AUGUST 2008

Las Galeras will be included in the housing program

The Mayor affirms that many poor families need houses

LAS GALERAS, - Samaná. The district council of this locality required to the National Housing Institute (INVI) to include it in its housing construction program because hundreds of families need a decent roof.

The municipal delegate, Rafael Bello Miguel, made the request after having directed the ceremony of handing-over of a house to a couple of elderly, this belonging to the construction project and improvement of the residences.

The housing built with blocks and covered with zinc cost 207,375.07 pesos and, according to the civil servant, will contribute to improve the living conditions of these people in the need.

Hoy Digital, by Erica Gúzman, 04.08.08

The multiple Aqueduct will boost the Samaná economy

Drinking water in the Province

SAMANÁ. - The National institute of Drinking Water and Sewers (INAPA) informed that the multiple aqueduct in construction in this province is the most significant work of this zone by the economic impact generated by its realization and by the benefit that will obtain the inhabitants on the health, family economy and investments level.

The executive director of INAPA, Frank Rodriguez, affirmed that this infrastructure, which is built by express provision of president Leonel Fernández, is given a lift to the local economy.

The aqueduct contributes together with the tourism to revitalize the economy in this province. More than 1.100 people is working on this work and we pays 16 million pesos per month to the workmen and technicians, in majority Dominicans, he indicated.

He explained that the multiple aqueduct is composed by two systems, one which will provide a drinking water of good quality to Samaná, Las Galeras, Rincón and Arroyo Barril and another for Las Terrenas, Cosón and El Portillo.

The overall costs will be of 164.0 million US $ and it will be finished at the end of 2009. Concerning the system of Samaná, he informed that the infrastructure for the water supply is built on the river San Juan, near of the Community of El Valle.

This work consists of a dam having the capacity to store 700 thousand cubic meters and of a pumping station made up of five electric pumps being able to aspire 150 liters per second.

From this point, the water will be led to the purification plant in construction in La Palmilla and which will have the capacity to treat 600 liters per second, which will have a tower of alimentation and ventilation on arrival of the raw water, basins of sedimentation, filters, system of disinfection and a regulating reserve of a capacity of 396 thousand gallons.

Regarding the regulating tanks, there are five in total and they are all teminated. They are located in Samaná, Honduras, El Francés, Las Galeras and Los Tocones.

As for the distribution networks, he said that they are currently laid almost in their totality. For the aqueduct of Las Terrenas, he informed that the infrastructure of pumping will be built on the Cosón river, with a fast treatment plant of filtration with the capacity of making water drinkable of 250 liters per second, two pumping stations, impulsion pipes to Las Terrenas and Cosón and corresponding regulating tanks.

Hoy Digital, 05.08.08

The power cuts cause strikes

Shop’s closing and protests

The protests against the prolonged power cuts which affect the population continue to become widespread and yesterday paralyzed in their tasks hundreds of businesses of the Conde street and the Colonial City of the Capital, meanwhile in Bonao, storekeepers decided to close their doors because of the many losses they are recording.

The residents of the coastal region of Río San Juan, Cabrera, Nagua, El Factor, Sánchez, Las Galeras and Samaná also complained about the insufficiencies of the electric service and for the few hours during which the electricity is provided.

At the time of a meeting in Santiago with representatives of commercial, Community, academic and ecclesiastics organizations of this city and of Puerto Plata, the executive vice-president of the Corporation of the Official Electric Companies (CDEEE), Radhamés Segura, allotted the power cuts to the low water level of the dams, to the high fuel and energy prices and to the non payment of the service by many users.

In the provinces of María Trinidad Sánchez and Samaná the power cuts especially increased.

El Listín Diario, 07.08.08

The intermediate cities need employment

Report of the National Office of Statistics

The smallest urban centres are those which show the greatest population growth during the last years, which obliges the actors of the public policies to create the conditions for the reception of investments in order to face the increasing request of employment.

According to a report of the National Office of Statistics (ONE), the population growth of these cities is above the levels of growth of the town of Santo Domingo and the growth of the national urban population.

The population of the intermediate cities is estimated between 50.000 and 500.000 inhabitants.

The report indicates, for example, that the towns of Boca Chica, Samaná, Puerto Plata, Higüey, San Pedro de Macorís and La Romana underwent a great migrating attraction being given their economic characteristics, identified mainly by the tourism development and the promotion of the private sector investment in construction.

Other cities underwent increase in their growth and dynamism because of their proximity with big cities and their agro-industrial development, as it is the case of Bajos Haina, Villa Altagracia and of San Cristóbal.

The report underlines also the growth of the cities like La Vega, San Francisco de Macorís, Nagua, Jarabacoa, San Juan, El Seibo, Cotuí, Bonao, Moca and Baní.

These cities have greater facilities to attract companies and institutions, according to the report.

Hoy Digital, 08.08.08

Amhsa Marina expands in the Dominican Republic

Residential tourism in Las Galeras

Focused also on residential tourism, Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts keeps receiving awards and certifications, this time the Check Safety First Award, granted by the British Company Cristal Americas.

The award, granted to Casa Marina Beach & Reef recognized the best hotel in the area for the year 2008, and aims at checking the quality control and hygene in the food offered by hotel facilities.

Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts has 678 superior rooms equipped with cable TV, full bathroom, phone, air conditioning and terrace or balcony that offers a view of the beach or the gardens.

Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts is planning to enter residential tourism through two different offers, the first one located in Las Galeras, Samana, and the other one in Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata.

Dominican Today, 12.08.08

A seism of 4.6 degrees felt in Nagua, Cabrera and in other provinces

Constant monitoring in the zone of Samaná

The Seismological Institute of the UASD is attentive in the event of possible aftershocks.

At seven o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, one recorded a seism of amplitude of 4.6 degrees in the Ritcher scale, which was felt in Nagua, Cabrera and in other provinces, informed the Seismological Institute of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).

The epicenter of the telluric movement was localized at 19.6 latitude north and at 69.9 longitude north-east, while the predetermined depth was of 10 kilometers.

The director of the Seismological Institute of the UASD, Juan Vallejo, said that they stay very attentive to possible aftershocks which could occur and that they perform a constant monitoring through the stations of Samaná, Santiago, San Francisco de Macorís and Punta Cana.

Diario Libre, 14.08.08

Storm’s downpours block transit on newest Dominican highway

Hihgway from Santo Domingo to Samaná reopened today Monday 18

Hundreds of motorists who headed from Santo Domingo to Samaná yesterday were turned back by the tolls’ guards, who said the Yabacao river washed out a section of the new highway, at Monte Plata province, after Tropical Storm Fay dumped heavy rains in that part of the country.

The military allowed traffic only as far as the village Naranjo, as flooding in the zone affected about 16 kilometers of the road. Only moto-taxis were allowed on the highway and some vehicles were seen returning from Samaná to Santo Domingo.

Meanwhile traffic is snarled in Sabana de la Mar as recent rains caused landslides and crevices along a 200 meter section of the highway linking it with Hato Mayor province, whose governor Jose Alberto Vásquez called on Public Works to restore transit between El Valle, Miches and Sabana de la Mar.

The Sabana de la Mar-Hato Mayor highway was under reconstruction, but the work was abandoned soon after president Leonel Fernandez won reelection.

Phone number for highway users assistance 829 904 7859

Dominican Today, 18.08.08

Back to normality on the road Samaná-Santo Domingo

Way affected this weekend by the storm

Because of the drop of the water level of the Yabacao River, the public road security of the highway Santo Domingo-Samaná reopened the traffic yesterday, after the last downpours caused by the tropical storm Fay flooded the zone by completely recovering a sector of the road on more than 200 meters.

The provincial director of Civil Defense, Jose Ramón Mejía, informed that the rising of the Yabacao River did not affect the bridge, but that the water overflow prevented temporarily the passage of the vehicles.

He indicated that as soon as the event occurred, it was notified to the authorities to inform them of the situation and that in prevention of the danger, they had to suspend the traffic in this section until everything comes back to normality.

Listín Diario, by Fausto H. Moreno, 19.08.08

The natural aquarium of Kaio

A mode of entertaining tourism

LAS GALERAS, Samaná. - This natural aquarium created by the Japanese Kaio is a mode of entertaining diving, where without having any experience in diving or in swimming, people can make accompanied incursions into the subaquatic world with an instructor who with a personalized attention accompanies and offers his assistance to the beginners.

The objective of this natural aquarium is to collect data on the marine coastal resources present in the zone of Las Galeras and to observe the habits of fish and shellfish in their environment by having a direct contact with them in a natural and free manner.

Another of the objectives is to take along national and foreign tourists to swim with thousands of fish.

This marine adventure is an unforgettable experience since the people have a direct contact with the marine fauna and flora.

Part of the installations of the natural aquarium is a gift of the Japanase Government and the people of Japan.

This natural aquarium is localised in the commune of Las Galeras, Province of Samaná, between Cabo Cabrón and Cabo Samaná.

Samaná, considered as the capital of diving par excellence is visited all the year by the divers of all the country and from the whole world, thanks to its water of a great transparency and to the abundance of its marine animal-life.

There are many alternatives to make immersions on this coast, as well from the beaches by accessible places as by boat.

The marine park of the Japanes Kaio is characteristic because there is no mesh to lock up the marine animals, it is completely open.

The floor is sandy, with many rocks and corals which shelter a great quantity of fish.

Al Momento, by Juan Carlos Navarro

Dominican tourism industry Expo

More than 100 companies expected

More than 100 companies will participate in the 22nd ASONAHORES Business Expo 2008, showcasing their products and services to the hospitality industry, from August 27 to 30, in the Hotel Dominican Fiesta Convention Center .

The Business Expo gives suppliers an opportunity to introduce and promote their latest products and services to the hotel industry and other segments of the tourism industry.

This year, the fair is dedicated to the Banco Popular, for its 40 year-experience in the Dominican market of services and tourism.

The financial entity is composed by 200 branches from which 30 are located in tourist zones like Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, La Romana, Punta Cana, Bávaro, Samaná, Las Terrenas, Cabarete, Sosúa and Jarabacoa.

Dominican Today, 22.08.08

Considerable reduction of the dengue cases compared to year 2007

Health authorities recall that prevention is crucial to reduce the disease

The incidence of the dengue dropped considerably during this year compared to 2007.
According to the General Office of Epidemiology, until August 16, 1, 5123 cases were recorded and 9 people died.
During all the year 2007, the disease affected 9,649 persons and 47 people died.

Among the cases detected and recorded this year, 200 correspond to children who are less than 5 year-old.
In 2007, the number of children of this age affected by the disease was 1,524.

With regard to the type of dengue that had the greatest incidence during year 2008, 1,474 were traditional dengue cases and 39 of hemorrhagic dengue.

Regarding the sources, it is the province of Santo Domingo which has the greatest number of cases (332), followed by the province of Santiago(261) and then by Distrito Nacional (208).
Whereas the province of Samaná is the place where the incidence is weakest with only one reported case.

Season

The periods of warm temperatures and rains are factors which highly affect the increase of the reproduction of the Aedes Agytus mosquito which transmits the disease.

These last weeks, it was raining a lot and the weather was very hot.
But despite of these conditions, the recorded cases remain lower than last years, but these figures can still change.

Hoy Digital, by Odalis Mejía, 25.08.08

Schools remained closed

Authorities were obliged to suspend classes

The flooding caused by hurricane Gustav in different parts of the country caused hundreds of persons to seek shelter in many of the public schools, and the authorities from the Ministry of Educations were obliged to suspend classes in those provinces and the National District under either Red or Yellow Alerts.

The suspension of classes will continue throughout today, according to statements by Melanio Paredes, as reported by the director of the program of Risk Management of the vice-ministry of Community Participation, Fausto Estévez, who said that the decision was taken in order not to expose students, teachers or administrative personnel to danger.

As of yesterday, around 1,888 persons were reported to be sheltered in government shelters, part of the total 4,250 Of these, 922 were sheltered in public schools in Ázua, Pedernales and Barahona.

In Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Ázua there are 243 persons; in Pedernales the Padre Bienvenido School was taken over as a shelter with 161 persons staying there; Los Cayucos school took in 148 people, and Las Mercedes School was filled with 291 persons. Meanwhile, in Barahona the Canoa Primary School sheltered 79 persons.

Most of the private schools in Santo Domingo and elsewhere, also suspended classes.

The Minister of Education ordered the regional and district directors in those provinces not affected by the alerts issued by the COE to suspend classes in those communities that are affected by local climatic conditions.

At the same time, Paredes called on parents not to send their children to the schools as long as the effects of the hurricane are being felt.

Authorities at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) also suspended classes yesterday in the main campus and in its university centers in Barahona and San Juan de la Maguana due to the rains and local flooding caused by Gustav.

Diario Libre, 27.08.08

Guides and taxi drivers underwent training

To work with cruise ships passengers

To offer a high quality and optimal service to the cruise liners passengers who visit us, so they keep the best impression of our country. In order they leave while taking along with them pleasant souvenirs and that they would like to come back.

It is for this purpose that the taxi drivers and the tourist guides of the capital received a training on the customer services, organized by the Secretariat of Tourism (Sectur), explained Adam Ceserano, vice-president of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

The activity took place in the Don Diego Tourist Terminal of the Sans Souci Port, within the framework of the initiatives sponsored by Sectur to reinforce cruising tourism.

Ceserano explained that thanks to this initiative, the taxi drivers and the guides will be certified by the FCCA for the application of customer service standards which are implemented in other Caribbean islands.

DR could receive 400 cruise ships

Dominican Republic has in front of it all the promising possibilities to increase its number of cruise liners, underlined the civil servant.

He pointed out that currently, boats are arriving by the harbor terminals of Santo Domingo, La Romana and Samaná.

He underlined the strong socio-economic impact which the cruising niche has locally, since each passenger spends an average of 100 dollars during his passage in the country. In general this year we hope to receive some 400 cruise liners, with some 500 thousand visitors on board, he estimated.

Diario Digital, 28.08.08

The Police assigns patrols on the new highway

Security and protection

Two cars and two big-engined motor bikes were assigned to the new patrol of the Santo Domingo Samaná highway, according to the information of the Chief of the Police force Guillermo Guzmán Fermín.

With the setting-up of this new unit, Fermín said that they sought to avoid the traffic accidents and to guarantee the protection and the security of the users.

He added that this road is made of two ways and three toll stations as well as twelve bridges and it is 106 kilometers long.

The highway crosses to the east of Monte Plata and to the west of Bayaguana and Los Haïties, he specified.

Listín Diario, 29.08.08