Dominican First Lady Hits Back on Bank Account Allegation

In an ongoing tit-for-tat over explosive allegations about corruption, the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeño filed a criminal complaint over a TV commentator's allegations that she has a secret stash of cash in a Denmark bank.

Filed Tuesday, the complaint charged a TV commentator Marcos Martínez falsified documents to support his claim that she has millions of dollars in an overseas bank.

Margarita Cedeño's lawyer, Luis Miguel Pereyra, said he filed a criminal complaint rather than a civil lawsuit charging slander and defamation because it would carry a harsher penalty.

On Feb. 15, Martínez, a former legislator, claimed on television that Cedeño, wife of President Leonel Fernández, had $58 million in Denmark's Danske Bank. He later claimed the actual amount was nearly $96 million.

"I repeat my claim," he said last week. "All the documents are there. I made the corresponding accusation. I will not recant."



Cedeño's attorney said he has given state prosecutors documents in which Danske Bank certifies that the first lady does not have an account there.

Pereyra said the lawsuit is meant to clear Cedeño's name and added that if she is awarded the $256,000 she seeks in damages, it will be donated to a hospital.

A day after Martínez first made the claim, Cedeño posted a video link on her Twitter account criticizing the allegation, saying "nor as a mother, nor as a wife, nor as a first lady will I ever allow garbage to be thrown upon me."

It was the only public comment on the issue from Cedeño, who was a public employee working in the presidential office before she married Fernández.

Martínez had no immediate comment on the criminal complaint and it wasn't known if had a lawyer. He said Monday that if proof was presented in court that the bank account did not exist, he would accept the court's findings.

Prosecutor Luisa Liranzo said she was reviewing the lawsuit and would begin an investigation.

Last month, police raided the office and home of the manager of an online newspaper suspected of hacking into emails of Cedeño and other government officials. Several bloggers and online news sites claimed that in one of the purported emails, Cedeño asked the wife of the president of the Dominican Republic's largest private bank for financial backing for her campaign in the May election.

Cedeño, a 46-year-old lawyer, is running for vice president. She rejected calls by supporters to run the presidency and succeed her husband, who is barred from seeking a third term.

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Source and Photo: Latino Fox News

Dominican Republic: Chairman Underlines Importance of DP World Caucedo

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, underlined the importance of DP World Caucedo in serving the wider Caribbean region as a hub port as he concluded his tour of the company’s marine terminals in South America with a visit to the Dominican Republic terminal.

Mr Bin Sulayem was accompanied on his tour of DP World’s terminals in Peru, Argentina, Suriname and Dominican Republic, as well as the new development in Brazil, by senior company officials including Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Sharaf, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Suhail Albanna and Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Americas, Matthew Leech.

In March last year, HE Leonel Fernandez, President of the Dominican Republic and Mr. Bin Sulayem officially inaugurated the second phase of DP World Caucedo, which increased Caucedo’s overall handling capacity by 25 per cent to 1,250,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units) annually. The expansion consists of an additional 300 meters of deepwater berth, two new broad yield mobile cranes in addition to the existing five gantry quay cranes. A sixth quay crane and three further rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes will arrive in April as the final part of the capacity expansion initiated in 2009.

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Source and Photo: Dredging Today

Fernandez Says Dominican Republic 2011 GDP Rose 4.5% on Mining

The Dominican Republic’s economy expanded 4.5 percent in 2011 behind “astronomical growth” in the mining sector and a record increase in national exports, President Leonel Fernandez said today.

Speaking in Santo Domingo during his annual Independence Day address to the National Assembly, Fernandez said that the mining sector grew 79.7 percent in 2011 compared to 2010. Gross domestic product rose 7.8 percent in 2010, according to the central bank.

Further growth is expected in 2012 due to continued extraction of nickel at the Xstrata Plc Falcondo mine and the beginning of gold production this year at the Pueblo Viejo mine by the Barrick Gold Corp., Fernandez said.

National export sales increased $1.78 billion from 2010 to 2011, led by a 15.8 percent increase in exports from free-trade zones, Fernandez said. Exports from free-trade zones earned over $4.84 billion in 2011, a national record, he said.

The tourism sector also saw record revenues, Fernandez said, earning over $4.35 billion in 2011.

Fernandez’s speech today was his final state of the nation address as the president of the Caribbean nation. Fernandez, who was been president since 2004, will leave office Aug. 16. National elections are scheduled for May 20.

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Source and Photo: Bloomberg

Dominican will play in volleyball matches planned in Havana

The matches of the World Volleyball League-2012 corresponding place in Cuba will now have as the new headquarters Dominican Republic, the change of plan was informed by the president of the Cuban Federation Eugenio George.

At a meeting held with the trade press that caters to the sport, George addressed the disposition of the Caribbean nation to assume the challenges of achieving the second weekend of the League, a competitive segment scheduled for Havana.

Following discussions with the local Federation, and the head of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean (NORCECA), Dominican Christopher Martens, we come to that agreement, endorsed by the International Federation, argued George.

Dominican will be a good scenario for the participating teams and especially to the Cuban, by the ties of friendship that unite us, he argued.

The fight will take place at Havana's Volleyball Pavilion, with seating for seven thousand spectators, and in 2003 served as headquarters for the tournament of the Pan American Games.

With a format identical to the Grand Prix, this year the League intends that each of the four qualifying groups will hold the set of all against all with two matches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In Cuba integrates with Russia, Serbia and Japan, which will host the 18th, 19th and 20th May, the first weekend of the competition.

After the Dominican segment on 15, 16 and 17 June, the teams will travel to Kaliningrad, Russia, toparán square where 22, 23 and 24 March.

The fourth week for the group to finish in Novi Sad, Serbia with a program for 18, 19 and 20 May.

The rest of the World League group-2012 are:

B: Brazil, Poland, Finland and Canada, C: Italy, U.S., France and South Korea, and D. Argentina, Bulgaria, Germany and Portugal.

Last year Russia, Brazil and Poland, occupied, in that order, the first three places in the tournament.

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Source and Photo: Cuba Headlines

Dominican Republic reminds tourists to be social

The Dominican Republic is reminding travellers that it ‘is Closer Than You Think’ by launching a new social media inspired marketing campaign.

Highlighting the region’s attractions, destinations, activities and services, the campaign surrounds itself on the message ‘You don’t have to go far to be social’ and inspired fans to share and engage despite where they are in the world.

Launched by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism and off the back of the destination’s recently launched social media-friendly website, the Group’s international promotion vice minister Magaly Toribio explained the campaign was designed to distinguish the destination.

"We're ensuring that the campaign remains unforgettable, yet continues to capture Dominican Republic's one-of-a-kind offerings as the ads' captivating images trigger a need for experience and travel,” Ms Toribio said.

"The TV spots and ads rely on social media terms as metaphors for socializing with others about a vacation in Dominican Republic.

“The social interaction suggests the vacation as something worthy of a status update, both literally and in the Facebook sense.

“As the power of social media is undeniable, the ads blend technology and social interaction to create value, the value of sharing your experiences with others.”
The ads are set to feature in magazines, broadcast as well as New York’s Times Square billboards to draw visitors online and to the destination.

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Source and Photo: Blackboard Asia

Hollywood gets a taste of Dominican Republic

Celebrities and VIPs in attendance entered to win free airfare for two to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and received a taste of lavish gift bags highlighting Dominican Republic's coveted Arturo Fuentes cigars and Godiva's rich Santo Domingo chocolate.

Dominican Republic is known as the breadbasket of the Caribbean since its fertile valleys produce some of the world's best sugar, tobacco and cocoa, which is then developed into uniquely flavorful Dominican rum, cigars and chocolate.

"Dominican Republic is becoming a major presence in Hollywood with a newly inaugurated Dominican Republic Film Commission office in Los Angeles and many new incentives for producers to film in our magnificent country. Because many Dominican celebrities call the Los Angeles area their second home, we are especially pleased to share the tastes and styles of our large island nation at the Academy Awards Gifting Suite," said Magaly Toribio, Vice Minister of International Promotion, Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism.

Dominican-born designer Lucia Rodriguez was at the Celebrity Lounge event styling celebrities with her stunning, yet delicate gowns. Rodriguez's delightfully Dominican-inspired designs are high-quality finesse, made to perfection - a stunning combination for any leading lady's award-winning ensemble.

In 2011, the Dominican government announced the new, state-of-the-art Pinewood Indomina Studios, which will further enhance the growth in film and TV production in the country.

The Red Carpet Celebrity Style Lounge was held in honor of the 84th Annual Academy Awards, Hollywood's celebration of the biggest names in the film industry hosted by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Nominees, celebrities, press and more attended the event, which raised money for The Humane Society of the United States.

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Source and Photo: Dominican Today

Rene Gough honoured by the Dominican Olympic Committee

Rene Gough has been awarded "Athlete of the Year 2011", at the Dominican Olympic Gala Ceremony, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The surfer from Boca Chica was nominated by the Dominican Surfing Federation (FeDoSurf) for his outstanding achievements in high-performance surfing and for his discipline, training and focus as an athlete.

The annual event is organized by the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) and rewards the most outstanding Dominican athletes in all disciplines, nominated by their Olympic Federations.

Rene Gough became National longboard champion in 2011 and placed fourth in the National Open of Surfing. The Dominican surfer has a great history of achievement in the sport of riding waves. In 2011, he took fourth place in the Monster Energy Longboard Pro at Belmar, USA, amidst tough competition.

He is an active competing member of the Dominican Surfing Team, and was selected to compete at the X Pan American Surfing Games, in Guadeloupe in 2011, and the ISA Billabong World Surfing Games, in Peru, in 2010.

In 2004, he got first in longboard, at the Latin Pro event, held in the Dominican Republic, at Canal Beach Cabarete. In 2001, Rene placed fifth overall in the Junior category at the Latin Pro, Punta Care, Venezuela.

The Athlete of the Year Award is based on the excellence and achievement of the athlete, their place in the National ranking, good sportsmanship and conduct, discipline, training and service.

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Source and Photo: Surfer Today