JUNE 2010

Ministry of Youth holds graduation in Samaná

Franklin Rodríguez, Youth MinisterFranklyn Rodriguez urges youth to continue preparing

BREAKING NEWS: Samaná.- The Ministry of Youth held graduation ceremonies in Samaná and María Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua), with hundreds of young students given scholarships by the institution. Franklyn Rodriguez, said that the young people benefited from the technical scholarships offered by the Ministry of Youth.

Today we watch them as they take an important step in life, but there are still many hurdles to overcome, said the official. He urged the youth to continue to prepare and not choose the path of crime and drug addiction.

Rodriguez added that it is the hope of President Leonel Fernandez that the Dominican youth continue to educate themselves.

The head of the institution said that the Ministry of Youth is the vehicle that ensures that young Dominicans can continue to improve their lives.

The graduations were held in the various Governorates, with the presence of Miguelin Besi, elected governor and trustee of Samana, in addition to Aristides Victoria, Governor and Senator-elect Maria Trinidad Sanchez, and Amauri Romero, vice-minister of Youth, among other authorities.

Samaná Live, 08.06.10

West-Jet Airline launches Toronto-Samaná route

West-Jet Airline Toronto-SamanáWith a capacity of 146 passengers

BREAKING NEWS: Samaná.- The Canadian airline Jet West added a weekly Toronto - Samaná route featuring affordable airfare.A Boeing 737-700 with capacity for 146 passengers, from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada, will land on Dominican soil every Saturday, at President Juan Bosch Internationa lAirport, located in the community of El Catey, Samana.

Passengers and airline executives who came to the AISA on this first flight were greeted with an infectious rhythm of meringue performed by the Ministry of Tourism´s folkloric ballet group and airport executives from Dominican airport Century XXI.

During the opening ceremony the director of President Juan Bosch Internationa l Airport, Enrique Pacheco, stressed the importance to this new service, ensuring that the arrival of’ West-Jet to Samaná will continue to push this area towards its goal of becoming the number one tourist destination in the country.

It increases the possibility of economic development for the region and its inhabitants and furthermore strengthens ties between the Dominican Republic and Canada

Westjet, con base en la ciudad de Calgary, Canadá, fue fundada en 1996. Esta compañía vuela a la mayoría de ciudades importantes de Canadá y ofrece vuelos a los Estados Unidos, México y países del Caribe.

By receiving West-Jet, we confirm our commitment to making President Juan Bosch Internationa l Airport one of the leaders in air transport in the Dominican Republic , said Pacheco.

Upon providing information on the new route in Calgary, Canada, Chris Avery, WestJet vice-president of vacations, said he was very excited to be able to provide more services to the Dominican Republic West-Jet, based in Calgary, Canada, was founded in 1996.

This airline flies to most major cities in Canada, offering flights to the United States, Mexico and Caribbean countries

Samaná Live, 10.06.10

Rescue work in Los Haitises receives support

National Park Los Haitises in SamanáOn behalf of Progressive Environmental Movement

BREAKING NEWS: Samaná.- The Environmental Progressive Movement - MAP - endorsed the rescue operation in Los Haitises National Park, which the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources will begin performing this week.

MAP claims to have verified that many Dominican farmers use Haitians laborers in slashing and deforestation for planting and animal husbandry in areas not suitable for tilling the soil, such as upper watersheds that should remain with dense forest cover to prevent erosion, but that this also occurs in protected areas such as Los Haitises.

MAP said Los Haitises park should be preserved under all circumstances, avoiding activities that cause serious damage to the environment

Progressive Environmental Movement, chaired by Paino Abreu Collado, demanded that farmers who make clearings in this national park abandon the practice because they cause serious damage to a fragile ecosystem that is protected by law.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in cooperation with the Armed Forces will conduct a rescue operation in the areas taken over by private individuals.MAP announced its support of this action and demanded the establishment of a permanent surveillance at all points of access to the park, given the serious damage that the occupation of land in Los Haitises is causing to the ecosystem.

The environmental group said that although it is known that there are landless peasants who need to work, in this case there is no doubt that the public interest is more important than some people who have become professionals in the predation of parks, forests and river basins, a practice that must be eradicated completely.

He stated that this area should be preserved for the sake of the Dominican people, asking farmers who are acting within the closed area to collect their animals and move to their respective communities.

MAP suggested that the inhabitants of the surrounding areas of Los Haitises view the park as a source of income, but via ecotourism and should organize and prepare themselves with the aim of serving as guides and to produce and sell handicraft items.

Samaná Live, 11.06.10

Dominican Republic, best country in the Caribbean for whale watching

Humpback whales in Samaná25,000 tourists per season

BREAKING NEWS: Samaná.- In the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, with 25,000 tourists per season, is the best placed for whale watching, as revealed by the first study done on this subject, which was conducted by the Fisheries Center at the University of British Columbia (Canada).

In 2009, more than 13 million curious onlookers observed whales in 119 countries, generating US $2 billion dollars, as reported by the Australian Minister for Ecology, Peter Garrett, before the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Agadir (southwest of Morocco).

One hundred Latin American and Caribbean operators have submitted, at the behest of Argentina, a statement to the CBI claiming to maintain the moratorium on commercial whaling, the enforcement of whale sanctuaries and the creation of a new sanctuary inthe South Atlantic.

Samaná Live, 29.06.10