MAY 2009

Children receive training on the environment

One day with Reef Check

BREAKING NEWS: The project Balcones del Atlántico set up a day on the beach for all the children of its collaborators and customers with the marine biologist Rubén Torres, of the Reef Check Foundation.

This activity was carried out within the framework of the plans of approach of the environment and of the community.

The day went with activities conceived to make known the sea to the children.

The participants learned how to know the sea and its fundamental importance for the Hearth.

They also received information on the interesting creatures which live on the Dominican coasts, by stressing those which populate the peninsula of Samaná and the dangers which are threatening them and what to make to help with a better future.

Las Terrenas Live, 01.05.09

Chiefs of the National Drug Control Department and of the National Police in jail in Samaná

The public prosecutor accuses them of receiving bribes

BREAKING NEWS: The Samaná examining magistrate required the imprisonment of the Chief of the National Drug Control Department, and of the person in charge of the intelligence section of the National Police of this jurisdiction.

They are accused of receiving bribes in exchange of protecting seven points of drug sale.

The magistrate Niurca de la Cruz de León pronounced the coercive measure against the Dominican Air Force captain and the DCND in charge person, Pascasio de los Santos Pérez, and against the police sergeant José Aquino Batista, also in charge of the intelligence section of the PN.

The two men were arrested this past Thursday, after a warrant emitted by de León.
The arrest took place during a search directed by the assistant prosecutor Juan Medina, when they were receiving from a presumed drug delivery, called Daniel, the weekly payment of RD $10,000, money paid in exchange of the protection of their activities.

The public prosecutor said the officer were payed each week for protection at least four points of drugs and three delivery.

Aquino Batista and de los Santos were sent to the public jail of Samaná, for 90 days, until the Public Prosecutor finishes its investigation.
The action during which Aquino was arrested took place in the el Hospital district, and de los Santos was arrested in the Aloja hotel in Las Terrenas.

Las Terrenas Live, 04.05.09

Frenchman horsebacking leaves Dominican Republic

With a great memory of Las Terrenas

BREAKING NEWS: Thierry Posty, a French adventure traveler who has been touring the world on horseback for the past 18 years, ended his trip of seven weeks across the Dominican Republic and announced that he will start a new journey in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, seeking for new adventures.

Posty explained that he traveled 1.500 kilometers on the back of Chief, an height years old painted horse, and with whom he visited 19 provinces of the country.

In this country, I learned how to play domino, billiard, and casino games with the people; I learned how to dance bachata and merengue, and I player blues with my harmonica for the horse and for the persons I met, said the French man, a psychologist, who alternates his job and the great travels.

Before beginning his travels in the Dominican Republic, which is roughly 48,400 square kilometers in area, Posty placed an ad in the Listin Diario newspaper in hopes someone will lend him a horse to carry him on a route over mountains, plains, the beach, throughout the entire country.

Posty described his trip in Dominican Republic as a difficult trip because of the heat and of the mountain roads.

The nature, mountains, rivers and the trees are so beautiful, just as the cacao and coffee plantations, said the adventurer who will never forget the beauty of the beach of Las Terrenas, in the Samaná Peninsula.

Las Terrenas Live, 05.05.09

Bad influenza is good for tourism

Arrivals of tourists increase 40%

BREAKING NEWS: The flow of USA and European tourists in Dominican Republic increased of almost 40% during the last days, because of the deviation of many flight bounded for Mexico, according to the informations of an authorized source.

The deviation of the flights is due to the swine flu epidemic, said Arturo Martínez Villanueva, vice president of the Hotels and Restaurants of Dominican Republic Association (ASONAHORES).

The tourists arrive mainly on the Punta Cana coast, and at Puerto Plata, on the North zone. He explained that an American tour operator solicited the deviation towards Dominican Republic of 35 flights, each one with 190 passengers.

He added that the Riviera Maya, in Mexico, and Punta Cana in Bávaro, have common characteristics: both are touristic zones located along the Caribbean sea.

Martínez said that Dominican Republic has the capacity to welcome all the tourists from Mexico, but we wish to remind that we feel sorry about this situation that affects our sister nation.

Las Terrenas Live, 05.05.09

The Women’s Ministry offers the workshop Woman HIV/AIDS

In the office of Las Terrenas

BREAKING NEWS: The Women’s Ministry, in coordination with the Copresida and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; trough its Health department, developed the workshop Woman, HIV/AIDS, intended to the community leaders, in order these one can be able to apply the social marketing in their village.

The goal of the SEM is that every person could gain the necessary knowledge to apply the strategy of social marketing with condoms, and that the population understand the use of these one are an efficient way to prevent STIs, HIV, AIDS, and pregnancy.

The speaker Edna Nadal explained that in social marketing, condoms, contraceptives, oral hydrating serums, mosquito nets, drinking water kits, vitamins and antibiotics are commercialized.

She added that it was better to sell the products than to give them, because when they are free, the persons do not use it.

The project SEM/COPRESIDA from woman to woman is developped trough the provinces’ offices of the women in Barahona, San José de Ocoa, Jarabacoa, Constanza, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, Sabana de la Mar, Puerto Plata Imbert, Altamira, Jima Abajo, Bonao, Cotuí, Fantino, Salcedo, Nagua and in Las Terrenas too.

Las Terrenas Live, 07.05.09

The works for the realization of the deviation of Las Terrenas keep going

Construction of the bridge

BREAKING NEWS: The works for the realization of the deviation of Las Terrenas keep going, with the setting up of the first materials for the construction of a bridge.

This one is built so the vehicles can travel over the river of Arroyo Caño Seco, and is part of the deviation that starts at the entry of the village (coming from Sánchez) and which exit is located next to Los Parques, not far away of La Barbacoa.

This project of the traffic deviation is developed by the Ministry of Public Works and is part of the big work Boulevard del Atlántico.

The goal of this deviation is to improve the internal traffic of the municipality, by offering a new access to the trucks, that crosses the areas of Caño Seco, Come Pan and La Iglesia.

With this road, the heavy transport will not have to ride across the village when traveling from Sánchez to El Limón, and vice versa, avoiding traffic jams and accidents.

Concerning the trucks that deliver merchandise to the businesses of Las Terrenas, they will be able to use this road, leaving their products in an appropriate warehouse, in order smaller trucks distribute them in the village.

The construction of this bridge is an important step in the realization process of this deviation, that, without a doubt, is a very positive point for Las Terrenas.

Las Terrenas Live, by Lucie Houdayer, 08.05.09

A couple took off from Dominican Republic to cross the world

They will make the promotion of the country

BREAKING NEWS: A couple formed by a Spaniard and a German began on last Thursday a travel around the planet on board of a small plane to promote the aviation and to carry throughout the world a message of peace, said the woman, Liliana Tagliamonte.

The couple will travel on board of a RV-7 plane, a mono-engine aircraft of two places with which they think of making a travel around the world in three or four years.

Tagliamonte explained that her objective and that of her husband, Detlef Heun, was to promote the aviation in general and to bring around the world the idea that it is also possible to fly aboard of small planes. The couple also wishes to carry a message of peace on their road through the world, they indicated, while they stressed that the Dominican Republic is one of the most peaceful countries of the world; this is why they wish to also make the promotion of the nation.

Tagliamonte said they were proud of the attention they received in Dominican Republic, where they think to matriculate their plane next year to display the Dominican flag.

The pilots arrived to the country two weeks ago, coming from the United States in their mono-engine aircraft, built by themselves in Germany during three years.

Their road will cross the Virgin Islands, Guyana, the South pole, the United States, Canada, Greenland, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Egypt and Oman. They will also go to Thailand, Indonesia, the Southern Pacific, the New Zealand, Philippines, Borneo, India, China, Japan, Korea and Australia, to come back to Dominican Republic via Alaska.

Andres Vanderhorst, director of the Airport Department, said that this exploit showed that the country stimulated sporting tourism and private aviation.

On its side, the Secretariat of Tourism, by the under-secretary Fausto Fernández, ensured that they will offer all the necessary support to the tourist aviation in order to reach a maximum development.

Yolanda Mañán, of Aeropuertos Dominicanos, thanked the couple to have chosen the Dominican Republic like starting point of their tourist course throughout the world.

For the Secretariat of Tourism, it is a pride that the Dominican flag accompanies the plane during its adventure.

The couple just married in the Bahamas two weeks ago before arriving to the Prof Juan Bosch international airport, in El Catey, Samaná, where they were received by the tourist, airport and Aerodom authorities.

They then went to the aerodrome of El Portillo in Las Terrenas where they camped before to arrive to Santo Domingo.

Las Terrenas Live, 11.05.09

Tourist Exhibition in Puerto Rico

Guest country: The Dominican Republic

BREAKING NEWS: Ponce, Puerto Rico. - The Tourist Office of Promotion for the Dominican Republic in Puerto Rico (OPT) and the shopping mall Plaza del Caribe carried out last week the Dominican Republic Expo 2009, in the greatest commercial center of the southern area of Puerto Rico.

Every year, during the two weeks preceding the Mother’s Day, a season of great incidence in the sales, Plaza del Caribe carries out an exhibition.

Three years ago, we had the Dominican Republic as guest country through the Tourist Office of Promotion of Puerto Rico and it was so successful that we decided to invite the country again.

The exhibition is dedicated to the tourist and cultural attractions offered by the Dominican Republic affirmed Susana Santiago, director of Marketing of Plaza del Caribe.

For the Secretariat of Tourism of Dominican Republic, is an honor to be invited and to share with all the inhabitants of Ponce and all the Portoricans of the southern area the treasures of the Dominican Republic, said García, who added that by the means of this exhibition, we want to wake up the interest of the people to know the historical richness of our monuments, of our music, the Dominican art, as well as the many hotel alternatives that offers the country.

Dominican Republic Expo 09 in Plaza del Caribe in Ponce, was concluded from April 28 to May 9.

In addition to the reproductions of the important historical structures of the Dominican capital, the visitors enjoyed a varied artistic sample, seminars on Dominican folk art, various musical presentations, artistic seminars, contest, tourist presentations and gastronomical tastings including the typical Dominican coffee.

Las Terrenas Live, 12.05.09

The government announces highways and streets in tourist areas

Highway between Sanchez and Las Terrenas

BREAKING NEWS: The government will call for public bidding for the construction of highways between Samana and La Galeras and Sanchez and Las Terrenas and begin next week the repair of the streets in the major tourist areas all over the country, with the idea of improving the infrastructure in these areas.

The announcement of the projects that the government will carryout was made by the head of the Tourism Ministry, Francisco Javier Garcia, as he took part in a meeting between President Fernandez and the directors of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores) together with members of the administration yesterday.

Garcia reported that during the next few days the work will be concluded on the street repairs being carried out in the tourist areas of the East.

During the encounter, the leaders of Asonahores, headed by its president Haydee Kuret de Rainieri offered proposals and recommendations in order to continue the improvement of the sector.

Besides President Fernandez, Luis Manuel Bonetti, the Presidential Minister, Vicente Bengoa, the Minister of the Hacienda and Garcia were at the meeting.

Bonetti said that in the meeting some fiscal aspects that would benefit the sector were discussed, although the exact nature of these was not revealed, although he said that they would be, later on.

At the same time, President Fernandez created a commission made up of Monetti, Garcia and Bengoa, that would follow up on the hotel issues concerned with economic aspects and the watchfulness of the A(H1N1) virus, which he said had excellent controls to avoid its entrance to the country.

Garcia said, All the sectors of the Dominican economy always require the support of the government on certain points and in those aspects that have to do with the Ministry of Tourism, we are providing help, such as this help with the infrastructure.

Diario Libre, 14.05.09

Dominican Republic participates to the New York Times Travel Show

For the fourth year

BREAKING NEWS : Dominican Republic participated to the touristic show that organizes every year the prestigious newspaper The New York Times, in the Convention Center Jacob Javits of the Gran Manzana, Manhattan.

The information was given by Lucien Echavarría, director of the Promotion Office of Dominican Republic in New York, who said that 450 exponents participated to the tourist show organized by The New York Times.

She explained that the hotels Casa de Campo, Majestic Resorts, VIK Hotels, Punta Cana Resort, Fiesta Palladium Hotels, Sun Village & The Boungalows y Barceló Hotels were in the stand of tourist promotion of Dominican Republic.

The participation of our country in this international fair was very important, thanks to the presence of tour operators and travel agencies that took a look to our Caribbean destination, she said.

Echavarría added that the support of the big hotels companies was very important too, in our country of for this exposition.

The promotion of the Dominican destination was based on the beautiful beaches, the historic and cultural treasures, the eco tourism, the gastronomy ect…

The visitors were able to enjoy the presence of diablos cojuelos, perico ripiao, typical dancers, a cigars’ maker, and a tasting of Dominican rum.

Las Terrenas Live, 15.05.09

The National Police Chief congratulates the Tourism Police

Reduction of punishable acts in tourist centers

BREAKING NEWS : According to the National Police Chief, the prevention, orientation and protection measures that is developing the General Direction of Tourism Police (POLITUR), enabled to reduce the delinquency rate to 0 on the main tourist centers of the country, as Las Terrenas.

The security of these localities is directed by the Chief of Politur Henry Gómez Bueno.

The Chief of National Police, Rafael Guillermo Guzmán Fermín, sent to Bueno a communication in which he thanked the general and his team for their work of controlling abuses and other crimes on the tourist centers.

Guzman Fermín emphasized the professionalism and the devotion of the men and women of this specialized police entity.

He explained that the statistics show a rate of criminality and punishable acts of zero for the Colonial City, Las Terrenas, Las Galeras, Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, Bávaro, Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabarete.

Gómez Bueno said that he wish to share the reward with all the POLITUR members, who apply every day all the measures emitted by the general direction.

The laudatory letter for the director of POLITUR adds itself to other recognition acts received by the Samaná, Las Terrenas and Las Galeras institutions.

Las Terrenas Live, 15.05.09

One person is missing in Las Terrenas

And nine dominican provinces in alert

BREAKING NEWS : A man is missing in Dominican Republic’s northeast coast as downpours drench the country, with nine provinces remain on alert, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) said Tuesday noon.

It said Darío Rubio, 59, went missing while fishing in the beach at Las Terrenas, Samaná province, dragged by the surf, whereas his companion, Mario Núñez, 24, was rescued.

The COE maintains the alert for La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Sánchez Ramírez, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monte Plata, Hermanas Mirabal, Samaná, San Cristóbal and Duarte provinces, located in different parts of the country.

A tropical depression over the eastern part of Cuba and east-southeast winds will cause heavy showers, storms and wind gusts across most of the country over the next few days, said the Meteorology Office, adding that another depression located north of the country will increase instability.

Traffic to the Central Mountain municipalities Constanza, Tireo and La Salina has been cut off, after the rains triggered landslides, the COE said.

Dominican Today, 19.05.09

The works of the Las Terrenas bypass road start

Road that will join Balatá and Abra Grande

BREAKING NEWS : The Ministry of Public Works and Communication (SEOPC) started the works to built the bypass road of Las Terrenas.

It’s the Section D of the ambitious project Boulevard Túristico del Atlántico, which aims to bring a road infrastructure that surrounds the Samaná Peninsula, in order to complete the development of this new tourist center.

This new way will have a length of 15.85 kilometers, and will expand itself from Balatá, near from the famous Cosón Beach, until Abra Grande, after the Portillo airport, and will pass through Las Terrenas.

This second deviation, added to the one of the village entry (coming from Sánchez) and which exit is located next to Los Parques, not far away of La Barbacoa, is part of a big development project that contributes to open more and more the Samaná Peninsula.

Las Terrenas Live, by Lucie Houdayer, 20.05.09

The  Luz y Fuerza enterprise of Las Terrenas

Criticizes the lack of policies of enterprises that supply electricity

BREAKING NEWS : The lack of coherent policies in order to develop the electrical sector in Dominican Republic is a true cancer that is killing little by little the healthy cells of the national energy system.

This is what said the Compagny Luz y Fuerza of Las Terrenas, in a document that was sent to the LISTIN DIARIO, and that criticizes the lack of responsibility of the companies that supply electricity.

The enterprise that owns an isolated system that generates and sells electricity in Las Terrenas and the Samaná Peninsula, explained that if one of its users didn’t paid the energy, it was cut, whereas the other suppliers who work on the National Interconnected Electrical System (SENI), keep sending energy.

Luz y Fuerza admitted its prices were higher than the one applied by other suppliers, but explained that as an enterprise it has to pay all taxes and duties, unlike the other companies.

These one also receive special commissions on fuels, vehicles and other equipments and materials necessary for the work of production units.

Las Terrenas Live, 21.05.09

Samaná Bay amongst the most beautiful of the world

An important Dominican delegation presents its candidature

BREAKING NEWS : The official candidature of the Samaná and Rincón bays, which want to enter in the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club, was presented to the executive committee of this entity by a delegation of the Touristic Promotion Office in Madrid, directed by Paola Dimitri.

The Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World counts with 23 countries and the 29 most beautiful bays.

The presentation took place during the fifth congress of the club that met for this occasion on the coast city of Setúbal, Portugal, with the slogan Ocean that get us together.

The Dominican delegation was represented by Patricio Guzmán, representing Las Galeras ; Giulius Marín, marine biologist; Luc Lizler, representing the SEBSE , and Augusto González, a tourist businessman of Samaná .

The Official Nomination of the Samaná and Rincón bays in the club will be realized during the next summit, in Vietnam, in 2010.

Las Terrenas Live, 22.05.09

The Cemex Company delivers prizes to the best local constructions

Palmeraie Terrenas Investments

BREAKING NEWS: By maintaining an atmosphere of expectancy, the Cemex company recently revealed the names of the winners of the fifth version of its contest Premio Obras Cemex de República Dominicana.

The prizes were allotted to the Terrenas Project, of Investments Palmeraie Terrenas S.A, winning the Habitation category, while in the Industrial & Institutional category, it is the Bravo Supermarket Distribution Center, of the Contratista Civiles y Mecánicos, S.A company which won.

The objective of this contest is to reward the best local constructions made out of concrete and cement, finished between January first, 2007 and on December 31, 2008, for their conceptual construction, technique and esthetics qualities.

Las Terrenas Live, 26.05.09

Hotel occupation of 85%

In spite of the fear of the influenza

BREAKING NEWS: Suspicions that the H1N1 virus is in the country, as communicated by the Minister of the Public Health, Bautista Rojas Gómez, did absolutely not affect the flow of tourists in the country or the activities of the sector.

This was ensured by the executive vice-president of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores), Arturo Villanueva, who affirmed that the Dominican tourist sector worked with an absolute normality, with an average occupation of 85 percent and by taking all the necessary precaution measures according to the protocols implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health.

According to Villanueva, the tourist sector took all the measures since the world started to alarm with the H1N1 influenza.

The most important, as he declared, is that the hotel business is continuing to work without having recorded any case of virus.

He announced that the repercussions which could have some false information at the international level would be dramatic for the development of Dominican tourism.

He explained that the tourists who arrive in the hotels receive an explanatory booklet written by the Department of Epidemiology of Public Health so that if they feel symptoms, they know what to make and where to go.

Las Terrenas Live, 27.05.09

Politur reinforces the monitoring in the tourist areas of the country

New members and equipment

BREAKING NEWS: The head office of the Police of Tourism (POLITUR) incorporated 250 new agents and 13 modern units of vehicles, in order to reinforce and to make much more effective the task of monitoring and orientation in the various tourist poles of the Dominican Republic.

The director of POLITUR, brigadier general Henry Gómez Bueno, explained that thanks to the logistic support received by the government of President Leonel Fernández, facts of delinquency did not occur in the tourist areas of the country and that they recorded a rate zero of criminality.

He explained that four-wheel vehicles as well as new members of POLITUR will be immediately incorporated in the tasks of prevention, after having ensured that each year, the number of people visiting the country is increasing, because the Dominican Republic is one of the safest destinations of the sector.

The civil servant supported that they are innovating every day, by incorporating a cutting-edege monitoring system in the principal tourist destinations of the country.

General Gómez Bueno declared that POLITUR is training its personnel through courses and conferences, so that the agents can help the tourists with a greater effectiveness.

The civil servant declared that the official portfolio would not skimp on the efforts so that POLITUR is more technical every day and can offer a greater safety to the national and to the foreign tourists who visit the poles.

Las Terrenas Live, 28.05.09

A new tourist project at El Limón

It will complete the real estate offer of the Northeast zone

BREAKING NEWS: The enterprise District & Co announced the construction of the second stage of its project Vistas del Cayo II, located on the El Limón beach, in Samaná. This first class tourist complex will complete the real estate offer of the Dominican Republic Northeast zone.

The project was presented during a cocktail realized in the restaurant Mitre, directed by Manuel García Troncoso, president of District & Co. and Manuel García Arévalo, president of the Official Chamber of Spanish Commerce and Industry.

García Troncoso said that Vistas del Cayo was a low density project, composed by apartments, an hotel, a boutique, villas, town houses and bungalows.

This project is located in the Samaná Peninsula, only 10 minutes away the National Airport Portillo and 30 minutes away the International Airport El Catey .

He explained the hotel will offer rooms and suites witha modern design, wonderfully equipped and with a contemporaneous decoration.

Troncoso added that Vistas del Cayo was located in front of the beach, and had a club house with amenities of a first class hotel, as well as 5 stars Spa directed by Bodyna Spa’s & Sensaciones.

Las Terrenas Live, 29.05.09