east of the Leeward Islands, moving west-northwest at 15 kilometers per hour, which places its projected track closer to scraping the country’s northeast coast.

Disorganized Erika approaching the Leeward Islands…a little weaker. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, Anguilla, St Maarten Saba and St Eustatius, the NHC said.

Locally, the National Meteorology Office said Erika is expected to affect the Dominican Northeast on Friday.

Dominican Today, 02.09.09

Tropical storm put Puerto Rico under alert

Recommend Dominican Republic and Haiti to watch Erika

BREAKING NEWS: MIAMI.- Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are under a tropical storm alert for Erika that will approach the area today, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida.

The meteorologist’s recommendations for the Dominican Republic and Haití were to be alert as to the path of the fifth named storm of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season.

Erika, which is poorly organized, has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers an hour and it is possible that it will weaken to a tropical depression over the next 48 hours.

A storm becomes a tropical depression when its maximum sustained winds are 62 kilometers an hour.

Diario Libre, 03.09.09

Erika weakens but heavy rains to come

The tropical depression will bring rains to the Dominican Republic

BREAKING NEWS: Tropical storm Erika weakened yesterday and became a tropical depression, but she still has sufficient potential to pour torrential rains on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Meanwhile in the Dominican Republic, the safety organizations are gearing up and have issued a green alert on possible flooding in 9 provinces in the country.

The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) put the provinces of Duarte, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Samana, Hato Mayor, El Seibo, La Altagracia San Pedro de Macoris La Romana and Monet Plata on alert.

According to the report from the National Meteorological Office (Onamet), the forecasts indicate that the now tropical depression will begin to be felt in the country tonight, and therefore it recommended that people living near river banks, creeks and arroyos should be aware of the possibility of flooding.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami reported that Erika weakened to a tropical depression and all the warnings have been lifted since the sustained winds are below 55 kilometers per hour.

Attention to the phenomenon

The NHC, in spite of the weaker Erika, alerted the inhabitants in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea to be alert regarding the progress of the system.

Erika might become an area of low pressure today, but at any time it could also become a tropical wave according to the meteorologists from Miami.

Diario Libre, 04.09.09

Dominican official downplays tourism industry’s eco-irresponsibility

United Nations Program for Development

BREAKING NEWS: To guarantee the stability of Dominican Republic’s most productive sector, the Tourism Ministry says it maintains diverse plans to promote ecotourism nationwide.

Two months ago Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia signed a agreement to stimulate sustainable tourism projects with Japan’s cooperation agency JICA, said public relations director Rosanna Figueroa, in response to United Nations Program for Development (PNUD) affirmations that the Dominican tourism model is unsustainable because it doesn’t include the protection of the natural resources.

She said Tourism recently spent RD $500 million to repair roads in Punta Cana, Bávaro, Boca Chica, Samaná and other tourism regions and a local campaign to promote internal tourism and create awareness on the economic importance of protecting the environment.

The official said the Government has an extreme interest in the protection of this sector, for which Garcia is always aware of each of the stages of its development.

The PNUD and Environment Ministry last week hosed a dialogue which concluded with a scathing criticism for the tourism industry’s irresponsibility in managing the natural resources.

Dominican Today, 07.09.09

Russia and Dominican Republic will cooperate

Entities interested in financing energy projects in the country

BREAKING NEWS: Moscow.- Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso arrived in Moscow on a four-day diplomatic mission monday.

The mission is expected to lead to the signing of cooperation agreements between both nations, as well as creating stronger ties between Russia and the Dominican Republic.

Morales Troncoso was greeted by Russian Latin America Department sub-director Victor V. Koronelli and Alexander Grachev, who works in the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Protocol. The Minister was also met by the Dominican Republic ambassador to Russia, Jorge Luis Perez Alvarado.

Two major Russian banks, Capital Bank and Unifin Bank, yesterday stated their interest in financing solar energy projects in Dominican Republic, within the incentive laws on foreign investment.

Meanwhile two natural gas companies yesterday sought information on the design and budget and almost concluded project of the Dominican Government to install a refinery or a natural gas storage plant in Manzanillo (northwest).

The signs of interest took place during a meeting headed by Dominican Foreign Relations minister Carlos Morales with an especially contacted group of investors, in a building located in a metropolitan zone.

Morales, who was received by executives of Russia’s export sector and government officials, told them of president Leonel Fernandez’s interest in foreign investments and that the official, high level visit to Moscow this week is part of Dominican Republic’s efforts to obtain new partners for its development.

DR1 / Dominican Today, 09.09.09

The Youth and Employment Program recompensed

By the UNESCO and the Inter-American Development Bank

BREAKING NEWS: The Youth and Employment Program (PJE), developed by the Dominican Employment Ministry was pre-selected as the Best Practice in Work with and for the Young People, by the organization committee of the project of Best practices in Youth Policies and Programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the cooperation of the UNESCO and the Inter-American Development Bank (BID).

These two institutions gave a communiqué to the coordinator of the programme, José Luis Polanco, explaining that the Practices of Youth and Employment will be published on the project’s website page, and in a book.

Polanco will have to participate in the Forum of Best practices in Youth Policies and Programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean too, in order to presents the practicies, the methods and the monitoring system used by his institution, as well as the main results.

The event will take place in Puerto Vallarta, in Mexico, from November 4th to November 6th, 2009.
With 17 973 graduates, 930 formations offered, and 500 new enterprises for professional training, the PJE starts with a strong base its second stage 2008-2011.

It’s goal is to transform young people of 16 to 25 years old in specialized workers in order to better they life level. For its second phase, the PJE aims to reach 40 500 graduates in more than 50 specialities.

Dominican Republic Live, 10.09.09

International Beach Clean-Up Day

Environment Ministry will organize a Beach Clean Up Day in the country

BREAKING NEWS: In the occasion of the celebration of the International Beach Clean Up Day , the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (Semarena), invites all the society sectors to take part in this great day, scheduled on Saturday September 19 starting at 08.00am.

This activity is organized in order to preserve the coastal and marine ecosystem.

The Semarena organizes this activity with the support of other institutions as Tourism Ministry, National Poline, differents enterprises, the Culture Ministry etc…

The National Network of Beach Clean-up was created in 2008, by Semarena, in order to keep beaches and coast of the country clean and nice.

Dominican Republic Live, 15.09.09

Dominican Republic wants to increase commerce with china

Exchange elevates to more than 160 millions dollars

BREAKING NEWS: Wang Zhen, director for the Foundation for International Studies, said yesterday that of the 20 Latin American nations that trade with China, the Dominican Republic has the largest trade deficit. China traded US $140 billion with Latin America in 2008.

Trade with the Dominican Republic was about 10% of the total, but one-sided. Over the past 4 years, Chinese exports to the DR add up to nearly US $1.4 billion. The DR exported only US $290 million to China during the same period.

Zhen made these comments after taking part in a seminar on Chinese foreign trade and foreign relations policies for Latin America at the Dominican Republic Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD).

Eddy Martinez of CEI-RD said that President Leonel Fernandez is interested in increasing trade with China.

It is not necessary to trade with China, it is obligatory, said Martinez. He said the DR could increase its exports of farm produce and industrialized farm products to China, including rum, cigars, coffee and cacao.

The CEI-RD is coordinating Dominican participation in the Shanghai Trade Fair in 2010. The Dominican Republic will have a stand exhibiting Dominican products during six months.
Zhen has recommended efforts be undertaken to increase knowledge of the Dominican Republic in China, and China in the Dominican Republic.

The US $290 million consists primarily of ferronickel exports, which have been suspended.Also exported is metal scraps and copper.

DR1, 16.09.09

National Youth Prize 2010

Youth Ministry opens inscriptions

BREAKING NEWS: In order to motivate young Dominicans to participate to the National Youth Prize 2010, the Youth Ministry (SEJ) increased the reward value to 50,900 pesos, and 100,000 pesos for the great prize winner.

The Youth Minister Franklin Rodríguez gave these informations while he was announcing in a formal way the opening of inscriptions for the competition that will take place in January 2010.

He explained the traditional statuette, the gold ring and a laptop will be given to winners too, as every year in the National Palace, during a ceremony headed by Leonel Fernández.

Besides, the winners and the three finalist of each category will be sent to the Miami Day College in United States, all payed by the government.

We invite all the young persons between 15 and 35 to participate to the Youth National Prize for its 14th edition, added Rodríguez.

Dominican Republic Live, 17.09.09

Dominican Republic customs are second in Latin America

According to World Bank report

BREAKING NEWS : The customs of Dominican Republic became the second customs of Latin America and the Caribbean in the reduction of costs and procedures of imports processes and exports of goods, reveals a World Bank report.

Rafael Camilo, director of the General Directorate of Customs (DGA), pondered as important and transcendental rating on the Dominican customs, explained that the recent World Bank report sets the Customs Dominican Office, increased from 36 to her a year ago, to second place in relating to facilitation of cross-border trade.

Camilo noted that the Dominican Customs has been successfully placed in the second place in the process of trade efficiency product facilitation of its authorities and demands arising out of law 226-06, conferred on it by the autonomy to the entity.

Argued that Act 226-06 requires the Agency to act promptly in the processes of dispatch, because it is the first act in the world establishing a mandate to the customs administration of shipping the goods in 24 hours.

Camilo clarified that reducing the time to 24 hours in the Office of the goods have been achieved without prejudice to the control procedures security that should prevail in the entity.

The officer stated that the body performs efforts to convert for Dominican in one of the most efficient of all America Customs and the Caribbean, ensuring agile processes in the import and export of the goods.

Customs is firmly convinced of mechanisms to continue allow further improve procedures on import and export of goods within the modernization of the organism phase said the official.

He pointed out that these favourable conditions in the facilitation of trade that today exhibits the DGA will continue to improve when it enters into force of the Automation which begins to be implemented in the next program months.

The Office is taking measures, in terms of modernization and training of the staff, in order to continue to provide an Agile and efficient service in customs clearance.

Dominican Republic Live, 21.09.09

Leonel Fernández will speak to members of the United Nations

In New York

BREAKING NEWS : President Leonel Fernández will meet American representatives of several institutions and personalities during his visit to the United States, which starts on Monday and includes a speech at the 64th Ordinary Session United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The delegate has left the country this Sunday at eleven o’clock in the morning heading to New York.

On Monday, he will lead an expert speech at Hostos Community College with the theme The Future of Higher Education in the Dominican Republic from 18.00 hrs.

Previously, he will visit the John Jay School of Criminal Justice, where he will brief the Democratic Security Plan developed by the government in the country.

On Tuesday, the President will attend the session on climate change and the Global Compact and he will attend the inauguration of the Plenary Session of the Fifth Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative.

Fernández will address himself this Wednesday, September 23^rd to the members of the United Nations during a speech scheduled at 15:00.
Starting from 19.00 he will speak about the Dominican Constitutional Reform in the Brooklyn LawSchool.

In the morning, at 11:30 Fernández will meet Kerin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, at UN headquarters, and an hour later, he will attend a meeting with President of Finland, Tarja Halonen.

Dominican President will also attend the reception hosted by President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Thursday 24^th Fernández will have lunch with representatives of the firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and meet in the evening members of the Dominican community in New York, at the school Hermanas Mirabal.

This Friday, September 25^th, the delegate will meet with Dominican elected at the New York Palace Hotel, and from 13:00, will present a conference on the theme of Business Atmosphere in the Dominican Republic, Prospects for the crisis.

The Dominican President will return home Sunday, September 27^th.

Dominican Republic Live, 22.09.09

Promotion of the Dominican Republic

At the workshop of the Eiffel Tower

BREAKING NEWS : Paris, France.-The Ministry of Tourism (Sectur), in partnership with Dominican hotel companies and the air company Air France, has done this Monday fourth workshop institutional in the Eiffel Tower, in order to develop and stimulate the flow of tourists wishing to visit the Dominican Republic…

Mercedes Castillo, Director of the Dominican Republic Office for Tourism promotion (OPT) in France, said that this activity promoted the # 1 in the Caribbean destination.

This year 15 hotel companies located in the country have participated at the event, which Connect Travel Services Casa de Campo, Casa Bonita, El Caballo Tours, Ect Events and meeting, Meliá Caribe tropical, Hoteles Barceló, colonial tours and Travel, hotel Beds Majestic resort, Viva Wyndham Resort, Western Hotels and resort, hotel Beds Turmaya, not to mention the support of the National Association of hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores).

Castillo said thanks to the work of promotion developed by the Sectur on the French market, alliances with the private sector and above all, the support of Asonahores, the country hosted more than 300,000 French tourists each year in the Republic Dominican.

Similarly, Castillo emphasized the Soutine made by air France, who said that so that an airline such as Air France decided to support a destination, there must be a large trust as demonstrates the Dominican Republic.

This activity is part of the precedent of actions performed by the Dominican Republic OPT in France in the English International promotion Travel market IFTM top – Resa 2009, which begins this Tuesday and ends Friday next.

Dominican Republic Live, 23.09.09

Nouvelles Frontieres chooses the Dominican Republic

As a priority destination for French

BREAKING NEWS : Nouvelles Frontieres, the leading French tour operator for the Dominican Republic, has selected the country as a priority destination, which will have a positive impact on increasing the number of French tourists wishing to visit different parts of the island.

This is Francisco Javier García, Minister of Tourism, who disclosed this information, explaining that Nouvelles Frontieres also led the Tour Operator TUI-Francia and the airline Corsair.

Following a meeting with Jean Marc Siano, chairman of the Nouvelles Frontieres, García said that the French company would increase to three weekly flights from France to the Dominican Republic, starting next winter.

Similarly, the Minister of Tourism met with the president of the airline XL AIRWAYS, Laurent Magnin, who confirmed the continuation of 14 weekly flights to the Dominican Republic, which could add two additional flights, and one to Samaná.

XL Airways wants to develop medium sized cities, because that is what travelers ask, and this way we can occupy the four corners of France, from Paris via the eastern, southern and northern .

García added that for next winter, XL Airways will resume its flight to Samaná, which complement the arrival of French tourists in Santo Domingo by Air France.

Dominican Republic Live, 24.09.09

The President of the Dominican Republic speaks to the General Assembly of the United Nations

He proposes the implementation of a tax on funds deposited in tax havens

BREAKING NEWS : The President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández Reyna, proposed on Wednesday, as part of the General Assembly of the United Nations and to the financial inability nations reach the Millennium Goals, a set charge or created on the capital deposited in tax havens, in order to finance development.

According to the Dominican representative, addressing the impact of the global financial crisis on rising oil prices and food, it is imperative to overcome the special interests to establish new mechanisms of regulation and market supervision, which can ensure that another crisis does not appear, and who can approach the millennium goals.

Fernandez suggested the United Nations to develop a movement to create a working group to conduct a survey of high professional quality, to present a report and recommendations to establish a fee for development.

He explained that this funding mechanism would apply to the development of wealth between 7000 and 11 000 trillion dollars, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Tax Justice Network, resources Economic deposited in off-shore banks without paying taxes.

On taxes that do not get paid each year, President Fernandez has ensured that Oxfam had established that over 50 000 million dollars did not fall within the countries development because of this practice.

Referring to the availability of resources for financing development, the Head of State said that Dominicans they abounded, but were distributed unfairly because, inter alia, a Global financial architecture prone to lack of transparency, secrecy, money laundering, tax evasion and fraud.

He added that the only hope to turn the current economic decline, deterioration of social and moral crisis that dominates the world, lay in the decision courageous, wise and expedient that we can take from this prestigious global forum.

The people of the world expect those decisions. They are aware that their right to a dignified, honourable and happy depends on them. Do not disappoint. Act with justice, courage, sense of history and vision of the future, concludes Leonel Fernández.

Dominican Republic Live, 28.09.09

Marsans Transtours praised the Dominican Republic

The safest destination in the Caribbean

BREAKING NEWS : Paris, France: The Dominican Republic is the country that offers the highest standards of security, tranquillity and diversity to French tourists, said Bruno Welsh, president of Marsans Transtours, one of the largest tour operators in the French market.

He said that the Dominican destination had maintained its pace of growth over the past decade, making it a pioneer in the Caribbean market and the French Antilles.

Welsh made the statements during a meeting with Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia, in the context of the XXXI edition of the International French Travel Market (IFTM / TOP RESA 2009).

The Dominican Republic is a destination that brings peace and security in this turbulent ocean of crisis, and I think it’s a very good thing for both, France and for the Dominican Republic, because we can sell a product that attracts curious people who want to discover the country, even if they are sent in all inclusive, they want to go out and buy trips, visiting the country and meet people, said Welsh.

Even in times of crisis, the flow of passengers to the Dominican Republic remained stable, that is to say 300 000 tourists each year.

Referring to the company he chairs, Welsh said At Marsans, we strive to offer tourists a diverse Dominican Republic, they can leave the hotel and visit the area, play sports, play golf.

He informed that Marsans had bought two cruise ships that cross the Atlantic in October, allowing tourists to enjoy the wealth of the country in a different way from the coast of the Dominican Republic.

Now we can offer benefit options for this destination for tourists who love sport there are Puerto Plata, those who love nature prefer Samaná; for beautiful beaches Punta Cana is so great has Mr Welsh added.

In 2010, Marsans Transtour will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and on this occasion, the company provides a series of events in collaboration with major destinations like the Dominican Republic.

We discussed with Minister of Tourism about an event to mark our 100 years as part of Santo Domingo American Capital of Culture.

Dominican Republic Live, 29.09.09

Transaero Airlines announces increase the number of weekly flights

From Russia to the Dominican Republic

BREAKING NEWS : The Russian airline Transaero has announced the passage of two to five flights weekly from Moscow and St. Petersburg flights to the Dominican Republic, and that from next October.

The information has been disclosed by Magaly Toribio, Under Secretary forInternational Tourism Promotion.

This represented the Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia at the International Leisure Fair 2009 which came to an end last Friday in the Russian capital.

Toribio said that the addition of flights from Russia to the Dominican Republic will grow by 20 percent over the arrival of Russian tourists in the Dominican nation.

The airline has confirmed five flights scheduled from October 1st, two from San Petersburg, and three from Moscow, which enables us to ensure that 50,900 Russian tourists arrive in the country, she added.

She also said that the Dominican Republic had attracted the attention of leading tour operators, travel agents and hoteliers in the Russian exhibition Leisure.

The Russian economy presents an important improvement that contrarily to other local markets motivates Russian tourists to organize their vacation to a destination long distance.

Toribio said the stand of the Ministry of Tourism was organized by Galina Lysenko, Representative of the Tourist Promotion Office (OPT) in Russia, and Alexandra Streltsova, assistant to Ms. Lysenko.