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In this week’s edition of “This week in the Dominican Republic” we learn about the return of Jazz Nights to the beautiful Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo, the continuing success of Dominicans in Major League Baseball and the signing of the Dominican Republic’s National Education Reform Pact.
Jazz nights in the Colonial Zone
Throughout December 2013, the public were treated to “Noches de Jazz”, a series of complimentary jazz concerts celebrated in Santo Domingo’s historical Colonial Zone. And now throughout April, the “Noches de Jazz” are back.
The first concert was celebrated yesterday, April 2nd with the Jordi Masalles Quartet, but for all you jazz fans out there you can attend future events this Thursday April 10th (Ernesto Nunez Quartet) and Thursday April 24th (Eric Litman & Wavelength). Both concerts are free and will take place at the Escalinatas de la Calle El Conde, Calle Las Damas esq. Conde at 8pm.
Find out more at: www.jazzendominicana.blogspot.com
Dominicans top list of major league players born outside the US
Since 2004, the Dominican Republic has topped the list of major league players born outside the U.S., with this year 82 players starting the 2014 season. Last year 89 Dominicans players started the season, while the most ever was 99 starting in 2007.
Venezuela has the second-most players with 59, followed by Cuba with 19. Puerto Rico has 11; Canada 10; Mexico and Japan nine each; five from Curaçao; Colombia and Panama four; Nicaragua three and Australia and South Korea two each.
Education Reform Pact
Earlier this week, president of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina signed the Dominican Republic’s National Education Reform Pact at the National Palace.
“This educational pact starts today. This Pact does not end with its signing.” He said, emphazing not only his commitment to push the pact, but also the importance of education reform for the future of the Dominican Republic.
The Pact was created thanks to the people’s exemplary participation, which involved more than 9,000 citizens proposing 35,477 ways to improve the education system.
He also added that actions contain in the National Education Reform Pact are already in progress, obligatory education starting at three years of age, and construction of 100 daycare centers concluded just this year, for example.