Priest to embark on 52nd trip to the Dominican Republic

Swarms of insects, sweltering heat and the occasional trek up a mountain on the back of a hoofed animal hasn’t thwarted the Rev. Joachim Lally from journeying to the Dominican Republic to bring comfort to those in need.

And at age 71, the Roman Catholic priest sees no reason to stop now.

Although known as the Caribbean’s largest tourist destination, hurricanes, chronic unemployment and a dearth of safe, drinkable water make life in the Dominican Republic challenging, Lally said.

Despite such hardships, his bond with the Dominican people only grows stronger with the passing of time.

They are a joy-filled, generous people who willingly give what little they have, said Lally, a member of the Paulist community at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in downtown Grand Rapids.

And he finds their candor refreshing.

“We Americans read between the lines — the cocktail chatter,” Lally said. “But the Dominicans don’t use sarcasm. What you see is what you get, and what you get is what you see.”

By his estimation, Lally has made 51 trips to this country in the Caribbean Sea since 1984.

He’ll go there again in early March for an eight-day mission trip to the city of Puerto Plata.

Source: mLive.com

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New U.S. aid to help Dominican R. fight HIV/AIDS

The United States has donated 634,000 U.S. dollars in a new bid to help the Dominican Republic fight HIV/AIDS, the government said Friday.

The funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (Usaid) will be dispensed in eight agreements with various local non-governmental organizations, with those living in extreme poverty as the initiative's main beneficiaries, the Public Health Ministry said in a statement.

The aid package will be focused on enforcing prevention and treatment programs in the country's eastern and northern regions, as well as in the region bordering Haiti.

Source: English.News.CN

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Dominican Republic’s soaring jet fuel cost worries airlines

The Airlines Association (ALA) on Friday stated it’s concern with the rise in the price of jet fuel (avtur) and noted that its cost in Dominican Republic is the most expensive in the Caribbean region.

It cautions that if that price remains at its current level or increases, it will have a negative impact on the civil aviation and tourism sectors.

In that regard, the ALA said it agrees with the concern voiced by the Tourism Ministry and the country’s hoteliers and tourism business leaders grouped in ASONAHORES, on the high price of aircraft fuel.

The statement emailed by AILA contradicts Industry and Commerce ministry Ramon Fadul’s assertion that the high price won’t affect the local travel industry, because in his view the jet planes don’t fill up in the country’s airports.

Source: Dominican Today

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John Calipari Reportedly Considered by Dominican Republic National Team

Fresh on the heels of Rick Pitino accepting the head coaching job for the Puerto Rican national team, Kentucky coach John Calipari is rumored to be interested in the same position for the Dominican Republic.

All of the information on this matter is conjecture, but a source told a Puerto Rican basketball blog (via Zagsblog), "the Federation is seriously considering this. The fact of the matter is it makes all the sense in the world. Coach Cal and you bring in Coach Orlando Antigua (who is Dominican and a Calipari assistant at UK). Coach Cal is a proven winner and there is no question about his ability to communicate and get the most out of his players."

Four NBA players -- Francisco Garcia, Al Horford, Charlie Villanueva, and Trevor Ariza -- hail from the Dominican Republic, as well as ex-Louisville point guard Edgar Sosa.

So, apparently another team is trying to get Calipari to step into Pitino's turf, this time in the Caribbean?

Calipari or Kentucky have yet to comment on what is thus far speculation of interest only from the Dominican Republic's side.

Source: NCAA Basketball

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Caribbean breweries taken over by Dominican Republic company

Danish group Royal Unibrew has entered into a US$31 million agreement to sell its Caribbean breweries to Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana (CND), a company in the Dominican Republic.

The deal will see CND, the leader in the Dominican Republic’s beer and malt markets, taking the majority stake in Royal Unibrew’s beer, malt, soft drink and water operations in St Vincent, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.

The deal comprises 76.5 per cent shares in St Vincent Breweries Ltd, 93 per cent in Antigua Brewery Ltd, 75 per cent in Antigua PET Plant Ltd and 58 per cent in Dominica Brewery and Beverages Ltd.

Royal Unibrew and CND also entered an agreement for license production of Royal Unibrew's malt drink Vitamalt, which will result in the product gaining ground in the region.

The transaction is subject to approval by the government in Antigua and Barbuda and is expected to be finalised no later than February next year.

Source: Caribbean 360

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Dominican Republic Hosts Caribbean Gaming Show and Conference

March is a great time to take stock of the first quarter of the year and assess the direction to take for the busy summer season. A great way to combine business with pleasure is to take in the Caribbean Gaming Show and Conference to be held this year 2011 in the Dominican Republic.

Hosted by the C&GS Group and in its third year, the Group has chosen the Dominican Republic as it’s location for many good reasons. For one, Santo Domingo, is the perfect scenario for the conference and show. Many important companies and manufacturers will be showing their products to the top executives of gaming companies representing the more than 60 Casinos and more than 1,000 sport books.

The Sans Souci Ports Convention Center will be the venue on the 3-4th of March 2011. International casinos in Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Romana, Samana, Duarte, Puerto Plata, among others, are some of the busiest in the Caribbean Region. This conference is recommended for those operators looking at expanding or developing new avenues in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The internet wagering sector is represented by an number of participants such as iovation, IGT and GTECH among others offering services for the land based and online gambling operators.

The Dominican Republic is moving to position itself as a hub with easy access from all over the world and its close proximity to Central America, and North and South America. The strong legal framework and support infrastructure for gambling services and operators makes the Dominican Republic a logical choice for new investment and a location to operate from.

Spending some time in this beautiful country with its old Spanish history and lively culture would be a bonus to attending a conference where the newest and latest in gaming technologies and services are displayed, presented, and discussed.

Source: Online Casinos

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Dominican President, Monaco Prince named in Spain “macrofraud” case

Nearly 100 English and Irish families want president Leonel Fernandez and Monaco’s prince Albert to testify in a case of alleged real estate “macrofraud” in Spain.

The plaintiffs say one Spanish and three British promoters scammed them out of more than 4.5 million euros in bogus real estate projects in Dominican Republic, Morocco and Malaga, Spain.

The lawsuit filed by the Marbella law firm Lawbird, representing the families, requests the testimony of the Dominican chief executive and the Prince of Monaco, for “lending their image” to the real estate promoter Ricardo Miranda for projects which never materialized, including the construction of as many as 8,000 houses.

The Lawbird lawyers have also requested the testimony of the developer Andres Lietor, one of the main defendants in the case 'Malaya,' who along with Carlos Sanchez have another lawsuit pending against Miranda for alleged fraud. According to court documents, Liétor and Sanchez owned the site for the houses to be built in Dominican Republic.

Although the Spanish press didn’t specify the land’s location Fernandez had accompanied Alberto for the December 2008 groundbreaking for the tourism real estate project Punta Perla Caribbean Golf, Marina & Resort, to be built at a cost of 2.5 billion dollars in the east coast community, Cabeza de Toro.

The Spanish press did specify that each plaintiff deposited as much as 80,000 Euros for the down payment on the houses.

Speaking in the event, Fernandez said the project, which began with three others in the area, entailed a total investment of more than de 5.0 billion dollars.

Source: Dominican Today

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Stampede marks Ikea’s first year in Dominican Republic

The Ikea store’s offers of merchandise at very low prices attracted a throng of shoppers who tried to push and shove their way in, prompting its managers to close its doors just two hours after opening Thursday.

The stampede also backed up traffic on the Kennedy avenue and surroundings, as the ensuing scuffles between shoppers over the wares broke the store’s front door.

The incident was the result of the store’s specials to mark Swedish franchise’s first anniversary in Dominic, including 17 articles at just 17 pesos each.

Ikea personnel estimate that around 10,000 people showed up tempted by the merchandise on special.

Source: Dominican Today

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IMF pleased with Dominican Republic

The International Monetary Fund’s latest assessment of the economy in the Dominican Republic suggests the country is experiencing growth rates far exceeding that of many of its Caribbean neighbours.

After charting figures of nearly 8 per cent last year, the Fund says the country’s economy should see growth this year, of at least five percent.

The International Monetary Fund’s latest review of the Dominican Republic’s economy was to assess how the country has been performing under its standby loan arrangement with the institution.

The Dominican Republic signed a US $1.7 billion dollar loan deal with the IMF in November 2007.

At the time the IMF said the money would help stimulate the economy and lead to robust, sustainable growth.
This latest report suggests the country may be attaining those goals.

The Fund says the Dominican Republic’s total economic output, grew by 7.8% last year, while the government was able to keep inflation within target at around 6.2 %.

While the country’s economy is not expected to grow to the extent that it did last year, the projection for 2011 is at least 5% cent.

Source: Stabroek News

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U.S. Ambassador also slams Dominican Republic’s embattled education

The ambassador of the United States on Thursday joined the growing list of sectors who deplore Dominican republic’s education system, warning that the academic insufficiency halts the country’s development.

Raul H. Yzaguirre said Dominican Republic has Latin America lowest education average, which in his view, “is something that’s going to prevent the development that we want to be part of the history of this country.”

The diplomat is in a three day visit to Santiago to get to learn about its people and meet with academic, cultural and business sector representatives.

“This visit has been pleasant. I understand much more thoroughly the dreams and needs of this region, which has received me in a very pretty manner and that’s something I much appreciate,” Yzaguirre said.

He said he is now more abreast of what the United States has done in the country throughout the years. “Our government is more successful when we have the ideas that arise from the Dominican people, it’s not about imposing ideas, but to support the plans of the Dominican Republic.”

Source: Dominican Today

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IDB and Swiss Re to launch ILS platform in Dominican Republic

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Swiss Re (RUKN.VX) will issue a $100 million insurance policy in the Dominican Republic to protect the country against hurricanes and earthquakes, the IDB said on Thursday.

The five-year policy will be issued by an insurance company set up exclusively to provide coverage to the Caribbean country, the IDB told Reuters.

The policy's exposure will be split in two, with $50 million covering earthquake risk and $50 million to protect against hurricanes.

The policy will provide $100 million of cover for the Dominican Republic for each of the five years. Any payoff would be determined by the magnitude and location of a quake or hurricane.

The IDB was established in 1959, and is the largest source of development financing for 48 member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The coverage is expected to be in force before the beginning of the 2011 hurricane season.

Guillermo Collich, senior financial sector specialist at the IDB, said there are plans to extend the platform to cover other perils in the Dominican Republic -- such as flooding and volcano risks as well as agricultural insurance and coverage for health-related risk and longevity.

"We are currently working on a second facility being set up in Central America - most likely Costa Rica," he added.

The dedicated insurance vehicle will issue a policy and transfer some of the risk to either the reinsurance sector or capital market investors, Collich said.

"It will be a flexible policy that will give enough scope to change the mix of reinsurance coverage -- if another ILS (insurance-linked securities) product, such as a catastrophe bond, is more suitable in the future, then that can be done," he said.

Insurers and reinsurers sell cat bonds to bond market investors to reduce their own exposure to risks.

Swiss Re declined to comment on the transaction.

Source: Reuters UK

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US$35M submerged cable aims to link Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Virgin Islands

The company CWC Cable & Wireless Communications Dominican Republic, branch C& W the Caribbean/LIME unveiled the project East-West optical fiber cable that will link Dominican Republic with Jamaica and the Virgin Islands.

CWC Caribbean/LIME Vice-president for Customer Operations Katherine Hernandez said the initiative to bring the cable is part of a plan to meet the demand to increase Internet speed and penetration rate.

“This project shows the commitment assumed by CWC with Dominican Republic’s socio-economic development, aimed at becoming suitable partner in projects to reduce digital gap, promote the incorporation of technology of knowledge in education, stimulate the local economy and to generate abilities and skills in information technologies,” the executive said in a meeting held in the Santo Domingo West City Council.

The construction work on a submerged cable began at the start of December at a cost of US$35M, and seeks to establish a system of the latest generation for the transmission of international telecommunications between Jamaica, Dominican Republic and the British Virgin Islands.

The system, called the East-West Cable, is an ambitious project and includes the installation and a submerged optical fiber cable and equipment located in transmission terminals in the three countries.

Source: Dominican Today

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Major Film Studios to be Built in Dominican Republic

The construction of Pinewood Indomina Studios, the largest of its kind in the region, will begin in the Dominican Republic's capital on February 23rd.

Industry sources said the studios would be built by the Vicini group, in association with the British company Pinewood.

The infrastructure is expected to be completed in 18 months, with the help of a draft law to provide incentives to the film industry, submitted to Congress by President Leonel Fernandez in 2010.

The law would grant tax deductions to companies that invest cash in Dominican feature film projects.

The law would also provide for a fund to promote the film industry, with money from 14 sources, including funds from the national Treasury from taxes on movie ticket sales and DVD rentals and sales.

The experience of Puerto Rico, which passed an incentive law for the film industry, attracted international actors for the filming of films, with a consequent positive economic impact on the island, according to Hoy newspaper.

Source: Escambray

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European Union helps Dominican Republic’s social programs with 25M euros

The European Union disbursed 25 million euros on Monday 7th February to support Dominican Republic’s budget on social programs, announced European Development Funds National coordinator Domingo Jiménez.

He said the Government will use the funds in those areas of development which lead to lowering and eradicating poverty.

Jiménez signed the agreement with the head of the European Union delegation in the country, Irene Horejs, to disburse the resources under the modality adopted to support the development programs which the EU conducts with the governments in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

In a statement, Jimenez and Horejs also stressed that the funds are subjected to the existence of a development strategy, which in Dominican Republic’s case will be introduced in the Congress by president Leonel Fernandez on February 27, during the annual State of the Republic Speech before the National Assembly.

Source: Dominican Today

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Dominican Republic Joins the Club with New Golf Course

The new Costa Blanca course in Juan Dolia has opened to a star-studded ceremony which included the likes of Eva Longoria, the beautiful star of hit TV series Desperate Housewives, as well as 200 world-class golfers from around the world such as Aussie Greg Norman.

A number of the guests had a helping hand in designing the course, so you'll know who to blame or praise if you struggle on a particular course.

The new golf course is not the only attraction available to those who want to make the most of their Dominican Republic holidays this year. Another star attraction would be the recently unveiled Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana.

This truly remarkable complex offers luxury accommodation with its selection of 1,800 rooms and the island's biggest casino It also offers a design scheme featuring "natural island textures".

The complex also boasts the Oro nightclub and a host of other entertainment venues. This will ensure that even the most lively of visitors to the island will never be left without something exciting to do.

Roberto Chapur, president of Palace Resorts, said: "We are thrilled to be in partnership with Hard Rock International to offer the world's first ever all-inclusive Hard Rock experience. The level of superior service mixed with the energetic Hard Rock atmosphere will undoubtedly set a new standard in the Caribbean." 

Source:  Holiday Hypermarket

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2 tourists held in death of Canadian in Dominican Republic bar fight

A Canadian and an Algerian tourist are being detained in the Dominican Republic in the death of another Canadian following a fight outside a beach resort bar.

Prosecutor Mercedes Santana says the men face possible charges of voluntary homicide in the death of 19-year-old Jordan Morrison, of Barrie, Ont.

A judge decided Monday that there is enough evidence to hold them for at least three months while the case is investigated.

The detained men are Canadian citizen Dmytro Aref Yev and Algerian national Bouzid Redha. Both live in Montreal.

Police said Morrison died on the way to hospital after a severe beating outside a nightclub at a beach resort. The fight, which involved bottles, began over unspecified "personal differences."

The judge ordered three other Canadian tourists released on bail and ordered them to stay in the country, deciding they did not have a direct role in the fight.

The five are aged 19 to 21 and were treated for minor injuries after the fracas at the Grand Paradise Bavaro hotel in Punta Cana, about 200 kilometres east of Santo Domingo.

Defence lawyer Eloy Bello said the men were drunk at the time of the fight and did not intend to kill Morrison.
He said the fight apparently started when Morrison intervened in a fight between a woman and one of the other tourists.

Bello said the accused should face no more than the lesser charge of involuntary homicide because Morrison's death was an accident that occurred when he fell and struck his head on the ground during the fight.

Voluntary homicide carries a potential sentence of 30 years in prison in the Dominican Republic but the country's laws also allow for lengthy detention without bail while a case is under investigation.

The Dominican Tourism Ministry says some 630,000 Canadian tourists visit the country each year.

Source: Associated Press

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Noted Dominican trainer accused of abusing minors

A baseball trainer in the Dominican Republic who has coached players who went on to the major leagues has been detained on suspicion of sexually abusing two teen players in 2003.

A prosecutor in the southern town of Bani says a judge ordered Enrique Soto held while authorities investigate the case.

Prosecutor Francis Valdez said Wednesday that Soto is accused of abusing two brothers he was coaching. He says the victims allege the abuse occurred over six months when they were 16 and 17. Soto faces up to 15 years in prison if charged and convicted.

Soto's lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.

Soto has worked with such major league players as Miguel Tejada and brothers Willy and Erick Aybar.

Source:  Washington Post

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Dominican root beer gets a world patent, diariolibre.com reports

News source diariolibre.com reports that mabí de bohuco (root beer from vine roots) or seibano (El Sibo province) has an international patent, a first for Dominican Republic.

The Biotechnology and Industry Innovation Institute (IIBI) director Bernarda Castillo made the announcement yesterday.

"Given the conception that the root of vines couldn’t be the reason for mabí’s fermentation, and a microorganism within instead, a process to separate the microorganisms which they were there began. At first around eight different microorganisms were tested and placed under fermentation, until the indicated one was found. This has become then the first patent in the country," the official said.

She affirmed that the organism in mabí, when subjected to fermentation, has the same flavor, texture and effervescence as the traditional mabí. “It only needs to be sipped very cold, like champagne."

The official added that the patent defends the microorganism as a Dominican discovery and protects it for the next 20 years. “This means that if in Russia, for example, they decide to produce the mabí of bohuco, they must pay the country for the patent rights."

Source: Dominican Today

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JetBlue plans to launch more flights to the Dominican Republic

JetBlue plans to launch nonstop services from Boston to Portland and Santiago in the Dominican Republic.

With the additions, the carrier will be traveling to 42 destinations with nonstop service from Logan International Airport.

Daily seasonal flights to Portland International Airport begin May 26.

Service to Santiago Cibao International Airport will run Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, subject to receipt of government approval, and begin on June 17.

Fares are on sale now, with one-way prices to Portland as low $169 for travel booked by Feb. 11. Travel must take place June 1 and June 29.

JetBlue will also begin weekly winter service to Providenciales, in the Turks & Caicos Islands, on Feb. 19, and four daily flights from Logan to Newark, on May 4.

Summer service to Oakland, Calif., will also resume in May.

Source: Boston.com

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Bang & Olufsen Opens New Showroom in Santo Domingo

Bang & Olufsen, the Danish provider of exclusive high quality audio and video products, will open a new showroom this February 2011 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Together with Symphony AV, a local audio/video integrations provider, the new Bang & Olufsen Santo Domingo showroom will provide the complete Bang & Olufsen product portfolio in addition to personalized custom installation capabilities for both commercial and residential applications.  The new store is located in Plaza Dorada, Ensanche Piantini in Santo Domingo and is now open for business.

"Bang & Olufsen provides a distinct range of cutting-edge audio and video products which converge technology, design and emotional appeal," states Zean Nielsen, President of Bang & Olufsen America, Inc. "Over the past eighty-five years, Bang & Olufsen has become an icon of performance and design excellence and we are happy to continue our company's tradition in the Santo Domingo region of the Dominican Republic."

"We are excited to offer Santo Domingo residents and visitors the Bang & Olufsen experience," states Thomas Martinez, Owner of the new Bang & Olufsen Santo Domingo showroom. "In addition to offering best-in-class consumer electronics products, the new store also presents a highly skilled staff of expert installers, technicians and brand representatives to assist with any and every customer request."

The showroom will also present some new, highly acclaimed products launched this fiscal year. They include the BeoSound 8 – Bang & Olufsen's first iPad/iPod/iPhone docking station - known for its superior sonic performance (covers low bass tones down to 38 Hz and higher frequencies 24,000 Hz), compact form and distinct design. It is also one of the few docking stations on the market that is directly compatible with the iPad, without having to use additional wires or adapters.  Also new this year, is the BeoVision 10 LED television family, now available in 32, 40 and 46-inch versions. The BeoVision 10 portfolio is unique as it features the latest LED and picture improvement technologies, a double-sided anti-reflective coated contrast screen, five unique placement options, an active two-way loudspeaker system, and frameless design resulting in optimal picture and sound performance with a floating glass appearance.

Source: PR Newswire

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Body of German man found at Domincan Republic airport

Authorities in the Dominican Republic say they have found the decomposed body of a German man inside an airport along the country's north coast.

Officials identified the victim as 45-year-old Erich Zipfel and said he had been stabbed.

Airport Department Director Aristides Fernandez said Thursday that the body was found in an unoccupied part of the Gregorio Luperon airport near the popular tourist spots of Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete.

Officials said they did not know whether Zipfel was a tourist or lived in the country.

Most of the country's German community has settled in Sosua and are owners of hotels, coffee shops and restaurants.

Source: Today Online

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A Month of Cigar Festivals

February has turned into party month in the cigar business. Three cigar festivals are taking place this month.

The parties begin this week in the Dominican Republic, with the fourth annual ProCigar Festival. ProCigar is a group of cigarmakers in the Dominican Republic and since 2008 they have brought together cigar lovers and retailers (most, but far from all, from the United States) for several days of cigar smoking, tours of factories and fields, and gala parties, all centered around the cigar. The makers of Macanudo, Davidoff, Fonseca, La Aurora and Montecristo cigars take part. More than 200 people attend. For more information, visit http://www.procigar.org

Source: Cigar Aficionado

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Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka establish diplomatic ties

Dominican Republic formalized diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka via an agreement signed by the Caribbean nation’s Foreign Relations minister Carlos Morales and the Asian country’s high commissioner in India, Prasal Kariyawasam.


The agreement was signed in offices of the Sri Lanka High Commissioner, in the city New Delhi, with the presence of Dominican ambassador Hans Dannenberg and Sri Lanka diplomatic delegations advisor Sam Pathiaran.

Source: Dominican Today

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Airlines resume Dominican Republic eastern US flights

Flights between Dominican Republic, New York, Boston and Newark resumed Thursday morning, 72 hours after the record setting snow storm lashing the U.S. east coast sparked a wave of cancelations.

American Airlines, Continental, Jet Blue and Delta announced the resumptions to the airport authorities in Santo Domingo, where more than 15 flights were rescheduled for today, most of them to New York.

The airports management company Aerodom urged travelers stranded in the country to call the airlines for the latest information on flights to their destinations.

It is the 7th time in as many months that severe weather forces the suspension of flights between Dominican Republic and U.S. cities.

Source: Dominican Today

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Wave of discontent awaits Dominican Republic’s globetrotting President

The numerous protests, strikes and other signals of popular discontent await Dominican Republic’s president Leonel Fernandez, whose three terms in office have been marked by constant trips to all corners of the world.

One of the most nagging demonstrations of rebuke against Government policy has been the months-long effort by the social and barrio groups forged in the Coalition for a Dignified Education, which announced it will resume the protest at 4 p.m. in front of the National Palace today, to demand 4% of the GDP for education as the Law stipulates.

The groups decided the stage protest in front of the Palace every 4th of the month to demand enforcement of the General Education Law  66-97, which calls for 4% of the GDP for that sector.

The same manifestation will be conducted simultaneously at 3:30 p.m. in front of the Dominican Consulate in New York, where they plan to deliver a document to protest the violation of the law.

And despite Fernandez’s proposal in a meeting with the Coalition representatives to allocate an additional RD$5.4 billion for Education in a complementary budget for next year, the groups rejected the offer and reiterated adherence to the Law instead.

Source: Dominican Today

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Fernandez yearns for a "green" Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic president Leonel Fernandez aims to convert his country into a "green economy" with “green growth" as the way to the future, and urged each country to assume their responsibility to revert the effects of climate change.

Fernandez spoke before several hundred people in the Sustainable Development Summit inaugurated today in the Indian capital, where India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivered the inaugural speech, with the president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, and of the Seychelles, James Michel attending.

The Dominican President, on an ficial visit to India, affirmed announced the signature of an agreement with Germany to make with Dominican universities models for development to convert his country into a "green economy."

“The fossils go from the Industrial Revolution to the present moment. In the 21st century, clean energies, green economy," the Dominican leader said, adding that "having an action plan for a green economy project is fundamental, because all humanity will have to head towards a sustainable development model."

Fernandez landed in India on Sunday and after hosting academic and business meetings in the economic centers of Bombay’s (west) and Bangalore (south), begins the official part of his visit to the Asian country today.

After the Summit, Fernandez met with the head of its organizers Rajendra Pachauri, and with the Secretary General of the ruling Party of Congress, Rahul Gandhi.

Quoted by Efe, the Head of State said his trip to the Asian country aims to promote investment and trade, with particular attention to information technologies and communication industries, and academia.

Though trade with Dominican Republic is still a trickle: totaling only US$306.5 million in the last five years, Fernandez has stated that India investors can take advantage of his country as an operational base as "a door of easy access” to American and European markets.

“Since we have a free trade agreement with the United States, products made in Dominican Republic can access the USA market in preferential conditions. From India this couldn’t be done."

"Dominican Republic can guarantee access, mainly to the East coast of the USA, and that’s a market extraordinary," he said and cited Dominican tobacco exports as another routes to develop trade. "We would gain visibility and with that, tourism,"

He also urged India investors to take advantage of the Spanish language to develop and translate Indian software. “The Spanish language becomes a financial asset which combined with its geographic location become a potential for Dominican Republic’s development."

Fernandez will end aim his visit to India on Friday with a speech before representatives of the diplomatic community in the Indian World Affairs Council.

Source: Dominican Today

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Once sleepy Dominican towns become smuggler's paradise

Remnants of the ring allegedly headed by Ramon del Rosario Puente (Toño Leña) in the East region are smuggling large amounts of drugs and guns from Puerto Rico along the coast using speedboats, turning the once sleepy towns Miches and Sabana de la Mar into major contraband centers.

The alleged smuggling has spurred the inhabitants of the two Samana Bay towns to request the transfer of the Antinarcotics (DNCD) agents they say don’t do anything to halt the traffic and consumption of drugs in that part of Hato Mayor province.

Representatives of Sabana de la Mar told the prosecutor Manuel Emilio Santana that the municipality’s main problem is drug trafficking and that the DNCD agents do nothing to confront it.

They say that from the coasts the drugs are transported to the rural communities La Gina, La Culebra de Miches, as well as in Magua, La Loma, Las Cañitas and Capitan.

The townspeople say from those communities, the drugs and guns are then taken along trails through the ruggen Magua Mountain until Yabón in Vicentillo of El Seibo, where people driving luxury SUVs receive them on the banks of the Yabón river, and from there taken to Santo Domingo and other parts of the East region.

It was learned around 4 months ago that top brand pistols are being for as little as 8,000 pesos in barrios of El Seibo and Hato Mayor, and that drugs are being sold even in front of the Miches police precinct, whose agents don’t act out of fear of reprisal.

Meanwhile in the Sabana de la Mar barrio La Aviacion, drug traffickers have set up an “operations center” and have even challenged Police and DNCD agents, who can’t enter it at any hour.

Source: Dominican Today

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India eyes Dominican Republic as foothold to America

India Foreign Relations Minister E. Ahamed today said the Dominican Republic is an ideal bridge between India, the Latin American and U.S markets and pledged to forge a lasting and successful relation with the Caribbean country.

The official agreed with president Leonel Fernandez’s statement that the latter’s official visit will lead to stronger cultural, diplomatic, technological and trade relations between his country and Dominican Republic.

Ahamed spoke in the seminar “Trade and Investment Opportunities between Dominican Republic and India” organized by several chambers of commerce in that nation, in which more than 200 information technology, textiles, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism companies took part.

He lauded Fernandez’s work in Dominican Republic and Latin America and thanked the Dominican people for supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Source: Dominican Today

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The Catholic Church slams Dominican Republic’s “owners”

The Catholic Church on Friday called the country’s public transport “a shame” and affirms that Dominicans have withstood that “Calvary” for decades, imposed by what the media calls, “the country’s owners.”

“The numerous resources invested by different governments, to provide the population a clean, punctual and decent service, have fallen into a bottomless pit,” affirm the prelates in the Santiago Archdiocese’s weekly publication Camino.

It said given the transport business’ trickery and extortions, its leaders flaunt scandalous wealth based on the sufferings of a population which lacks efficient officials, who are hurt by the squandering of government properties. “As the years pass the driver unions have become the nemesis of those who must use this inefficient and anarchical public transport service.”

Camino affirms that they’ve been astonished upon noting that in exchange for their attitude those businessmen receive prizes and rewards, transforming them arrogant and petulant, and are acquiring a power, which in its view “we’ll regret if it isn’t halted on time.”

It adds that violence is the most primitive response by those which the local media has called “the country’s owners” and sees how they become kings when any effort arises to make them adhere to the law. “We cannot continue with this disorder. For years Latin American countries with a socioeconomic situation similar to ours have had an organized and efficient public transport.”

The Catholic bishops said the country would save currencies, have less pollution, significantly less road congestion and the poorest would have economic relief.

Source: Dominican Today

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