DECEMBER 2009

Cruise ships sector in the Dominican Republic is resistant

The Caribbean region is leader in cruise tourism

BREAKING NEWS: The area of cruise ships is very resistant to crisis, because despite the situation of the global economyoccupancy of boats remained the same, so Luis Molina from  Sans Souci Port offers the country to see in this industry an opportunity for diversification of its tourism offer. He said that it complements the and traditional land tourism and offers another way to obtain visits.

Mr. Molina has made these statements in front of hundreds of students from the tourist career of Universities APEC and O & M, during the Tourist Day organized by the Tourism Deanship of UNAPEC, chaired by Luis Felipe Aquino.

For its part, the Vice-President of Student Affairs and Internationalization of UNAPEC, Inmaculada Madera, said that the tourism sector as a service was linked to national development and was a pillar of economic progress.

Mr. Molina has assured that the cruise ships sector is highly resistant to crisis. Between 2008 and 2012, 21 billion dollars will be invested in 35 new vessels. The Caribbean continues to be a leading destination. Cruise ships lines in the United States have resumed the Caribbean market and called it the market closer to home.

The contractor said that last season, had arrived in 475 000 visitors through the ports of Samaná, La Romana and Santo Domingo.

We have an advantage because the European market prefers, instead of arriving in the United States, arrive at our ports which customs procedures and migration are more agile to move quickly from the airport and the port to get on the boat said Molina.

He added that the tourism authorities hope that next year tourism increases by 25 percent, from 4 million to 5 million visitors, to reach this prospect, cruise tourism is a diversification opportunity, since it has the potential to attract additional tourists quickly.

In this sense he said that if it was possible to attract an extra boat for each port, we would be talking about 174 000 visitors in addition to 475000 which had been received this last year.

Dominican Republic Live, 01.12.09

Interview to President Leonel Fernández by Le Figaro

President Fernández requires the international community to make more to find a solution to problems in Haiti

BREAKING NEWS: The international community must make greater efforts to attract investment and develop infrastructure in Haiti, in order to pull the country out of extreme poverty, said President Leonel Fernández this Tuesday in France, during an exclusive interview with Le Figaro.

Here the interview with the Dominican President by Le Figaro.

Le Figaro: What are the objectives of your visit to Paris ?

Leonel Fernández: In 1998, during a first visit, I had revolutionized relations between our two countries by launching a movement of French investments, which concerned France Telecom, Carrefour, Alstom and in the tourism sector, Accord and Club Med. I want this time to strengthen these links and encourage new investment, including a French participation in the construction of the second line of Subway of Santo Domingo de Gúzman and the train that connects Santo Domingo to Santiago.

Le Figaro: An agreement was concluded for the transfer to France of two French imprisoned in Santo Domingo for drug trafficking. This case can it be resolved quickly ?

Yes, we gave our political consent. Legal proceedings are underway, but we act in full cooperation with France.

Le Figaro: What do you propose to combat drug trafficking ?

Leonel Fernández: The Dominican Republic is located at a strategic location between the production areas to the south and areas of consumption in the north. A market was created, with all the crime that entails. Internally, we strengthen the prevention and repression. We acquired the Brazilian aircraft for control of our airspace. Internationally, we cooperate with Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti and the United States. We want to cooperate with Europe. The France can help us and provide us with equipment to strengthen prevention.

Le Figaro: Will you discuss the situation of Haiti in Paris ?

Leonel Fernández: Yes. France is interested in Haiti and it affects us in multiple areas: migration, border security, drug trafficking, the environment, deforestation… The international community needs to do more to attract investment and develop infrastructure for Haiti out of extreme poverty. Haiti can not do it. We can not be the only ones to contribute. We must put Haiti on the agenda of France, the United States and Canada.

Le Figaro: There were, on Sunday, disputed elections in Honduras after the takeover of June 28. How do you end the crisis ?

Leonel Fernández: The elections themselves are not the final solution of the crisis. But they can not be ignored. They are a starting point and open a new stage. The elected president Porfirio Lobo wants a national reconciliation. It is a positive step. This involves a dialogue with deposed president Manuel Zelaya which should contribute to a return to normalcy since his mandate expires at the end of January. The representatives of the de facto government must also understand that the rejection they have created in Latin America is a rejection of takeovers and a reaffirmation of democratic values. The future of Honduras is not to accuse each other of violating the Constitution, but to resume a political dialogue.

Le Figaro: Can Barack Obama actually satisfy the expectations he has aroused ?

Leonel Fernández: He still represents hope and a radical change. He has a world vision and a method to tackle global problems on the basis of dialogue and not confrontation. In Honduras, Obama wanted to reinstall the deposed president Manuel Zelaya, but he ran into those who thought that this would strengthen Hugo Chávez. These were wrong: it is not Chávez, who has denounced the takeover, but all countries of Latin America.

Dominican Republic Live, 02.12.09

Leonel Fernández meets Nicolas Sarkozy

The French Government is willing to financially support the construction of the second line of the metro and train in Santiago

BREAKING NEWS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced the disposal of his government to support the financing of the second metro line in Santo Domingo, and of the train that will connect the capital with Santiago.

France is ready to support these two works in a public-private alliance that can successfully implement these two projects, said the Dominican President after meeting with his French counterpart at the Elysée.

French companies are very interested in this project informed Fernández to French reporters.

In Portugal too, private investors had expressed interest to participate in the construction of both works, so a meeting will be organized with officials of the Presidential Office for the Reorganization of Transport (Opret).

During his meeting with the French President, this one committed himself to support the Dominican government in the fight against drug trafficking.

After the meeting with Mr. Sarkozy, the Dominican President discussed with the French journalists topics the two president talked about, among which he emphasized the provision of the French Government to strengthen educational, cultural, and trade exchanges in tourism sector and the construction of the second line of Metro Santo Domingo and Santiago Train.

The climatic change and the efforts of France and the Dominican Republic to help define a course of action to mitigate its consequences, were also discussed by the two men, at the occasion of the Copenhagen Summit, which will be held this month in Denmark, with the participation of a Dominican commission chaired by Vice President Rafael Alburquerque.

Mr. Fernández told his French counterpart the plans developed by the country on the environment and preserving natural resources, including reforestation plan Quisqueya Verde , which in its first stage is managed to plant over 30 million trees.

He explained that the Dominican government’s intentions to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, on the basis of reduced consumption of fuels from oil.

Even if our country is not on the list of polluting nations, because it does not have an industrialized economy, there are modest efforts that we can do to tackle this problem, the Dominican Republic will participate by offering ideas for adoption measures necessary, said the attorney Dominican.

The two Presidents also talked about Central America, the Caribbean, and the interests of France to strengthen cooperation which ties with the Dominican Republic as an ally.

Mr. Fernández and Mr. Sarkozy accorded that it was necessary for the international community to be aware of the situation in Haiti, so that the neighbouring country can maintain its political stability, internal security and cooperation along the lines of reactivation of its economy to help raise levels of education and creating new jobs.

We have received the commitment of France to make an appeal to the international community’s efforts to support Haiti in its efforts to maintain stability, security, economic development and well-being of its inhabitants, said Leonel Fernández.

The Dominican President expressed the desire of the Dominican Republic to contribute to the advancement of the Haitian people, expressed through cooperation in the fields of health, education and employment.

Mr. Fernández was accompanied by the First Dominican Lady, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Morales Troncoso, of Temístocles Montas, Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Max Puig, Minister of Employment, and the Dominican Ambassador in France, Laura Faxas.

Dominican Republic Live, 03.12.09

The Dominican Republic is part of the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development

The President went to the headquarters of the United Nations for Science and Culture

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican Republic is officially part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an entity composed of experts in formulating public policy practices.

President Leonel Fernández signed the document on Thursday which made the country a member of the OECD, an international organization based on principles of a model of representative democracy, committed to a market economy.

Charles Oman, Minister and Deputy Managing Director of the Centre for Development of the institution, welcomed the President Fernández and congratulated him for his management to make the country be part of the OECD.

Mr. Fernández sees a positive way that the Dominican Republic is part of this important organization.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Economic Development Centre were born of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), founded in 1948 with the support of the United States and Canada, to coordinate the aid of Marshall Plan for rebuilding Europe after the Second World War.

Created as an economic counterpart to NATO, the OECD replaced the OEEC in 1961 and since then, aims to support overall economic growth, maintain financial stability, stimulate job creation and support of the development of other countries, raise standards of living and contribute to the growth of world trade.

The Organization provides a setting where governments can compare their experiences in public policy, seek answers to common problems, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies.

Official visit to UNESCO

The Head of State visited the Dominican Republic on Thursday at the headquarters of the Organization of the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), where he met the president Irina Bokova.

Through a meeting with state members of UNESCO, Mr. Fernández presented the Dominican government’s strategy for education for the next ten years, and efforts to take advantage of new technologies to implement public policy.

Dominican Republic Live, 04.12.09

The Dominican Republic boosts the promotion in Eastern Europe

Marketing strategy of the Minister of Tourism

BREAKING NEWS: In order to increase the number of visitors from Eastern Europe, the Minister of Tourism (Sectur), has strengthened his promotion to the source markets this fall, focusing on hotel chains, tour Operators, Travel agencies and airlines.

The information was disclosed by Berques Boasier, director of the Tourist Promotion Office (OPT) from the Dominican Republic in Eastern Europe, who works in the markets of Prague, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Warsaw.

She explained that the activities conducted by the Dominican Republic on the market of Eastern Europe, were part of the marketing strategy approved by the Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia.

Berques Boasier added that promotional events were held in Eastern Europe, such as tourism fairs TT Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland and Madi Travel Market in Prague, Czech Republic.

Similarly, in order to form tour operators and travel agencies in these emerging markets in the efficient sale of the Dominican tourist product, a familiarization trip was made in the Dominican Republic (Fam Trip), in cooperation with Air France and Tour operator Cedoken, attended by 14 travel agents, informed Ms. Boasier.

She explained that training workshops were also developed in different cities like the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and helped to train up to 500 participants.

Ms. Boasier informed that during the show TT Warsaw in Poland, a poster campaign was developed in five Polish cities, and a campaign in the press.

In the Czech Republic the campaign was launched under the Fair Madi Travel Market, in cooperation with tour operators Eso Travel, Siam Travel, Tours and Firo Cedok .

On the tour operator’s Eso Travel, the campaign focused on the tram and the highly awaited Dominican night, and has led travel agents and the press industry.

Dominican Night attracted over 350 participants who enjoyed Dominicans dancing in a show with live music and a delicious dinner.

The Director of Tourism in Eastern Europe has also said that these markets had a great development potential, so it has highlighted the need to develop actions aimed at consolidating the Dominican Republic as an eclectic destination and preferred by the tourists from these new markets, eager of available exotic destinations.

Dominican Republic Live, 08.12.09

The Super Tucano aircraft are on their way

They arrive on Wednesday to Dominican Republic

BREAKING NEWS: Two Super Tucano, the first of eight aircraft group, took off yesterday on the assembly plant of Embrear, Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, towards the air base of San Isidro, and should arrive in the next 48 hours.

Both aircrafts are manned by officers of the Dominican Air Force (ADF), which are accompanied by two Brazilian engineers. They took off at 1.30pm yesterday from Sao Jose Dos Campos, a city that is part of the State of Sao Paulo in Brazil.

The company gave to Embrear, Friday, the documents certifying that the Dominican State is the owner of the first two planes, which are part of a group of 8, which are equipped to fight drug trafficking.

The aircraft has two 0.50 calibre machine guns capable of firing 250 rounds per minute and have the necessary space for the installation of rockets, missiles and fuel tanks.

The Minister of the Dominican Armed Forces, Rafael Peña Antoniol, received the document and said We will acquire not only planes, but Dominicans sky safety and security of our families.

On Wednesday, the Super Tucano will arrive in Santo Domingo and will be received by President Leonel Fernández during a ceremony at the air base of San Isidro.

Dominican Republic Live, 09.12.09

The Ministry of Tourism launched the magazine The Republic of Golf

Presentation of the best golf courses in the country

BREAKING NEWS: The Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) has launched the supplement The Republic of Golf in the English magazine specializing in golf Golf Digest, which presents the various golf courses in the country.

The information was disclosed by Evelyn Paiewonsky, director of E-Marketing of Sectur , who explained that the supplement was launched during the month of November as insert in the American magazine Golf Digest, with a circulation of 300 000 copies and for the luxury market of the eastern United States.

20 000 copies have been produced for distribution in the various Offices of Tourism Promotion (OPT), international tourism fairs and media.

Mr. Paiewonsky added that: The Republic of Golf is composed of 12 pages and describes the 25 golf courses owned by the Dominican Republic, located in Punta Cana, Bávaro, La Romana, Santo Domingo, Juan Dolio, Puerto Plata, Santiago and Jarabacoa.

The characteristics of each of these golf courses as their location, size, designer and contact are described in this brochure, all accompanied by beautiful pictures and a map of the country, in which are reported the locations of all golf courses.

Golf Digest is a magazine that offers stories and news about golf, and is designed for amateur and professional golfers.

Mr. Paiewonsky said that the Minister of Tourism was working on promoting golf as a complement to the tourists, because it is an area that has the greatest growth and demands in last years.

Last November, Casa de Campo has been awarded as the best golf resort in the world in the competition World Travel Awards, which looks at best complex and hotel services in the world, reflecting the development that has the Dominican Republic concerning this area.

Last year, the Dominican Republic has been designated by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), as the best golf destination in the Caribbean.

Dominican Republic Live, 10.12.09

The Government signed an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank

To improve education

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican Government has signed a technical assistance agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which consists of teacher training and student assessment of the basic level, which will begin in 2010 at a cost of 780 000 dollars.

Temístocles Montas, Minister of Economy, Planing and Development signed for the Dominican Republic, while Manuel Labrado, IDB representative in the Dominican Republic has signed for this institution.

The objectives of this Agreement are to improve teacher training and educational evaluation at the basic levels.

América Bastidas, Vice Minister of International Cooperation, who spoke in the name of the Dominican government, said that the presence of the Economy, Planing and Development Ministry in the agreement was due to its role as an organization concerned by the international cooperation.

This way, we use the social special fund program for employment promotion, poverty reduction and social development that supports the development to goals of the millennium, said Ms. Bastidas.

Ligia Amada Melo thanked the IDB  for its gesture, and said that assistance aimed at improving primary education in the Dominican Republic and the evaluation system of children.

Furthermore, this agreement will improve training in universities that offer degrees in the field of primary education since the passage of time brings new learning strategies and use of new technologies.

Manuel Labrado for his part explained that the technical assistance provided by the IDB will be focused in improving the training of teachers in primary education, adapting to new educational needs.

He informed that the institutions realized that the agreement are the Minister of Education and the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, which will administrate respectively 285 000 and 350 000 Dollars.

Dominican Republic Live, 11.12.09

Latin American Idol

The Dominican Martha Heredia won the contest

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican Martha Heredia won the Latin American Idol competition, facing the Costa Rican Eduardo Aguirre at the finals held in the city of Buenos Aires in Argentine.

Even before the results were announced, thousands of Dominicans were already partying. Martha and Aguirre clashed for the last time last Wednesday, and it was revealed yesterday the name of winner, Martha Heredia which got much more messages than her rival.

In her home country, the young artist of 18 years has become an idol, so much so that President Leonel Fernández asked the Dominicans to support her.Now it is up to us Dominicans to lend our support, declared the representative.

For its part, the presidential candidate of the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Miguel Vargas Maldonado, went with 1,000 people who had made an appointment on Wednesday at the intersection of Abraham Lincoln and Rafael Augusto Sánchez Avenues, to follow on two giant screens, the final in every detail.

The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Julio César Valentín, had meanwhile called on lawmakers, officials and employees of the institution, and the Dominicans in general, to send support messages to the Dominican singer.

In Santiago, the birthplace of Martha Heredia, the town hall declared her as Meritorious Girl, in recognition of her talent. Mayor Jose Enrique Sued said that the town hall people will give this recognition to the young Dominican as she returns from Argentine, and said she was an Dominican example.

Bars, coffees, restaurants and commercial establishments were yesterday filled with people who attended the event on giant screens. After three months of hard work, Martha gives the Dominican Republic a price for its first participation in the television program.

The evening began with the interpretation of the song Celebra la Vida by the twelve finalists of the event. Then the Argentine rock band Miranda sang two songs, followed by the Venezuelan singer Franco De Vita who sang with the two finalists.

The jury was composed of Cuban singer John Secada, producer of Argentina Oscar Mediavilla and the former member Mexican group Flans, Mimi.
Martha was the favorite, but it is the Latino people who would choose their new idol through messages.

Dominican Republic Live congratulates Martha Heredia for her victory and her talent, which is the pride of all the Dominican people.

Dominican Republic Live, 14.12.09

The Pan American Health Organization highlights the Dominican experience in Health and Tourism

A single model in America and the Caribbean

BREAKING NEWS: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), highlighted the experience of the National Commission of Health and Tourism (Consatur) in the Dominican Republic, calling it al unique mode in America and the Caribbean at the Central American Forum of Tourism Sustainability, held in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Luis Simó, vice-minister of tourism for Foreign Affairs, disclosed this information. He has participated in the Forum as a representative of the Minister of Tourism, Francisco Javier Garcia. The event was organized by the Minister of Tourism Integration in Central America, the Fund of Spain / SITCA, the Central American Council of Tourism and the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism.

The forum of Central America was a great opportunity for the Dominican Republic to be part actively in training and development programs of tourism products that are supported by the Fund of Spain SITCA said Mr. Simó.

He explained that the event was to identify the criterion for sustainable tourism in Central America, to develop the program of Corporate Social Responsibility and ethics, implement activities developed by the Central American Council of Tourism.

At the forum were presented exhibitions on health and tourism, the criterion for sustainability, corporate responsibility and ethics in tourism, community experiences in the management of the restaurants, the Code of Conduct against Children and AdolescentsSexual Exploitation in Central America, climate change and tourism, among others.

Mr. Simó introduced at the request of PAHO, a presentation on the topic Sustainable Development towards a Preventive Health and Tourism Strategy, who will forward the results of work of the National Commission of Health and Tourism of the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic Live, 15.12.09

Dominican Republic will present the Biological Corridor of the Caribbean

In Summit of Copenhagen

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican Republic reported this Monday that it will presented in the Summit on the Climatic Change, which is celebrated in Copenhagen, the Biological Corridor of the Caribbean, an initiative signed with Cuba and Haiti in order to stimulate environmental, social, economic and cultural projects in the region.

The Biological Corridor is a geographical linear space that connects landscapes, ecosystems, habitat and culture of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba, and counts with the support of the Program of the United Nations for the Environment (PNUMA).

The minister of Environment, Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, who will go to the appointment in Copenhagen in company of the vice-president of the country, Rafael Albuquerque, defined the initiative as the only multinational project of shared responsibility between three nations abreast to the climatic change.

The corridor awards a special category to 61 protected areas, which facilitates the investments orientated to the human development, especially those who promote the reduction of the poverty, improvement of the quality of life, of the education, and recovery of the zones of high place impact for a human being.

With the presentation of the Biological Corridor of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic will expose the joint initiatives that are carried out in the zone of the Caribbean to stop the effects of the climatic change, according to an announcement of the local Department of Environment.

Dominican Republic Live, 16.12.09

Increase of the tourists’ flow to Dominican Republic in November

Leading region in the entire Caribbean area

BREAKING NEWS: The Minister of Tourism said that tourists’ arrivals to Dominican Republic grew in 6.09 percent in November, compared to the same period of last year, fruit of two growths, the not resident foreigners in the country, which increased 4.49 per cent and the arrival of the not resident Dominicans in 16.67 percent.

Francisco Javier Garcia, speaking about the inaugural act of the hotel Nouvelles Frontieres, in Uvero Alto, Punta Caba, demonstrated that the Dominican destination has experienced a consecutive growth during the last three months, in comparison with three months of last year, which demonstrates the definitive recovery of the Dominican tourism industry.

García Fernandez highlighted that during the last November, to the country was visited by 284 thousand 824 tourists, figure that overcame the arrivals of November, 2008 (268,469), equivalent to an increase of 16 thousand 355 tourists, equivalent to 6.09 percent.

Of this quantity, 41 thousand 167 residents corresponded to Dominicans not residing, superior to 2008 (35,284), being the increase in this month of five thousand 883 visitors to Dominican soil, for 16.67 percent.

Meanwhile, the arrival of not resident foreigners belonged 243 thousand 472 visitors, as in 2008 (233,185), that is to say, 10 thousand 472 additional visitors, for an increase of 4.49 per cent. He projected that this year the statistics will close with good numbers, which demonstrates the strength and the vigor of the tourism of Dominican Republic.

García Fernández references were based on the information given by the Central Bank, organism of the State that compiles the information of the tourists’ arrival to the country.

Likewise, García Fernández informed that target Dominican Republic has showed a behavior of constant growth in the last three months in September - November with relation to equal period of 2008.

In the quarter of 2009 mentioned above, the tourists’ arrivals reached 718 thousand 734 persons, as in equal period of last year it was of 672 thousand 333, for an increase this year of 46 thousand 401 tourists, that is to say, 6.90 per cent.

The whole world believed that around this date the tourism of Dominican Republic, would be plunged in a fall of 10 or one 15 per cent, as consequence of the economic strong crisis that flogged the world last year, with repercussions this year, but it was not like that, because already they see the difference with relation to November, 2008, what will give us a blue spectacular closing, expressed.

He demonstrated that nowadays Dominican Republic is the leading region in the whole area of the Caribbean and enclosed it is considered to be one of five more forceful tourist regions of the whole world, being highlighted in important international magazines, which gives as result that when you observe with whom they are comparing us it is necessary to realize that what we have here is a real jewel.

He highlighted the investment of RD $30.0 million in the construction of the Nouvelles Frontieres Hotels Club, the first hotel of the active French tour Nouvelles Frontieres, principal issuer of tourists towards target Dominican Republic, which possessed the financing of the Banco Popular Dominicano (Popular Dominican Bank).

It is a real pride and very importantly that for this first investment in the line of hotels club, has been chosen to Dominican Republic and that precisely has chosen this area of the country, which as the whole world knows is the leading region of the Caribbean, classified among five of the most forceful of the world, he indicated.

During the opening of the Nouvelles Frontieres Hotels Club, García Fernández accompanied the principal investors of the work, Jean Luc Oizan Chapon, Jean Marc Sianno, Long Put, Francisco Álvarez, Ferhan Gorgun, as well as the ambassador of France in the country and Laura Faxas, ambassador of Dominican Republic in Paris, France, among other businessmen and national and international personalities.

García Fernandez congratulated the group of investors, whom expressed that they can rely on the full and complete support, not only of the Dominican authorities but of the tourist sector and of the whole Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic Live, 17.12.09

Dominican Republic, Cuba and Haiti presented Biological Corridor

At the Copenhagen Summit

BREAKING NEWS: The environmental authorities in the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Haiti presented the Caribbean Biological Corridor in the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties on Climate Change held in Copenhagen.

During the presentation of the Biological Corridor, Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, Secretary of State for the Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic, Orlando Reyes, Director Division of the Ministry of Environment of Cuba, and Jean Marie Claude Germain, Minister of Environment of Haiti, participated.

Fernández Mirabal hopes that this initiative can be extended to other Caribbean islands as far Puerto Rico and Jamaica are Observer States, and stated: Hope that the geopolitics do not separate what nature did.

Fernández Mirabal noted in his presentation that the Corridor will incorporate the places that Christopher Columbus set foot in search of a Route Admiral incorporating biodiversity, culture and history. This project could generate protection of biodiversity and generate tourism, he said.

Minister Germain, introducing the presentation, said that humanity has set its eyes in Copenhagen because here we take important decisions on the future of the planet.

Meanwhile, Orlando Reyes, Cuban environmental director, mentioned that one of the challenges of the Corridor is that it involves maritime areas. The Biodiversity Corridor is the goal and aims to improve quality of life of people living in the area. This project is based on the fact that the three countries share the same history and culture, he said.

A biological corridor is a defined geographical space that facilitates the relationship between man and nature and provides connectivity between landscapes, ecosystems, habitat and culture, contributing to the maintenance of essential ecological and evolutionary processes, environmental services and economic development and social communities involved.

The Caribbean Biological Corridor is the result of the Santo Domingo Declaration, signed in 2007 and contains 80% of the biodiversity of the Caribbean. It covers approximately 1,600 line kilometers and will include for the Dominican Republic Biosphere Reserve Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo and the Cordillera Central.

In Haiti, the Caribbean Biological Corridor includes the area of the Masif de la Selle, Lake Azuei, Fore et Pins, La Visite and the Massif Central North. Cuba also provides a broad area of orographic Group which includes the Sierra Maestra, Baracoa, Nipe and sago.

Dominican Republic Live, 18.12.09

Dominican Republic and Guatemala delivered a document in Copenhagen

On behalf of the Central American Integration System

BREAKING NEWS: The Dominican Republic Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, and his counterpart from Guatemala, Rafael Espada, gave right here in Copenhagen to the executive secretary of the XV World Conference on Climate Change, Yvo de Boer, the joint position of the Central American countries, Belize and the Republic Dominican grouped in the Central American Integration System (SICA).

The proposition of Central America and Dominican Republic was given by Albuquerque and focuses on the negative impact that has been posed to the economy of the region the effects of climate change.

Both Reyes Lopez had a bilateral meeting with environment ministers of their countries, Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, and Luis Alberto Felice Ferrate, which analysed on how natural phenomenon have impacted on the economy of the region and the need for public policies to mitigate the effects of climate change on the Central American countries and Dominican Republic.

Our countries need to reduce ecological, social and economic vulnerability by reducing factors of risk, as climate change, through strategies, policies and measures to adapt to these forced changes, the document.

The SICA member countries also asked the industrialized countries their compliance with the Kyoto protocol, which includes support for developing countries on adaptation, mitigation, technology, financing and capacity building.

It also demanded a higher level of responsibility of industrialized countries in meeting the proposed targets for reducing their emissions, so that they can accomplish the task of halting the impact of climate change affecting the various life forms on earth.

The document is signed by the Ministers of Environment and Natural Resources of the countries of SICA and the Dominican Republic, among others Fernández Mirabal, Luis Ferrate, Guatemala, Gaspar Vega, Belize, Hernan Rosa Chavez of El Salvador, Juanita Algenal of Nicaragua, Jose Rodriguez of Costa Rica, and Ernesto Reyna, Secretary of Environment Dominican.

Dominican Republic Live, 21.12.09

French Ambassadorhighlights the cooperation between his country and the Dominican Republic

France is one of the main allies of the country in tourism investment

BREAKING NEWS: The French ambassador, Roland Dubertrand recognizes the cooperation between his country and the Dominican Republic, and referred in terms of investment in tourism, France is one of the main allies of the Dominicans.

He also highlighted the interest shown by French entrepreneurs to invest in various sectors of Dominican Republic, especially in the area of tourism as a result of the recent visit to France by President Leonel Fernández and Tourism minister Francisco Javier García.

The French ambassador has described as positive opportunities for development and capital investment destination French Dominican.
For the tourism industry in this country France is one of the main pillars in terms of investment and enjoyment of destination.

He has also said that French tourism investment will continue to increase, while noting that already in Las Terrenas are installed about two thousand French, and recently a group of French investors acquired a hotel in the area of Samaná.

Dubertrand has noted that the fact that French tourists who visit the Dominican Republic, decided to repeat his visit to this tourist destination, it creates a very good image that has an impact also in French society because more people than before know the destination.

Dominican Republic Live, 21.12.09