Digital banking services could replace branches; economic uncertainty in 2022 led to a lowering of the Dominican Republic's growth projection; 165 ambulances will be deployed for Holy Week; suppliers warn Inabie that it is 'traveling down a dangerous path'; the Constitutional Court rejects the annulment of the senators' "little barrel"; more than $490 million worth of cocaine has been seized so far in 2022; the application of points to driver's licenses seeks road safety; the US will announce a package of sanctions against Russia before the G7 and the EU; Zelensky complains of the UN's inability to stop the war
servicescould replace branches
New technologies and digital tools represent an opportunity to have more agile, secure, efficient, and inclusive financial services. This statement was made by the Superintendent of Banks, Alejandro Fernández W., during a lecture delivered at the XXVII Seminar on Industrial and Systems Engineering, held at the Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Maestra (PUCMM).
Economic uncertainty in 2022 led to a reduction in the Dominican Republic's growth projection
Official economic forecasts not only revise downward the growth projections for the Dominican Republic's economy in 2022, but also estimate a inflation rate than last year. In separate documents, both the Central Bank and the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development project that the Dominican Republic's gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 5% this year, whereas in January the financial institution had projected economic growth of around 5.5-6.0%, and a different figure from the 12.3% projected by authorities for 2021, compared to the end of the previous year.
165 ambulances will be deployed for Holy Week
To prevent incidents during travel to different parts of the country during the Easter holiday, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) announced the launch of its "Awareness for Life" operation. The operation will run from 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 17. During this time, the COE will implement a road safety and prevention program along major highways, freeways, and designated beaches and resorts throughout the country. The goal is to prevent traffic accidents, drowning, alcohol poisoning, food poisoning, and other incidents.
Suppliers warn Inabie that it is 'traveling down a dangerous path'
The Dominican Association of Food and Related Industries (Asodoina) warned that the National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie) is "traveling down a dangerous path" that, in their opinion, could end in another scandal. Suppliers have reported that this year Inabie divided the bidding process for the school lunch contract into 35 simultaneous tenders, warning that this makes it easier for individuals and companies to bid in more than one place, thus "legalizing" one of the very things the director himself has previously denounced.
Constitutional Court rejects annulment of senators' "Barrilito"
The Constitutional Court declared inadmissible a constitutional challenge against the Senatorial Provincial Management Fund, known as “El Barrilito.” The high court argued that this fund is not subject to a direct constitutional challenge because it is not among the acts designated by the legislature in Article 185.1 of the Constitution and Article 36 of Law 137-11 to be challenged before the Constitutional Court in the exercise of its centralized review.
Dominicans are asked not to send illicit goods in boxes and tanks to the Dominican Republic
The Dominican American Federation of Maritime and Air Cargo Associations (Fedacama) yesterday called on the Dominican community abroad to refrain from sending goods that violate the law in order to avoid being brought to justice and not affect the sector that generates more than 15,000 jobs between the United States and the Dominican Republic.
So far in 2022, cocaine worth more than $490 million has been seized
With the shipment of 1,129 packages of cocaine seized by the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) last weekend at the Caucedo Multimodal Port, the total number of tons of that drug seized this year in Dominican territory has reached seven tons, which would have an estimated value of 490 million dollars in the North American and European markets, the main destinations for these narcotics.
Applying points to driver's licenses aims to improve road safety
The Driver's License Points System aims to promote and improve road safety, especially to save lives. To implement it, an inter-institutional working group was created to coordinate actions, as stipulated in Law 63-17 on Mobility, Land Transportation, Traffic, and Road Safety. The system will grant drivers a starting balance of 20 pointson their driver's license. As they commit traffic violations, these points will be reduced until they reach zero. At that point, the license will be suspended.
The US will announce a package of sanctions against Russia to the G7 and the EU
The United States, in coordination with the G7 and the European Union (EU), will announce a new package of sanctions against Russia to "further isolate it from the EU," following the alleged massacre of civilians in Bucha (Ukraine).
Zelensky complains of the UN's inability to stop the war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky complained bitterly to the Security Council about the United Nations' inability to stop the war in his country, which has now entered its seventh week and has forced the displacement of a quarter of its population.
Sources: Diario Libre, Listín Diario, El Día, El Caribe
