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Monday, October 31, 2011

Technical Precision adds Dominican Republic capacity

Technical Precision Plastics Inc. is boosting the capacity of its Haina, Dominican Republic, facility with the addition of three Milacron Robotshot molding machines. The company plans to enlarge the facility by mid 2012.

The company will add two 165 ton presses and one 275 press by the end of November to support the increasing demand from existing customers and the addition of new customers, according to general manager Rick Malec, in an email response to questions.

The expansion will bring the number of presses at the Dominican Republic facility to eight. The company established Technical Precision Plastics Dominica Ltd in 2009 to provide clean room medical molding services to medical device companies in the Dominican Republic.

Malec said the 12,000 square feet Haina plant has 22 employees and operates in the PIISA Industrial Park, a free trade zone. He said the company plans to boost the space to 20,000 square feet by June 2012, to meet increasing demand.

The company’s main facility in Mebane, N.C., has 36 presses ranging in size from 55 tons to 350 tons. It has 135 employees.

Malec said the North Carolina plant specializes in multi-shot molding, running both two and three-shot machines. It is planning to boost its three-shot capacity in the first quarter of 2012.

TPP formed in Mebane in 1984 and has grown since. It has a 50,000 square foot facility and added a 26,000 square foot annex in 2006. It serves a varied customer base, including the aerospace, agricultural, automotive, consumer, medical and textile industries.


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Source: Plastics News

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Geoffrey and Brynne Edelsten spend millions on Caribbean resort, casino

After pocketing millions earlier this year following the sale of his Allied Medical Group, former GP Geoffrey Edelsten has forked out millions to buy a Dominican Republic resort and casino.

Edelsten and second wife Brynne last week exchanged contracts on the Playa Chiquita Resort and Casino, a small resort which sources say Edelsten bought for a song.

Although Edelsten's reps would not confirm the figure he paid yesterday, we were informed Edelsten plans to transform the Caribbean property into a nightclub with accommodation for 500.

"He will live part of the year there but will continue to base himself in Australia," said his publicist John Scott.

Playa Chiquita (meaning small beach) is on the coast of Sosua and is one of two casinos in the region although the Dominican Republic itself is a gaming sanctuary.

To help manage the renovation Edelsten, 68, also snapped up a private jet - a Challenger 601 - which he will base in Miami for flights to the resort.

Edelsten had a colourful 45 years as a doctor, entrepreneur and one-time Sydney Swans investor/promoter.

The Allied sale reportedly swelled his wealth by $100 million, with some spent buying his wife's favourite Vegas fashion label, Nurielle, for which she is a designer.

On November 15 the man perennially dubbed "disgraced medico" will release Enigma, a frank and revealing tell-all book of his life and the year spent in jail after being found guilty of soliciting hitman Christopher Dale Flannery to beat up a former patient.

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Source: News.com.au

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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Philip Morris to Invest Heavily in Dominican Market

Smoking is regaining popularity among young people in the Dominican Republic, and now the Philip Morris Dominicana company is announcing a plan to invest RD$500 million (approximately $13M USD) in the Dominican market.

Director Ricardo Petrikovich said that the company intends to increase its presence in the country. Philip Morris has been in the country for 40 years manufacturing Marlboro and Nacional cigarettes.

Petrikovich said the company was promoting the planting of Burley tobacco for cigarette manufacturing. “Our intention is to continue to increase our support for producers, with financing, training, advisory services and investment in related areas,” he said during a meeting with reporters in Santiago. At the same time Petrikovich said that the company would continue with programs to prevent cigarette consumption among minors.

He said the company has obtained international environmental management certificate ISO 140001 and health and labor security certificate OHSAS 18001.

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Source: Dominican Today

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Friday, October 28, 2011

Fernandez breaks ground for US$115M dam at La Vega

President Leonel Fernandez on Thursday headed the groundbreaking for the construction of the Guaigui dam in the community of the same mane in central La Vega province Guaigüí dam, which will supply potable water, irrigation, prevent the Camú River’s flooding and generate clean energy.

The dam and related structures will cost US$115 million, of which 78 million will come from financing by bank of London, and the remaining 37 million are Dominican government matching funds.

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Source: Dominican Today

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Cuba Denounces US Blockade in the Dominican Republic

In a press conference offered today at the Cuban Embassy, Bandrich said that the resistance against the blockade and the claim for the immediate release of the five anti-terrorist Cuban fighters unfairly held in US prisons are the two basic requisites for a normalization of relations with the United States.

He explained that the blockade has caused 975 billion USD in losses to Cuba and for 20 years the United States has failed to comply with the decision of the UN General Assembly demanding the end of that hostile policy that is in violation of all international regulations, besides failing in its attempt to destroy the Cuban Revolution.

Regarding the release of The Cuban Five, as they are internationally known, Bandrich said they continue in prison because Rene Gonzalez, who left prison on October 7, is now under supervised release for three years, banned from returning to Cuba and reuniting with his family.

Rene, along with Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Ramon Labanino, detained in the United States in 1998, were given harsh sentences for monitoring terrorist activities by anti-Cuban groups based in Florida.

They were subject to a trial plagued with irregularities and their rights have been repeatedly violated by punishment including solitary confinement and a ban on family visit.

Asked about his tasks as new representative of the Cuban Government in the Dominican Republic, Bandrich explained that he plans to maintain the long standing good relations between the two countries, based on respect to sovereignty, non interference in internal affairs and maintain collaboration in education, sports and other areas of mutual interest.

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Source: Prensa Latina

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Kraft Foods Introduces New Cocoa Scheme

In a commitment with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Cocoa Partnership initiative of Kraft Foods is planning to increase the yield and quality of Dominican cocoa.

The program will provide training on farming techniques for about for about 10,000 small-scale cocoa farmers in the country.

Bharat Puri, senior vice president, global chocolate, Kraft Foods said, “The challenges facing today’s cocoa farmer cannot be solved by any one company or organization. Only by working together – public and private sectors along with farmers and civil society – will we be able to make the difference that’s needed.”

Kraft Foods Inc. stocks were at 34.85 at the end of the last day’s trading. There’s been a 0.0% change in the stock price over the past 3 months.


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Source: eMoney Daily

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Tarantulas seized at Zurich Airport

Customs agents at Zurich Airport have blocked the delivery of 261 tarantulas shipped from the Dominican Republic.

The arachnids in question are Mexican redknee tarantulas – a protected species, according to a statement released by the Zurich customs investigation office on Wednesday.

Customs workers had found the individually-wrapped tarantulas packed in six cartons in August; ten of the large furry spiders had apparently died during the journey.

Zurich Zoo is taking care of the tarantulas for now; the creatures will eventually be placed in permanent homes. Their venom is not considered dangerous to humans.

The man who had ordered them is a Swiss spider breeder and dealer. When the authorities inspected his home they found 665 tarantulas as well as 72 meat-eating centipedes.

He had imported these illegally by post from central America, but he can keep them because their species are not under protection. However, he will be cited for breaching VAT law.

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Source: Swiss Info

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Monday, October 24, 2011

Dominican Republic loses preliminary WTO ruling

The World Trade Organization has issued a preliminary ruling against the Dominican Republic's tariffs on imports of polypropylene bags and tubular fabric, according to a text obtained by Reuters on Thursday.

The case was brought by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala after the Dominican Republic introduced a 38 percent tax on the imports as a temporary measure to protect its own producers.

Use of such temporary protection, so-called "safeguard measures", is permitted under WTO rules if a specific industry is at serious risk because of an increase in imports.

But the preliminary report, which was issued by the WTO's dispute settlement body on Wednesday and is likely to be finalised near the end of November, agreed with the complaint and found the Dominican Republic's action was not justified. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Karolina Tagaris)

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Source: Reuters Africa

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Sunday, October 23, 2011

Strike shuts down Dominican Republic university

Professors and other employees at the Dominican Republic's biggest public university have gone on strike and left 185,000 students without classes.

The protesters are seeking a total of $520,000 in back pay, a 15 percent wage boost and demanding the government allocate $18 million more for a university that now operates on a $109 million budget.

Chancellor Mateo Aquino says the university has a $693 million deficit and can't afford to raise salaries??.

The university professors' federation plans to march to Congress on Monday.

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Source: Money MSN

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Saturday, October 22, 2011

More Royal Caribbean ships will visit the Dominican Republic in 2012-2013

After several meetings with three major cruise lines that touch Dominican ports, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Radhames Martinez Aponte, said the country should feel satisfied with the achievements so far in the event organized by the Association of Cruise Florida and the Caribbean (FCCA). Among the FCCA members is Royal Caribbean, who agreed to increase the amount of passengers that will visit the country in 2012-2013.

"During the meetings we held with Royal Caribbean, MSC and Norwegian have promised us that from the 2012-2013 season will increase the number of cruise ships or cruise the ability of playing the Dominican Republic, which would raise the number of tourists coming this way, "said Martinez Aponte.

Michael Roman, vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean for Royal Caribbean, acknowledged the efforts being made by the Ministry of Tourism to further improve the conditions of ports and the changes they have experienced.

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Source: Royal Caribbean

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Village Farms to pack bell peppers in Dominican Republic

Village Farms International is beginning packing sweet bell peppers at a new facility in Santiago, Dominican Republic, in October.

“We should be fully operational by the end of the month,” said Stephen Ruffini, chief financial officer of Vancouver, Canada-based Village Farms International.

The packing and distribution site will operate under a new subsidiary, Village Farms DR, SRL.

It offers computerized grading machinery, value-added packaging, cold storage, certified quality assurance and the company’s Global Food Safety Initiative programs.

“Growers there have been selling their produce to wholesalers in the Dominican Republic who have connections to various U.S. wholesalers,” Ruffini said. “Nobody had a packhouse. There was a lot of lost product not handled properly in the cold chain. Growers weren’t happy with the pricing they received. It was haphazard.”

“What we’re selling is a fully operational packhouse and cooler. Bring your peppers to us and we’ll pay X. Mexico has made that transition to modern packing facilities over the last 10 years. We’re really the first to do so in the Dominican Republic.”

The site is expected to start operations with 15 employees.

Village Farms will also manage export logistical services of its packaged, branded peppers for distribution in the U.S.

The company has partner greenhouse growers in high-elevation areas of the Dominican Republic, the optimal locations for bell peppers.

“(The) Caribbean region is poised to become a consistent supplier of hydroponic greenhouse-grown sweet bell peppers to the U.S.,” Michael Minerva, senior vice president of grower relations supply development, said in a news release. “Village Farms has engaged in this project to meet its growing customer demand for greenhouse grown bell peppers.”

Village Farms has greenhouse facilities in Texas and British Columbia. The company markets primarily to retail grocers and fresh-food distributors in the U.S. and Canada.

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Source: The Packer

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Dominican Republic Aims to Have Merengue Deemed a National Treasure

Dominican Republican Senators Fernando Mateo Vasquez and Manuel Antonio Paula have asked the Ministry of Culture to submit Dominican merengue as a candidate for UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list.

The importance of intangible cultural heritage according to the UNESCO is not the cultural manifestation itself but rather the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted through it from one generation to the next.

Musicians Dioni Fernandez and Manuel Tejada initiated the measure. The Ministry now needs to present the application to the evaluation committee that meets in Paris in November.

If approved, this will be the DR’s fourth UNESCO listing after Santo Domingo Colonial City received one in 1990, the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit Congos of Villa Mella in 2008 and the Cocolo Dance Drama Tradition, also in 2008.

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Source: Hispanically Speaking

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Region nations mull port protection next week

Dominican Republic will host a regional event in which representatives from several countries will analyze port protection, mostly to prevent terrorism and other activities that pose threats to national security.

Several continental organizations sponsor the activity with delegates from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.

Specialized Port Security Corps (CESEP) director Luis R. Lee Ballester, who made the announcement Thursday, said the sub regional workshop is slated from October 18 to 20.

The conclave’s sponsors include the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), the Organization of American States (OAS), Canada’s Transport Ministry and the United States Coastguard Service (USCG).

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Source: Dominican Today

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Barrick Named Carbon Disclosure Leader in Canada, Recognized for CSR in Chile and Dominican Republic

Barrick has been recognized as one of the top five companies in Canada for its climate change disclosure practices and has received separate awards for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance in Chile and the Dominican Republic.

For the second consecutive year, Barrick was named as a carbon disclosure leader in Canada, this year ranking among the top five companies in an annual survey conducted by the Carbon Disclosure Project. Barrick was selected from among 200 major Canadian companies as the most prepared, involved and transparent in their approach to climate change information disclosure practices and strategies. The Carbon Disclosure Project is the only global climate reporting system that asks companies to disclose GHG emissions and climate change strategies. The survey is available for use by a wide audience including institutional investors, corporations, policy makers, public sector organizations, government bodies, academics and the public.

“At Barrick, it is a business imperative to manage the long-term, energy-related risks associated with climate change,” said Bill Williams, Barrick’s vice president for Environment. “We are committed to public disclosure and are very pleased to be ranked as one of the top five leading companies in Canada by the Carbon Disclosure Project this year. We will continue to report on the progress we are making, as we pursue opportunities to reduce energy consumption, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions and adopt renewable energy projects at our operations.”

Through energy conservation and efficiency programs, Barrick’s global GHG emissions were reduced by 206,200 metric tons in 2010. The company continues to explore innovative technologies and implement alternative energy projects in Chile, Argentina, the U.S., Tanzania and other locations.

In Chile, Barrick received an award from the Chilean Ministry of Planning and Cooperation for its efforts to reduce poverty in the country’s Antofagasta and Atacama regions. “We are very proud to receive this award and it commits us to continue this type of work,” said Barrick vice president of corporate affairs Rod Jiménez. “We believe that by working together with communities, we can add value and contribute to a better society.”

Since 2009, Barrick has been working with the Solidarity and Social Investment Fund (FOSIS) to implement projects to help people living in extreme poverty near its Chilean mine sites. The programs provide assistance to micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses. In 2010, 89 entrepreneurs and 35 small businesses received support from Barrick. As well, since 2008, Barrick has been part of the Atacama Commitment, a unique alliance with Chilean NGOs and government partners that includes a range of programs and projects aimed at improving economic and social conditions in communities in the Atacama region, home to Barrick’s Cerro Casale and Pascua-Lama projects.

“This award is aimed at recognizing companies with specific programs and initiatives to overcome poverty,” said Joaquin Levin, Chile’s minister of planning and cooperation. “It is focused on identifying and rewarding everyone who is collaborating on poverty reduction initiatives and inviting others to join this challenge.”

Finally, in the Dominican Republic, Barrick’s Pueblo Viejo operation was recognized by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic with an award for its community development practices. The award recognizes Barrick for its innovative work in helping develop a wide array of CSR initiatives in collaboration with residents and governments in communities surrounding the Pueblo Viejo project. Pueblo Viejo was one of six companies vying for the award.

“We are thrilled and gratified to be receiving this award, which recognizes our extensive work with communities to help them determine the sustainable development initiatives that they want to implement, and ensure they have the capacity to see those initiatives through to completion,” said Faby Manzano, CSR manager, Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation.

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Source: 3bl Media

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Monday, October 17, 2011

Dominican Republic learns Korean economic model

The visiting Dominican Republic secretary of state said Wednesday that the Caribbean island state wants to follow the Korean economic model, which helped the nation become one of the world’s strongest information technology powerhouses.

“We are seeking to follow Korea’s example. Dominican Republic has been an agricultural country, but wants to transform to an advanced IT industry-based nation,” said Eddy Martinez, secretary of state of Dominican Republic through an interpreter in an interview with The Korea Times.

Martinez came to Seoul with fellow government officials and businessmen to take part in an education program, invited by the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank).

Martinez, also in charge of the nation’s export and investment agency, said he hopes a bilateral relationship with Korea will be enforced through his visit.

“We want to be a strategic ally of Korea. We hope to have more important relationships with Korean companies.”

Martinez said that he is especially interested in Korea’s advanced three-dimensional (3D) technology and digital content business. Korea’s LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are two of the world’s leading companies with high-end 3D technologies.

The secretary of state also said he wants to learn from Korea’s education system, which has produced quality human resources enabling drastic economic development.

Julio Anibal Fernandez Javier, vice finance minster of Dominican Republic, stated his appreciation of Korea Eximbank for providing the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of $23 million to his country, which contributed to its customs agency modernization project.

Javier also hoped for more loans from Korea for its projects for its immigration agency modernization and trade center construction.
Korea Eximbank said that it has already approved an additional loan of $25 million for the immigration improvement, and is in talks with Dominican Republic on the trade center project, valued at $36 million.

The state-run bank introduced the nation’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) support program titled “Korea’s Hidden Champions” to the Dominican Republic people. A hidden champion refers to an SME, which has an internationally competitive market share though its exports are less than $4 billion.

The bank wants to enforce the backbone of the nation’s industry supporting 100 SMEs which have the potential to grow as globally competitive companies.

The 12 Dominican Republic officials and businessmen also visited the main office of Celltrion, a leading biopharmaceutical company based in Incheon, and an example of a Korean hidden champion.

They are scheduled to drop by global Seoul-based companies, such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, to look around plants and industrial infrastructure later in the week.

Korea Eximbank organized this event as part of its “Knowledge Sharing Program,” which introduces the country’s experience of economic achievement to developing nations.

Korea has drawn attention from the world for its rapid economic success from poverty and the ruins of the Korean War.

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Source: Korea Times

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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Dominican Republic starts up wind power project

Dominican Republic inaugurated its first large-scale wind power project on Tuesday in a move to develop renewable energy sources in the Caribbean country's crisis-ridden power sector.

President Leonel Fernandez attended the opening of the twin wind parks of Los Cocos and Quilvio Cabrera in Pedernales province in the southern part of Dominican Republic's frontier with Haiti.

The facility, which involved an investment of around $100 million by private local power companies Punta Cana-Macao (CEPM) and EGE-Haina, has 19 wind towers and will contribute 33 megawatts (MW) to the national electricity network. It will save around 200,000 barrels of oil a year, officials said.

The country's electricity sector, which relies on costly oil imports, has been in crisis for decades and consumers suffer frequent power blackouts. Private estimates say some 40 percent of Dominicans fail to pay for electricity, with many using illegal hookups to power their homes.

Under a $1.66 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) stand-by program, the government has been slashing hefty subsidies to the electricity sector and raising fees, but it has still budgeted around $350 million in subsidies this year.

A number of wind power projects already exist in the Caribbean -- in Jamaica, Cuba, Aruba and Guadelupe -- but the Dominican Republic facility was believed to be the largest of its kind so far, EGE-Haina officials said.

EGE-Haina said a second phase of the wind farm project would add an additional 52 MW in 2012.

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Source: Reuters

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Saturday, October 15, 2011

Dominican Republic Offers Support for Palestine’s UN Bid

Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, in a meeting with visiting President Mahmoud Abbas, Friday offered his country’s support for the Palestinians’ United Nations membership bid, according to reports.

Abbas, on an official visit to several Central American and Caribbean countries, discussed with Fernandez the Palestinian plan to gain UN recognition and membership.

The Palestinian president addressed the Dominican Parliament during which he announced that the Palestinian Authority intends to open an embassy in Santo Domingo.

“We hope that this embassy will be the central stage to develop our bilateral relations and our relations with many countries whether in Central America or the Caribbean,” he said.

Abbas said that the majority of world countries have recognized Palestine because they believe that this move is very essential for stability and peace in the region. The Dominican Republic has been one of the first countries to support the Palestinian bid, he said.

Fernandez conferred on Abbas the 'Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella,' the highest and principal honor of the Caribbean country.

“We hope to achieve peace and security among Israelis and Palestinians,” said Fernandez. “Recognizing the statehood of Palestine would help bring about lasting peace in the Middle East and ease concerns in the entire Arab community.”

He added that the Dominican Republic “does not hesitate to recognize the legitimate right of Palestine to be recognized as a free, sovereign and independent nation.”

Abbas arrived in the Dominican Republic on Friday, the first leg of his Latin American tour to gather world support for the Palestinian UN bid.

He will travel to el-Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Colombia, and will stop in Portugal on his way back.

The vote from Colombia and Portugal, two non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, is crucial to get the UN body to discuss the Palestinian application for membership. While the two states have said they might abstain, Abbas is trying to get them to vote in favor of the application.

The Security Council has first to accept the recommendation before it is brought before the UN General Assembly for a final vote. The United States, a permanent Security Council member, said it will veto it if the Palestinians get nine or more votes in favor.


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Source: Palestine News & Info Agency

Friday, October 14, 2011

Village Farms opens packing, distribution facility in Dominican Republic

Village Farms International Inc. (TSX:VFF) has opened a packing and distribution facility in the Dominican Republic.

The company, which specializes in greenhouse-grown produce, said Monday that the subsidiary, located in Santiago, will begin packaging sweet bell peppers this month.

All of the logistal services of exporting the produce to the United States will be managed by the company.

"With the proper grower training programs in place, effective packaging and logistics services, and steady guidance the Caribbean region is poised to become a consistent supplier of hydroponic greenhouse grown sweet bell peppers to the United States," senior vice-president Michael Minerva in a release.

Village Farms, headquartered in Vancouver, is one of North America's largest producers of greenhouse-grown tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers. It operates in both Texas and British Columbia.

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Source: Winnipeg Free Press

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Lansing adds direct flights to Dominican Republic

It's getting a little easier to book a warm-weather trip. Punta Cana has joined Cancun and Montego Bay with non-stop flights out of Lansing.

To celebrate, the Capital Regional International Airport is hosting the Fly Lansing Travel Extravaganza from 5-8 p.m. Thursday in the airport terminal. Representatives from Apple Vacations, Sun Country Airlines, tourism bureaus and resort properties will be on site to familiarize the public with direct flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Cancun, Mexico, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and others.

"Lansing worked hard to get the Sun Country service at their airport that does run seasonal non-stop flights to (these spots)", according to Peggy Riley, of Dolphin Vacations, a division of Professional Travel, in Grand Rapids. "The first year, (the Lansing airport) offered only Cancun, the second they added Jamaica, and this year they added Punta Cana."

Local travel agents have booked many of the seats for the Spring Break dates on these flights. Riley said Lansing is the only airport to offer these other than Chicago or Detroit.

"The flights to Montego Bay and Punta Cana operate once a week, and the service starts in December and operates through the first week of April," she said.

Remarkably, Riley said, one of the advantages of the Sun Country service is they rarely cancel a flight. Even in the worst snowstorms of last year, their flight departed from Lansing when others didn’t.

Travel agents also can help travelers find hotels to stay at the night before and be taken to the airport for the flight, "just like in Detroit and Chicago," she said.

The third annual Travel Extravaganza is open to the public and free and includes prizes, food and parking. Get more information on Sun Country and Apple Vacation packages by visiting Flylansing.com, contact the Fly Lansing Concierge Travel Center at 517-321-4688 or contact your travel agent.


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Source: MLive

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Dominican Republic with 5 nominations at World Travel Awards 2011

The Dominican Republic is showing its leadership as a Caribbean destination with five hotels nominated for the World Travel Awards 2011 in the categories of Ecological Hotels, Boutique Hotels, Best All- Inclusive Resort and Resort Casino Leader in the Caribbean.

This year, Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island will play host to the World Travel Awards Americas & Caribbean gala ceremony on October 7.

The ceremony, hailed as the "Oscars of the travel industry" by the global media, is set to attract the top decision-makers and thought leaders from across the Americas and Caribbean as they compete for the most influential accolades in travel.

The Grand Final Gala Ceremony is scheduled for November 29 in Doha, Qatar.

The nominees are the Puntacana Resort & Club, for the third consecutive year, as a Caribbean Green Hotel; the Catalonia Bavaro Resort Punta Cana, as the Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Resort; the Barceló Bavaro Beach Resort, as the Caribbean Leader in Casino Resort; the Club Med Punta Cana, as the Best Caribbean Family Resort; and the Sivory Punta Cana as the Leader in Caribbean Resorts.

The Dominican Republic has also been nominated as Leading Cruise Destination and as Leader of Sports Tourism in the Caribbean.

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Source: Dominican Today

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Dominican Republic 1,098 kilos cocaine bust year's biggest

The National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) last night seized 333 packages of cocaine, weighing approximately 336 kilos that would be sent to France via the Caucedo Multimodal Port, camouflaged in medical equipment, said the drug agency.

According to the report released by DNCD chief Rolando Rosado, this is the biggest drug bust in Dominican Republic this year.

Rosado said the drug found in the marine terminal would be out of the country in a container shipped by a company with headquarters in La Romana.

The container where the drug was distributed on nine suitcases has the number SUDU7522562 and would be mounted on the motor vessel Columba to be shipped to the port of Le Havre, France, a city in Upper Normandy.

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Source: Dominican Today

Monday, October 10, 2011

Family of student killed in Dominican Republic awarded $340,000

The family of a teen who died doing humanitarian work while on an internship in the Dominican Republic will receive more than $340,000 in damages.

François-Jacques Roussin was 18 and a student at Champlain-St-Lawrence College in Sainte Foy, Que. in 2004 when he started the internship with Plan Nagua as part of his studies.

He died when a wall collapsed during construction work at a school in the Dominican.

His parents originally sued the college, Plan Nagua and the Dominican group MOSCTHA for more than $700,000.

A Quebec Superior Court judge sided with the family Friday, saying Roussin was involved with the dangerous work due to mistakes made by the three organizations.

The court also stated the tragedy was foreseeable based on the state of the building.


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Source: CBC News

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Sunday, October 9, 2011

Sri Lanka tops value destinations, Dominican is Caribbean's cheapest

British holidaymakers may be struggling with poor euro exchange rates but some long-haul destinations are proving financially attractive, according to a survey.

Sri Lanka has emerged as a clear winner in a holiday cost-of-living index of long-haul spots compiled by Post Office Travel Money.

For a basket of 10 categories including a meal out, drinks and sun cream, Sri Lanka was 38% cheaper than its nearest rival, Thailand.

Vietnam, now welcoming an increasing number of UK visitors, was the third least expensive country in the list, with Hong Kong the most expensive overall and China showing the biggest price rise over the last year.

Prices in South Africa have tumbled 27%, with the country now more tourist-friendly financially following the price hikes during the 2010 World Cup. Barbados was the most expensive Caribbean destination, with the Dominican Republic the cheapest.

Post Office Travel Money head Sarah Munro said: "Things are looking up for hard-pressed holidaymakers. After a summer when the weak UK pound bought less holiday cash in Europe, tourists heading further afield for winter sun can look forward to seeing their pounds stretch further in most long-haul destinations.

"Resort prices have fallen in two-thirds of the countries we surveyed a year ago and, in addition, sterling has strengthened against 15 of 26 long-haul country currencies. For example, the UK pound will buy over 19% more Kenyan shillings than a year ago and is also stronger against Caribbean and Latin-American currencies. Holidaymakers visiting the USA, Dubai and Egypt will be quids in too."

In a separate survey, tour operator Hayes & Jarvis also revealed year-on-year falls at some long-haul resorts.

Packages in Brazil and Barbados have fallen the most, with particularly good deals to be had in Mexico where direct air links with the UK have strengthened recently.

The company's best-selling long-haul destination is the Maldives, followed by Thailand, but Egypt has yet to bounce back from political upheaval.

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Source: UKPA

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Saturday, October 8, 2011

Clinton to attend Dominican Republic regional event

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will next week visit the Dominican Republic for talks with her Canadian and Latin American counterparts about boosting economic growth in the hemisphere.

Clinton, US officials said, will travel Wednesday to Santo Domingo to join ministers and others from the western hemisphere -- though not Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela -- at the fourth "Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas" event.

"This is a high-level meeting of government officials, policy makers, business leaders, academics and representatives from international organizations from across the Americas who will share best practices in order to promote an inclusive economic area and growth and prosperity throughout the hemisphere," Clinton spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

Pathways to Prosperity country partners are Western Hemisphere countries "committed to democracy and open markets," the State Department said.

Current participants are Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and the United States.

It said the Inter-American Development Bank, the Organization of American States and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean are "also partners in this initiative to promote inclusive growth, prosperity, and social justice."

During a Pathways to Prosperity meeting in Costa Rica in March 2010, Clinton pledged to back female entrepreneurs, promote small business and modernize customs procedures as part of US efforts to boost regional prosperity.

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Source: AFP

Friday, October 7, 2011

Sussex Tech Cultural Club delivers goods to the Dominican Republic

The Spanish Cultural Club at Sussex County Technical School has been traveling to the Dominican Republic since 2004 to deliver clothing, medicine, school supplies, and personal hygiene products to that country’s needy population.

For the last four years the Sussex Women’s Club has been collecting donations for the Club’s excursions to the Dominican. The Sussex Women’s Club is a local branch of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs.

In years past they have donated sewing items, clothing, toiletries, and suitcases for transporting the donations. This year they collected flip flops, fabric, and embroidery supplies. The Sussex Women’s Club has also recruited the Vernon and Newton branches to participate.

Rosemary Fuchs serves as the liaison between the Spanish Cultural Club and the Women’s Clubs. Fuchs is a secretary at Sussex Tech and also a member of the Sussex Women’s Club. When she learned about the trips she immediately recognized this was a worthy activity in which her club should be involved.

The mission of women’s clubs is to make a difference in people’s lives through volunteering. Their efforts in helping with the Dominican trip is only a small part of the club’s efforts throughout the year.

They hope that of the Women’s club members will join them in the Dominican soon, which might perhaps lead to founding the first Women’s Club in that country.


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Source: Straus News

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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Dominican Republic native marks her 100th birthday

Ana Mercedes Hassell Stephens of Newburgh is celebrating her 100th birthday today.

She was born in the Dominican Republic on Oct. 1, 1911, to Albertha Stephens and Joseph Hassell.

She was the youngest of 14 children and the last of her siblings to come to the United States at the age of 39. She met Rafael Torres and conceived her only child, Berta Torres. Berta married Richard West and gave Ana two grandchildren, Danielle and Matthew.

"She has instilled in her family a sense of independence and pride, and continues to live a long and joyful life," said Danielle West. "Happy 100th birthday, abuelita, we love you always and we celebrate you."

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Source: Record Online

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Dominican Republic inviting option for Alberta buyers

The North Coast of the Dominican Republic booms with resorts and recreation properties.

The trick is in finding the right home, and Alberta-based Dominican Republic Properties is there to help you through the process.

"Our clients appreciate the fact that they're dealing with another Canadian - you speak the same lingo when it comes to things like money and lawyers," says owner Colleen Valerio, who, with husband Mel, divides her time between Alberta and the Dominican Republic.

The Valerios help fellow Canadians find quality properties in a country ranked the No. 1 tourist destination in the Caribbean.

"We don't take every listing - we vet our developers," says Colleen. "Everything we sell has to be in a gated community, with 24-hour security and a management company."

Buyers need to be confident their properties will be taken care of while they're back in Canada. "Seventy to 80 per cent of the places we sell are also used as vacation rentals," adds Colleen.

The average age of the Valerios' clients is 40-60, who see retirement on the horizon, she says.

The Valerios focus their efforts on the Dominican Republic's North Coast, where they currently cover some 15 condo and villa developments. "The infrastructure is built up, plus it's prettier and nicer," says Colleen, adding the Dominican Republic is becoming an option for those looking for a place in the sun that isn't Mexico or one of the other overdeveloped regions. In the Dominican Republic, "It's a simpler way of life, but warmer. We have a lot of Alberta buyers down here."

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Source: Calgary Herald

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Dominican Republic shows its leadership with WTA nominations

The Dominican Republic is showing its leadership as a Caribbean destination with five hotels nominated for the World Travel Awards 2011 in the categories of Ecological Hotels, Boutique Hotels, Best All- Inclusive Resort and Resort Casino Leader in the Caribbean.

The nominees are the Puntacana Resort & Club, for the third consecutive year, as a Caribbean Green Hotel; the Catalonia Bavaro Resort Punta Cana, as the Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Resort; the Barceló Bavaro Beach Resort, as the Caribbean Leader in Casino Resort; the Club Med Punta Cana, as the Best Caribbean Family Resort; and the Sivory Punta Cana as the Leader in Caribbean Resorts.

The Dominican Republic has also been nominated as Leading Cruise Destination and as Leader of Sports Tourism in the Caribbean.

This year, Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island will play host to the World Travel Awards Americas & Caribbean gala ceremony on October 7.

The ceremony, hailed as the the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’ by the global media, is set to attract the top decision-makers and thought leaders from across the Americas and Caribbean as they compete for the most influential accolades in travel.

The Grand Final Gala Ceremony is scheduled for November 29 in Doha, Qatar.

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Source: Dominican Today

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Monday, October 3, 2011

The Dominican Republic to Host Meeting of African and Caribbean Filmmakers

The 2nd Meeting of African and Caribbean Filmmakers and their Diasporas will be held in the Dominican Republic in 2012, following an agreement by participants in the first edition of the event, which wound up on Friday in this capital.

With the help of the Office of the Caribbean Cinema Traveling Exhibition, host of the meeting in Havana, organizers plan to carry out on that occasion a cycle of films from Africa, Brazil and Caribbean as well as their Diasporas, which will tour the country.

Filmmakers, academicians and specialists from some 30 nations signed the document of the agreements reached at the meeting after a week of debates on topics regarding the conditions of the seventh art in the areas in question, and the possibilities of expanding the promotion of that cinema.

Among the signatories to the declaration we find renowned figures of international cinematography, like US actor Danny Glover, African filmmaker Souleymane Cisse, and Zozimo Bulbul, director of the Film Noir Festival of Brazil. Filmmakers and producers demanded the support of their governments to articulate cultural policies favoring national cinematographic industries in terms of the production, distribution and screening of movies.

Likewise, they called to build modalities of inter-regional cooperation for training filmmakers from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and their Diasporas.

They also underlined the need to develop mechanisms of co-production between countries involved.

The struggle against racial discrimination and social exclusion were also among the main topics under debate, a reason for which filmmakers decided to convene the celebration of the International Meeting “Sciences and Art against Racism.”

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Source: Cadenagramonte

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Saturday, October 1, 2011

Hoteliers warn against cutting Tourism Ministry’s budget

Dominican Republic’s Hotels and Tourism Association (ASONAHORES) asked President Leonel Fernandez to review the decision to keep the Tourism Ministry’s budget for next year unchanged since 2005, at around RD$900.0 million.

It said keeping Tourism’s budget the same since 2005 in fact is a reduction, since in its view doesn’t even compensate the currency’s dwindled spending power during that period.

The hoteliers noted that during that period the national budget has doubled and ask how is it possible for the Government to trim the allocation of the Dominican economy’s most dynamic sector, and one which provides the strongest comparative advantage and with the highest capacity of return for each peso spent by the State.

They said the Tourism Ministry’s budgetary cut while its importance for the economy increases sends the signal that the Government isn’t interested in stimulating the sector’s development, contrary to the president’s own repeated announcements and commitments.

Asonahores adds that Dominican Republic’s competitors have currently put forth a “strong advertizing campaign to deal with the market tendency toward diminishing tourist flows. If the Dominican Republic doesn’t act in the same direction we would be losing what we have already won.”


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Source: Dominican Today

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