All visitors to the Dominican Republic in February should do their best to attend the La Vega carnival, or the parades in Bonao and Santiago, considered the most colorful in the country. In 2006 UNESCO recognized the La Vega Carnival as the fourth in the world, after the carnivals in Rio de Janeiro, Trinidad & Tobago and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). The La Vega carnival is organized by the Union Carnavalesca Vegana (UCAVE), the first carnival organizing institution to be founded. Carnival parades take place in La Vega, Bonao.

Speaking at the start of the ceremony, Bureau of Cultural Capitals president Xavier Tudela said that the Dominican Republic has cultural values for all of the world to see, and that the title will ensure that they will be further projected overseas. Also speaking were Santo Domingo Mayor Roberto Salcedo and Culture Minister Jose Rafael Lantigua.
The year’s events will be coordinated by the city government and the Ministry of Culture.

Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collado of the PUCMM University, which secured the right for the country to receive the title, said that it would help strengthen values and Dominican identity while preserving autochthonous cultural elements.

In his speech, Fernandez said the opening of Ikea is an example of the Dominican economy’s reactivation in 2010. “The opening of this store is a great rejoicing, but it also constitutes a great event from the economic and commercial standpoint for the Dominican Republic.”

Accompanying the Head of State was the owner of the Swedish franchise Frederic Andersalm, who said the store, the first of the chain in Latin America, was built on around 70,000 meters and has 1,600 parking spaces.

After overcoming the high seas’ obstacles the winners of the Atlantic Grand Prix 2010 regatta yesterday finally saw the land which the other boats are expected to reach in the next few days.

Enrique Curt, president of the Nautical Club from Spain, said the regatta competitors had set sail from the Port of Jerez in Cadiz Bay, Spain on January 14, as part of the event which also features the solo category, with catamarans and yachts in addition to monohulls.

The boats Macaco and the Nov Sixth Cheyenne were the first to arrive at the Bartolome Colon Docks, in Sans Soucí Port, site of the welcome ceremony for the navigators.

The promoters who staged the event, sponsored by the Tourism Ministry, Sans Soucí Port, Brugal, Presidente Beer, Pellerano Productions and El Catador, said it aims to unite Spain and the Dominican Republic with a 3,800 nautical mile sport competition, in which Pillar Pasanu was the only woman among the sailors, and who crossed the Atlantic alone.

Previously Dominicans had to travel to Haiti for a visa, but can now request it in the Canadian office in the capital’s Acropolis Plaza.

The diplomat noted however that they haven’t the capacity to issue visas to a large number of people yet. “When I have arrived here four months ago the first thing I was asked was why must we go to another place to request a visa to go to Canada? Then we worked on that and we have the capacity to issue visas.”

In another topic, Kuiack affirmed that the Canada based mining company Barrick Gold contributes to the country’s economy, citing among them the creation of 3,000 direct jobs and US$3.0 billion investment.

Jolie, the United Nations good will ambassador spoke prior to departing from Santo Domingo for the United States Thursday morning, after her busy agenda including a visit to the Darío Contreras hospital, where she comforted convalescent Haitian children and women. “It moved me and impressed me greatly to see the attention given by Dominican doctors and nurses, and the generosity of the local society, taking care of patients and their families once registered and in the recovery phase.”

During her visit the UN diplomat also met with and thanked president Leonel Fernandez in the National Palace, for heading the Dominican humanitarian effort. “I’m grateful for the fast Dominican humanitarian response to the emergency and I wish this sentiment of solidarity continues with Haiti’s tragedy.”

“It’s evident that there are vulnerable Haitians in the Dominican Republic, victims of the earthquake, who’ll continue needing this solidarity,” Jolie said.

The actress Angelina Jolie visited president Leonel Fernandez last night to coordinate efforts to aid Haiti.

The actress, known for her humanitarian work in needy countries, also visited the quake’s youngest victims in the orthopedic surgery hospital Darío Contreras, where patients and medical personnel welcomed her.

Hundreds of Haitian citizens have been treated in that medical center, many of whom had to undergo an amputation.

The festival will be from February 15 to 19 in Casa de Campo, La Romana (east), and in Santiago, said Procigar president Hendrik Kelner, who said it’s an opportunity to spur the Dominican economy, in 2010 is visualized as the year for that sector’s economic recovery, after a 20 percent fall in productivity between 2008 and 2009.

He said 250 international guests mostly from United States and Europe will attend the event, which will be covered by trade magazines such as Cigar Aficionado, Smoke & Smokeshop, Tobacconist, among others.

The festival’s program includes visits to Dominican cigar factories, a golf match, in the Teeth of the Dog links, as well as seminars and dinners in Santiago. “This event is open to all those who are considered cigar lovers, who can register for all the events to features as part of the festival.”

The press conference held in the Leon Jimenes Group corporate building was headed by Procigar director Catherine Llibre and the representatives, Guillermo Leon, of the brand and Aurora, and Jose Seijas, of Altades.

SOURCE: listin.com.do

ISLA MARGARITA, Venezuela.- The Leones del Escogido achieved their third and the Dominican Republic’s eighth Caribbean Series title on Sunday, by beating the Leones del Caracas 7-4.

Escogido returned to the Caribbean classic after an 18-year absence and won five out of its six challenges.

The title was decided in the last game after Puerto Rico beat Mexico by 8-2, which obliged the Dominicans to beat the hosts to prevent a tie breaker against the Puerto Rican team on Monday.

The Indios de Mayagüez from Puerto Rico came second with their 4-2 score, the best result for Puerto Rico since they finished in the same place and the same score in Carolina in 2007.

Puerto Rico has not won the series since 2000.

The Mexican team, Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo finished third with 2-4 and Caracas last with 1-5.

The crown returned to Dominican hands following last year’s victory by the Venezuelan Tigres de Aragua in Mexicali. The Dominican team has won 6 out of the last ten tournaments.

Escogido won its last Caribbean championship in Miami in 1990 and has not played in the series since 1992 when it was held in Hermosillo.

Venezuela, with nothing to play for after being eliminated in the fifth game, made 5 errors in the deciding game, in which it used all its substitute players.

In contrast, the Dominicans went on the offensive from the start in order to ensure the title.

It’s Carnival time in the DR. This means that carnival processions are celebrated every Sunday afternoon. Dominican carnival is a colorful experience in which the festive spirit of the country’s people comes to the fore as carnival characters take to the streets in search of fun. While originally a Spanish custom, throughout the centuries carnival has evolved and the traditional costumes representing devils parade alongside vestiges of Indian and African ancestors, throughout the cities and towns from early morning to late Sunday night. The most famous carnival parades take place in La Vega, Bonao and Santiago.