Diplomatic Briefing
Your exclusive news aggregator handpicked daily!Archive for Dominican Republic
Newsline: U.S. fugitive nabbed at embassy of his own country in Dominican Republic
A Puerto Rican fugitive wanted in New Hampshire was arrested by antinarcotics agents (DNCD), after which the Immigration Dept. began the proceedings for his repatriation. Misael David Garcia will be held in a DNCD cell until his expulsion from the country, said its spokesman Roberto Lebrón, who noted that the fugitive was arrested near the US Embassy, where Garcia went to `resolve’ his case. “This person went to his Embassy to try to solve his judicial problem voluntarily, but from there the DNCD was notified and its officials came to arrest this person.”
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2012/5/23/43753/US-fugitive-nabbed-atembassyof-hisown-country
Newsline: Taiwanese Diplomat Murdered in Dominican Republic
A Taiwanese diplomat was found slain Tuesday in her apartment in Santo Domingo’s university district, police reported. Julia Ou, 52, had stab wounds and appeared to have been beaten and strangled. The door to the apartment had not been forced open, the police said in a communique, adding that they have begun to question the woman’s neighbours and the people who work in the building. Jose Wang, second secretary in the Press Office at the Taiwanese Embassy in the Dominican Republic, told EFE that several of the victim’s friends had called her by telephone several times to find out why she had not come to work and, when they did not receive an answer, they decided to go to her home. “When they arrived at the apartment they found blood stains in front of the door and decided to call the police,” said Wang. Ou had been posed in Santo Domingo for about a year.
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=135201
Newsline: Attacks on embassies spurred U.S. to build new one in Santo Domingo
The new U.S. Embassy will house the offices of all agencies related to its diplomatic delegation in Dominican Republic, where its transfer, expected at the start of 2014, is part of Washington’s global project to reinstall them, resulting from the 1998 attacks against those structures in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. A consultative group’s report revealed that more than 85% of the buildings which lodged United States diplomatic delegations abroad were “vulnerable to future attacks,” which led to the implementation of an antiterrorism requirement known as SECCA, including stricter security in the construction of embassies in 1999. The new requirements also include a minimum distance of 100 feet between the embassies and surrounding streets, as stated in a report, after which the Overseas Buildings Office (OBO) took on the task of replacing 180 embassies that didn’t fill all the security norms, the one in Dominican Republic among them. U.S. Embassy press attaché Judith Ravin said “the complex will provide a more secure atmosphere,” for the delegation’s around 700 employees.
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2012/1/4/42210/Attacks-on-embassies-spurred-US-to-build-new-one-in-Santo-Domingo
Newsline: US Breaks Ground on New Embassy in Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic President, Leonel Fernandez; U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Raul Yzaguirre; and Leo Hession, Managing Director for Operations of the Department’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), broke ground on a new U.S. Embassy Compound in Santo Domingo. Situated on a 16-acre site, the multi-building complex will include a chancery, compound access controls, a support annex, and Marine security guard quarters. When completed, the new complex will provide approximately 700 embassy employees with a state-of-the-art workspace. The $194 million project was designed by Integrus Architecture ofSpokaneWashingtonand will be constructed by Caddell Construction Company of Montgomery, Alabama. The new embassy is scheduled to be completed in July 2013. Since 1999, as part of the Department’s Capital Security Construction Program, OBO has completed 84 new diplomatic facilities and has moved more than 25,000 people into safe, secure, and functional facilities. OBO has an additional 33 projects in design or construction, including the new embassy in Santo Domingo.
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=428683&CategoryId=14092
Newsline: Self-Proclaimed Ambassador Accused Of Stealing Thousands Meant For Charity
Investigators say they’ve busted a scam artist from Maryland who allegedly stole thousands of dollars from New Yorkers meant for the Dominican Republic. Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Junior announced the indictment today of 42-year-old Francisco Calcano. The Maryland man allegedly stole more than $15,000 from New Yorkers by telling them he was collecting funds for emergency services. He was extradited to New York yesterday and is awaiting arraignment. Prosecutors say in a wide-ranging scheme, Calcano pretended to be the ambassador of the Dominican Republic and lied to Manhattan State Senator Adriano Espaillat, who became suspicious. Calcano has been indicted on multiple charges – including grand larceny and criminal impersonation. He faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted.
