FEBRUARY 2009

On the steps of Miguel Batista

On the steps of Miguel BatistaIn the Province of Samaná

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican baseball player Miguel Batista delivered back bags and school material to hundreds of children of families having few economic resources in the Communities of Los Alcarrizos, Los Tocones, Arroyo Zurdido, El Limón, Loma Agua Sabrosa and in the urban area of the province of Samaná.

The poet, as one calls him in the baseball world, brings every year his assistance to various countries of Latin America since he began his program of good deeds, which includes the handing-over of medication, wheelchairs, hospital material, sports equipment, etc

He devotes his time of end of season to help the needy people and to support other non profit-making institutions which develop social tasks in Dominican Republic.

Batista will continue in the next days with a program of donations and he will deliver personally wheelchairs, including at the office of the First lady of the nation, Doctor Margarita Cedeño de Fernández.

Samaná Live, 03.02.09

Presentation of documentary and photos’ book on Samaná

Presentation of documentary and photos’ book on Samaná« Pride of My Land »

BREAKING NEWS: Preident Leonel Fernández attended yesterday evening the presentation of the project « Pride of My Land », contained in a book of photographs and a documentary devoted to the province of Samaná.

The Agent arrived accompanied by the First Lady, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández. They were received by José Miguel González and Feliz Fernández, president of Centro Cuesta Nacional and author of the book, respectively.

González, president of Centro Cuesta Nacional, responsible of the project of tourist promotion, said that the objective was to invite the Dominicans to rediscover the cultural, natural and folk richness of the country, by sensitizing them on the need for protecting the environment and, especially, by underlining the quality of the Dominican people.

Feliz Fernández worked out the book of photographs, with the support of Jeannette Millera and Máximo José Rodríguez who carried out the audio-visual part, by recreating the historical, cultural, religious, artistic and gastronomical contributions of the area.

Moreover, during the ceremony, the document « Pride of My Land » on the habits, history and traditions of the province of Samaná, North-eastern area of the Dominican Republic, was also presented.

During March and February, the stores of the establishments of Centro Cuesta Nacional will develop activities devoted to Samaná, like a gastronomical festival, a traditional fair, discussions, conferences and educational activities for the children.

The artistic presentation was made by the singer Adalgisa Pantaleón, in duet with her son Héctor Aníbal.

Civils servant, the president of the Central Electoral Board, Julio César Castaños Guzmán, members of the diplomatic corps credited in the country, directors of media and television programs were also present.

Samaná Live, 10.02.09

The United Nations and the Dominican Republic will work together

The United Nations and the Dominican Republic will work togetherTo prevent and to mitigate the natural disasters

BREAKING NEWS: The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Dominican Civil defense signed an agreement to train volunteers on the prevention and the mitigation of natural disasters, programs which will be focused in the five provinces of the country most vulnerable to the weather phenomena.

The agreement, also signed by the United Nations Volunteers Program (UNVP), will make it possible to strengthen the capacities of the Civil defense in management, qualification and mobilization of volunteers to mitigate the effects of the natural disasters, according to an official statement of the UNDP.

The project « Support to mobilize volunteers for the prevention, the preparation and the mitigation of catastrophes in Dominican Republic » will last two years and will have a budget of 8.6 million pesos (242.253 dollars), brought by the signatories and by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

The initiative will be focused in the provinces of Duarte, María Trinidad Sánchez, Samaná and Sánchez Ramírez, in the North Eastern zone and in Salcedo for the North area, and will seek to reduce the vulnerability of the country in front of the natural disasters through the qualification of volunteers in matters like the direct communication and the early vigilance.

Samaná Live, 19.02.09

Two observatories to view Samaná’s humpback whales

Two observatories to view Samaná’s humpback whalesAn alternative for the whale watching

BREAKING NEWS: SAMANÁ.- Environment minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal announced the construction of two observatories in Samaná’s Humpback Whale Sanctuary, aimed at increasing the number of visitors to the zone, without affecting the life of the cetaceans.

We’ll build two large, land observatories for whales, in which people can walk up and see the whales and thus reduce the number of boats in the future, so that we don’t continue harassing them and don’t invade their space as much, said the official.

The ex vice president, who visited Cayo Levantao and other parts of Samána Bay, said the project wouldn’t eliminate the boats currently used for the visits, and it’s an alternative to make the service more efficient, since that activity is the main income for many families.

Dominican Today, 24.02.09