DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

In the face of ongoing debate over the pros and cons of mining, Environment Minister Paíno Henríquez has called for the Dominican Republic to establish a clear national policy on mining and the use of mineral resources, as reported in Hoy.

“The Dominican Republic needs to decide what we’re going to do with mining in the future,” Henríquez said. “We have ongoing discussions about mining, with some in favor and others against. But as a country, we need to define our public policy on whether or not we will utilize our mineral resources.”

Henríquez made the remarks during a weekly luncheon with the Corripio Communications Group. He was accompanied by Ana Emilia Pimentel, Vice Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability; General Ángel Camacho Ubiera, director of the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA); Rayne Paulino, administrative and financial coordinator; and Juan...

The Dominican Republic faces a critical shortage of blood, requiring a high 800 pints daily. A significant portion of these cases stemmed from traffic accidents, underscoring the devastating impact of road incidents on the nation’s blood supply, El Dia reports.

In response, the National Health Insurance Provider (Senasa) has launched a mobile blood donation unit to address the urgent need.

Santiago Hazim, the director of Senasa, highlighted the alarming statistic that over 100,000 Senasa members required blood transfusions last year. “This data reveals the extent to which our members required blood or blood products due to traffic accidents in 2024,” Hazim explained. “Every drop of blood is crucial in emergencies, and your donation can make a life-saving difference.”

The mobile blood donation unit will be available from 8:30am onwards, providing a convenient opportunity for...

President Luis Abinader signed on to a change to the Constitution so that the candidates to attorney general (procurador general de la república) be reviewed by the National Council of the Magistracy instead of hand-picked by the President. The President has the last say in the choice, though.

An analysis in Hoy pinpoints several of the possible proposed candidates. The most mentioned possible candidate is the current chief litigation prosecutor, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, who would be promoted to replace her boss, retiring Miriam German Brito.

Other candidates mentioned in the Hoy report are lawyer Jorge Luis Polanco, who is part of the committee that is recovering resources from the state in cases related to corruption.

Also Enmanuel Esquea Guerrero, legal advisor to the Presidency, deputy for the PRD, ambassador to the United Nations, and founder...

Congressman Tobías Crespo of the Fuerza del Pueblo (FP) party has introduced a bill aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI) systems and their applications in the Dominican Republic. The proposed legislation seeks to establish legal safeguards, codes of conduct, appeals processes, and a corresponding sanctions regime for individuals and legal entities.

Crespo explained that the bill aims to ensure the reliability and foundations of AI applications, so that they are developed and used as tools at the service of people, respecting human dignity and personal autonomy. The systems should be designed to function in a way that can be adequately controlled and monitored by humans, be robust in case of problems, and resilient against attempts to alter their use or operation. It seeks to minimize unwanted damage, differentiating between General Use Artificial Intelligence...

Migration Agency director, Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, announced plans to implement facial recognition technology at border markets to deal with the large number of undocumented persons that enter from Haiti. The goal is to enhance security and regulate the flow of people entering the country for the binational markets. At present hundreds of thousands of people are allowed to enter with no controls as to who comes in and of these who return to Haiti.

Lee Ballester explained the country is contemplating a facial recognition system to allow for real-time identification of individuals, comparing their data with existing migration databases. The technology will also help identify people with legal records or those who have been repatriated from migrant centers that have re-entered.

He said that clear protocols are in place for situations of resistance...

Emmanuel Fritz Lonchamp, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief of Staff of President René Préval, is the New Ambassador of Haiti to the Dominican Republic.

The Haitian Embassy in the Dominican Republic has announced the arrival of its head of mission, Emmanuel Fritz Longchamp. He will officially assume his role as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador once he presents his credentials to President Luis Abinader and Vice President Raquel Peña. He succeeds Smith Augustin, whose term ended in June 2022.

Longchamp has a long career in politics and diplomacy, having held important positions in the Haitian government.

Longchamp began his work at the embassy on Monday, 17 February 2025, making initial contact with the four Haitian consulates in the Dominican Republic, as reported in Acento.

He served as Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995...

The migratory pressures resulting from the collapse of social services and insecurity in Haiti continue to impact the Dominican Republic. The increase migration flows has led the Dominican government to step up efforts to discourage Haitians coming here. The Army reports it has arrested 90,018 persons identified as undocumented Haitians from 17 August 2024 to 17 February 2025 and delivered these to the Migration Agency for deportation.

While unusual, the Army reports that it has submitted to the judiciary 275 persons, including civilians and military, accused of people smuggling. Those accused were caught transporting undocumented foreigners by land.

The breakdown by brigades for arrests is:First Brigade (Santo Domingo):62 arrests and one vehicle retainedSecond Brigade (Santiago): 2,008 arrests and 43 vehicles retainedThird Brigade (San Juan de la Maguana): 29,360 arrests...

Erick Dorrejo, director of Border Development Policies in the Abinader administration, says he was not aware that against the buyer of a lot he sold in La Esperilla several families had begun a legal case, now known as Operacion Nido, for unfulfillment of real estate deals. Dorrejo’s lawyers say their client returned the US$187,000 voluntarily to the Public Ministry and this act does not mean he was accepting guilt nor can be related to the Operacion Nido real estate scams.

The amount would have been for the sale of a 960.5 meter lot in La Esperilla. The lawyers say the sale of the lot is why Dorrejo is included in the Operacion Nido case filed against Emmanuel Rivera Ledesma and relatives and associates.

Read more in...

The Dominican Republic’s 2024 tax revenue shows strong growth, driven by the sales tax and gold taxes. The tax agency, DGII reports robust tax collection figures for 2024, with a total of RD$846.46 billion, representing a 10.5% increase compared to the previous year.

The DGII explains the strong tax revenue performance is a result of the increased economic activity in general. The sales tax (ITBIS) increase reflected the 12.1% rise in total transactions and a 10.1% increase in taxable transactions.

The local sales tax (the ITBIS), mostly at 18%, generated the most of the taxes, or 24.6% of the total tax revenue – RD$207.94 billion, a 10.3% increase over 2023.

The DGII numbers show that the mining sector contributed RD$12.94 billion, up from RD$4.33 billion in 2023. The growth is attributed to higher gold prices and the expiration of tax credit compensations.

Personal income tax...

President Luis Abinader returned on Tuesday, 18 February 2025 in the evening to the Dominican Republic after a short trip to Guyana on Monday and Tuesday where he participated in the Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo Guyana and held a bilateral meeting with Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

The Dominican Presidency reports that in Guyana, President Abinader spoke of the significant advances made in the memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed between the Dominican Republic and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana during President Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s visit in August 2023. These MOUs cover key areas such as oil exploration and exploitation, the establishment of an oil refinery and petrochemical plants for fertilizer production, food security for both nations, and the exchange of trade, information, and data to accelerate mutual development.

Addressing the...

Minister of Industry & Commerce Victor (Ito) Bisonó told the audience of the monthly American Chamber of Commerce luncheon that the Dominican Republic has strategically positioned itself as a leader in the reconfiguration of global supply chains.

Speaking at the monthly luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce, Bisonó highlighted the country’s competitive advantages, strategic location, and strengthened infrastructure as key factors in its nearshoring strategy. He noted the continued growth of Dominican exports, particularly to the United States, which reached US$6.915 billion in 2024, a 7% year-on-year increase.

This, he argued, reflects the added value of Dominican products in a demanding market, consolidating the United States as the country’s main trading partner, with 53% of its exports destined for the US.

Regarding free zones, Minister Bisonó highlighted their...

In a meeting held at the offices of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Defense of the Environment and Natural Resources (Proedemaren), the head of this department of the Public Ministry, Francisco Contreras Núñez, received the investigation report conducted by renowned American geologist and speleologist George Veni on the Natural Monument Anthropological Reserve of Borbón or Pomier Caves, in San Cristobal. The report was carried out to highlight the importance of the caves and the damage that has been done to their ecosystem by aggregate extraction companies, a press release from Proedemaren explains.

As a result of this action against this anthropological reserve, Proedemaren initiated a judicial investigation on 22 January 2025 against the aggressors, who will be held accountable for the damage caused to this heritage of national fauna and flora.

In his report, Veni...

Six people have been charged in connection with a ring that allegedly issued fraudulent Dominican documents to Haitian citizens. Among those implicated are employees of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) that have been sent to justice.

The investigation began after the complaints filed by Dominga Tavarez Alvarez, the director of the Nizao municipal hospital in Peravia province. Tavarez Alvarez reported the forgery of her signature on birth certificates. These certificates were used to obtain late birth registration for Haitian children.

According to the Public Ministry’s file, the ring operated through the foundation Aneadef, that was dedicated to care for children with disabilities, and with the complicity of the owner of an Internet center Los Vegetales, where the documents were falsified and printed. The investigation revealed that the...

In a joint operation, agents from the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and the Public Ministry confiscated a shipment of 303 ceramic bananas filled with cocaine at the Port of Manzanillo in northwestern Montecristi province. This marks a new modus operandi in international drug trafficking, says the DNCD in a press release.

In a landmark case, a Dominican Army officer has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a 7-year-old boy and possession of child pornography. Second Lieutenant Warren Andrés Alcántara Báez was found guilty by the Second Collegiate Court of the National District, the Attorney General Office reports.

What is most interesting of the case was that the trigger to detain the abuser came from “the cloud.” The investigation was begun by Dominican authorities after a Cyber Tip Line report was generated and Google notified the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) that would contact the Dominican authorities. The report was generated after the child pornography material was automatically backed up to Google Drive cloud service.

The situation occurred in 2021 when the mother had a sexual relationship with the army officer at...

The Dominican Episcopal Conference (CED) called for Dominicans to continue to pray for the health of Pope Francis, who is suffering from double pneumonia, in a post on their Instagram account.

“Today, we unite in prayer for the health of Pope Francis, asking God to strengthen him and cover him with His love and protection. Let us come together as a community of faith, raising our prayers for his well-being and for all those in need of healing,” the Episcopal Conference shared in the post.

According to a report from the Vatican on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, the Pope’s clinical condition was “complex,” which means his hospitalization at the Gemelli University Hospital that began on 14 February was extended. In the Tuesday evening press release, the Holy See Press Office said that Pope Francis has double pneumonia, but nevertheless “remains in good spirits.”

The Vatican...

A vice minister of the Ministry of Economy Erick Dorrejo Medina, who has served as the director of Border Zone Development Policies, is now under scrutiny for his alleged involvement in a multi-million peso real estate fraud scheme known as “Operation Nido,” Diario Libre reports. The scheme, dismantled by authorities, allegedly swindled individuals by offering homes in fraudulent real estate projects. Most of those affected lived abroad.

According to the Public Ministry’s case file, Dorrejo Medina faces accusations of complicity, criminal association, and fraud. These crimes are outlined in articles 59, 60, 265, 266, and 405 of the Dominican Penal Code.

The document states that Dorrejo Medina, representing Dorrejo Medina Arquitectos SRL, colluded with the criminal network. As an investor in the real estate and stock market sectors, he received funds...

President Luis Abinader traveled on Monday, 17 February 2025 to Georgetown, Guyana to follow up on several projects underway in Guyana and for which in August 2023 six MOUs were signed in Santo Domingo. In Guyana, President Abinader will also attend the Guyana Energy Conference, invited by Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The Dominican Presidency explained that Abinader upon his arrival to Guyana, Abinader would hold a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, the President of Guyana.

On Tuesday, President Abinader is scheduled to speak before the conference’s inauguration. After cutting the ribbon to officially open the exhibition, he will tour the conference exposition that showcases participating companies and countries.

Following the tour, the Dominican leader will join a luncheon hosted by President Ali for all conference attendees.

President Abinader will...

Before leaving for Guyana to participate in the Guyana Energy Conference and follow up with deals in Guyana, President Luis Abinader signed Decree 76-25 that creates a new entity to prevent corruption in government. The Presidential Committee for Transparency and Anti-Corruption is created to strengthen efforts to reduce fraud in the public administration. The committee will oversee new efforts to provide channels for increased participation of the general public in denouncing corruption in government and a new system to prevent corruption in government.

Diario Libre reporters toured the new paved road announced for improving the lives of the residents and farmers in the Elias Piña province on the border with Haiti, and at 65,000 inhabitants, one of the least inhabited. What the reporters found was that contrary to the 31 kms announced, only 24 kms were completed. Residents in the area urge the completion of the remaining seven kilometers.

The Presidency press release highlighted the importance of the 31 km road for farmers in the area. Notwithstanding. As reported in Diario Libre, the president of the Cooperativa Agropecuaria Las Dos Bocas y el Hoyo, Simón Bolivar Caamaño, urged the completion of the missing seven kms of road highlighting that that area is where the largest production of corn, tobacco and peanuts is located.

He said the President was misinformed when told the road connects to...

The National Salary Committee will hold its third meeting this year on Monday, 24 February 2025 to discuss a minimum wage increase for the non-sectorized private sector.

The meeting, which took place behind closed doors today, brought together union representatives, employers, and government officials. The lack of a concrete proposal from employers regarding the salary adjustment led to the scheduling of Monday’s meeting.

Earlier in the day, Gabriel del Río, representative of the Autonomous Classist Trade Union Confederation (CASC), stated that they expect the employers’ proposal to include an increase of no less than 20%.

“We will never accept less than 20%, out of respect for the President,” del Río emphasized. President Abinader had suggested the 20% increase during a press conference.

Before the meeting, Rafael (Pepe) Abreu, president of the National...

For the third consecutive year, Dominican cinema has made a strong showing at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), the Presidency reports. This year marks a new milestone for the country’s film industry, with two productions selected for different sections of the festival.

“Colosal,” directed by Nayibe Tavares Abel and produced by Lei González, and “Juanita,” co-directed by Dominican filmmaker Karen Joaquín and Brazilian director Uliane Tatit, are the two films representing the Dominican Republic at Berlinale 2025.

“Colosal” made its world premiere in the Berlinale Forum section, known for its focus on auteur cinema. The film was presented to the press on February 13th and had its first public screening on February 15th, which was a sold-out event, demonstrating the growing international interest in Dominican cinema.

This production was...

In a joint operation, the Dominican Republic’s National Drug Control Agency (DNCD), the Public Ministry, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the US Marshals Service apprehended a Mexican national and active member of the Sinaloa Cartel. Efrain Sánchez Cabanillas, also known as “Bala,” is wanted in the United States on charges of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamines.

Sánchez Cabanillas was arrested at Punta Cana International Airport as he attempted to leave the country on a commercial flight. He was under surveillance by authorities who considered him a high-value target for US law enforcement.

The 38-year-old is accused of conspiring to distribute and possess 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms of cocaine, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamines. These charges were filed in a Massachusetts District Court.

Dominican...

The Ministry of Tourism announced on 12 February 2025 a new record in tourist arrivals for the month of January. In January 2025 alone, the country welcomed 1,155,484 tourists, marking a 53% increase compared to pre-pandemic 2019, a 22% rise from 2023, and an 8% jump from 2024.

Tourism Minister David Collado announced the impressive figures, highlighting that the country received 759,929 visitors by air and 395,555 by sea. The United States led as the top source of tourists, followed by Canada, Argentina, Colombia and France.

Punta Cana International Airport remains the most popular entry point, handling 63% of arrivals. Minister Collado emphasized the government’s commitment to improving air connectivity and diversifying the Dominican Republic’s tourism offerings.

In 2024, the Dominican Republic received 8,535,701 non-resident air arrivals and 2,626,529...

Polish tourists are discovering Dominican beaches from Boca Chica to Punta Cana now that Anex Poland, the leading Polish tour operator, is flying direct from Warsaw and Katowice in Poland to centrally located La Romana International Airport, El Dinero reports. The service began on 27 December 2024, with increased passenger capacity starting 23 January 2025. The landing at La Romana provides a streamlined experience with expedited service to the hotels, compared to when arriving to the larger airports in the Dominican Republic.

The company is offering resort packages for stays in La Romana, Bayahibe, Dominicus, Punta Cana, Juan Dolio and Boca Chica.

Anex is a leading tour operator with charter operations from several European countries, including Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the newly established Norway, to various continents such as...

Since Arajet began flying direct to Mexico September 2022, travel between both countries has boomed, El Dinero reports. Thousands of Dominicans are visiting Mexico, a country that allows visa-free travel to Dominicans who have US, Canadian or Schengen visas already in their passports. Otherwise, a tourist visa costs US$53.

The number of Mexican tourists visiting the Dominican Republic has skyrocketed, indeed. In 2024, arrivals reached 115,092, a 260% increase compared to 2021 and a 133% jump from 2019, according to data from the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. The Dominican Republic does not require Mexicans to have a visa to travel for tourist purposes to the country.

The number of flights departing from Mexico to the Dominican Republic has also seen a dramatic rise, going from 416 in 2021 to 1,190 in 2024. This represents an increase of over 180%.

In 2024, Arajet carried...

Arajet, the Dominican Republic’s low-cost airline, has announced the opening of ticket sales for its new direct routes connecting the Dominican Republic with Puerto Rico. The routes will connect Santo Domingo (SDQ) to San Juan (SJU) and Punta Cana (PUJ) to San Juan. Arajet has operations out of Las Americas International (SDQ) and Punta Cana International (PUJ).

The airline will be competing with JetBlue, SkyHigh and Frontier (with deals of around US$141 round trip), among other airlines that fly the San Juan to Santo Domingo flight.

The airline announces the flight coinciding with the peak travel time of the year – the summer months.

The announcement was made through social media and in a joint statement between Arajet, the Government of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, and the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic. These institutions have joined forces in a...

Almuerzo de Negocios shared unconfirmed information that the Abinader administration is studying the construction of a new port for the eastern coast that would go up in the Boca de Yuma area. The port would contemplate a storage tank for fuel, and facilities for cruise ships and cargo destined for the Punta Cana tourism area that now must be trucked in from Santo Domingo province, about two hours away.

Boca de Yuma is about a half an hour drive from Punta Cana International Airport with its numerous water parks and resorts.

The new port would offer tourists excursions to the nearby Saona island, the most booked excursion in the Dominican Republic.

The Port of Authority under the Abinader administration has authorized ports in Manzanillo in the Northwest, San Pedro de Macoris in the Southeast, Samana (Arroyo Barril) in the Northeast and Pedernales-Cabo Rojo in the Southwest...

The Colonial City has prepared its first carnival parade for Saturday, 1 March 2025. The event will be centered around the Parque Maria de Toledo of the Colonial City starting at 4:30pm.

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18 February 2025

The Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster, with the support of the Dominican Restaurant Association (Aderes), the Association of Bars and Restaurants of the Colonial Zone (Abzocol) and the Santo Domingo Hotels Association, has coordinated a new year of Turizoneando, the Colonial City cultural events time. A series of events are happening from 14 February through 29 June at six locations in the capital city’s historic center.

The program features more than 250 activities with expressions of folklore, music, gastronomy and crafts over the 20 weekends period.

The initiative has as its main objective to strengthen the influx of visitors, both local and international, to the various attractions of our destination, thus contributing to the revitalization of the local economy.

The initiative is happening at a time when the Colonial City is under a widespread renovation effort...

Santo Domingo continues to consolidate itself as a stop for global artistical tours. Colombian mega-star Shakira has added Santo Domingo to her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, with a performance set for 2 April 2025 at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium.

The tour, called “Women Don’t Cry Anymore.” opened on 11 February at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Currently there are 18 stadiums on the list and they are all sold out. The live concerts are welcomed by her millions of fans, as they join the star and her message of empowerment and strength.

Tickets for the event in Santo Domingo went on sale at www.tuboleta.com.do at 10am on Monday 17 February. The tickets are available from 10am on Monday until midnight on Tuesday 18 February. There will be a special ticket sale for holders of the Banreserva Visa card on Wednesday, 19 February until midnight...

Aileen Guzmán Coste / Listin Diario

The Dominican Republic has made significant strides in its fight against money laundering, but gaps remain, according to Aileen Guzmán Coste, director of the Financial Analysis Unit (UAF), attached to the Ministry of Hacienda. The UAF is an autonomous entity responsible for conducting analyses to identify and submit financial analysis reports to the Attorney General Office regarding potential money laundering violations, predicate offenses, and terrorism financing.

In the interview with Listin Diario, Guzman Coste emphasized the continued need for vigilance as the country advances in combating money laundering and terrorism financing under Law 155-17. Guzmán Coste confirmed that a new report on the expansion of associated risks will be released in April 2025.

She says that early warnings have been issued for life insurance, vehicle dealers...

President Luis Abinader officially inaugurated the 31 km Comendador-Guaroa-Macasías highway on Friday, 14 February 2025. The road is key to the population of 65,000 that lives in the border province with Haiti.

The 31-kilometer highway, an investment of RD$1.12 billion, especially benefits local farmers, enabling these to more easily transport their products to Comendador, capital of the province and to the markets in Las Matas de Farfán and San Juan de la Maguana, the Presidency reports.

During the ceremony, outgoing Public Works Minister Deligne Ascensión highlighted that the new highway is part of a broader government initiative in Elías Piña, where nearly RD$3 billion has been invested in roadworks. Notable projects include the Hondo Valle-El Cercado highway, as well as local roads such as Cañada Miguel-Aniceto Martínez, La...

The Herrera Industries Association says it will introduce wage adjustment proposals at the tripartite talks this week that bring together businesses, labor and government. The wage discussions have been going on for months with the major stumbling block being the requirement for a payment upon dismissal, called the “cesantia,” the severance package.

Labor sector representatives in the talks are adamant that the severance payment package be preserved in the updates to the Labor Code.

The spokesperson for the Herrera industrial sector, Angelo Viro, has told reporters that the sector he represents will submit its proposal in this week’s meeting. According to Viro, recommendations are based on statistical data.

According to the numbers from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, the basic food basket for the lowest...

Just a few kilometers to the west of downtown Santiago de los Caballeros, there is a very popular Flea Market, open on Thursdays, that is visited by thousands and reports sales of about RD$40 million.

The market, now located just off the Joaquin Balaguer highway in the sector of El Ingenio, used to be located in the market area of Pueblo Nuevo, along J. Armando Bermudez street, but under the rule of former Mayor Abel Martinez, it was removed to its present location in 2017.

Today thousands persons from all walks of life flock to the flea market to look for bargains. The market has nothing to do with the city government, and the shop owners pay their dues and taxes. They are led by Luis Alberto Jimenez, a.k.a. Boso, who told reporters that what makes this market unique is the fact that most of the stalls are owned by Haitian nationals, who are legal residents, and...

Jean Alain Rodríguez / Noticias SIN

The legal team of journalist Marino Zapete has confirmed that it received notification of the ruling issued by the Third Chamber of the Civil and Commercial Court of Appeals of the National District, which upheld a lawsuit for damages filed against former Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez, as reported in Noticias SIN.

In ruling No. 1303-2024-SSEN-00306, the court ordered Rodríguez to pay RD$2,000,000 to Zapete, concluding that the former prosecutor had exerted undue pressure that led to the suspension of his program, thereby unjustly affecting his journalistic work.

The decision reaffirms the protection of freedom of expression against reprisals aimed at restricting the right to information and social oversight.

The ruling includes a dissenting opinion from Judge Daisy Indhira Montás Pimentel, who argued that Maybeth Virginia...

The Dominican Republic has tripled its imports from the United States after the passing of the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement. As an exception, in the final days of the Biden administration, the Dominican Republic imposed tariffs on US rice imports that would have entered tariff-free. The measure will continue to be in effect, unless it is opposed by the current United States government.

Diario Libre looks into the case and possible occurrences now that the Trump administration has spoken of imposing reciprocal tariffs. The president of the Union Arrocera Dominicana, Heraldo Suero told Diario Libre that the reciprocal tariffs act seeks to penalize countries with trade surpluses and tariffs that impact the United States. “It is unlikely, albeit one never knows with Trump because part of his strategy is to be unpredictable, that a country with a trade surplus with the US such as...

The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) significantly strengthened its canine units (K9) with the addition of 55 highly trained dogs from Colombia to work in the fight crime.

The dogs, representing breeds such as Belgian Malinois, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Labrador, and Dutch Shepherd, have been trained to detect a wide range of illicit substances, including narcotics and currency. Their expertise will be immediately deployed at major airports across the country, including Las Américas, Punta Cana, La Romana, Santiago, and Puerto Plata, as well as key seaports like Caucedo, Haina Oriental, and Manzanillo.

“We are delighted to welcome these exceptional canines,” stated Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa, president of the DNCD. “Each bark is an alert, and each detection is a victory in our efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in drug trafficking.”...

Cattle rustling is probably as old as animal husbandry. In the Old West in what was “unoccupied” lands west of the Mississippi River in what is now Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, Texas, and other major cattle centers in the United States, rustling and re-branding cattle was punished by hanging, usually without trial, on the nearest convenient tree.

In 19th Century Dominican history, there was a major issue for cattle ranchers in what is now Montecristi, Dajabon, and Restauracion. History recalls that back then local caudillo Benito Moncion asked his officers for suggestions, and the one that he put into play effectively ended cattle rustling for many years. Instead of killing rustlers from the neighboring country, he ordered his soldiers to castrate rustles caught in the act and return them to Haiti. Historic reports indicate that this effectively put an end to...

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” means that when something appears incredibly positive or beneficial, it’s likely that there’s a hidden catch or reason to be suspicious. Local association of real estate project promotors, Acoprovi, urges people choosing to buy on paper to take firm steps to make sure the project is legit.

In recent years, talented salespeople have convinced many Dominicans abroad to invest their hard-earned savings into dream homes on paper. Foreigners, in lesser degree, have been victims, too. When the properties are not delivered as promised, the investors hire lawyers to try not to lose it all, and the sad tales of ambition and gullibility go public.

The newest of the scam cases, the so-called Operation Cheetah (Operacion Guepardo) has hit the media as the state prosecutors prepare to present their findings in court.

The...

César Miguel, the entrepreneur and founder of the José Cestero Museum, has responded to recent concerns surrounding the health and well-being of Dominican painter José Cestero, 88, following the circulation of a video showing him wandering the streets of the Colonial City in a seemingly vulnerable state, as reported in Listin Diario.

In an interview with Listín Diario, Miguel addressed the rumors, clarifying the situation surrounding the iconic artist. He explained that Cestero, despite his advanced age, is not in a state of neglect, contrary to claims circulating on social media.

“The maestro Cestero has chosen to live his life according to his preferences, including his clothing. That old hat he wears, which might look worn, is the one he likes. I have personally bought him two new hats, and many others have gifted him new ones, but he prefers the old one. He has...

Two-time Dominican Olympic gold medallist Félix Sánchez and his wife, fellow Dominican star athlete María Dimitrova, have announced that they are expecting a baby. As reported in Noticias SIN, the couple shared the exciting news from the beach, where Félix wrote in the sand, “Boy or Girl?” leaving the baby’s gender a mystery.

The post quickly filled with congratulatory messages and well wishes from friends, family, and fans, all celebrating this new chapter in the athletes’ lives.

Félix Sánchez and María Dimitrova married in 2020 and they have a son named Ayden. Both are involved with sports development in the country. Maria Dimitrova has a martial arts school here.

Bulgarian-born, Dimitrova came as a six-year old when her family migrated to Sosua, Puerto Plata from where she developed a career as the country’s most high-profile karate...

As the 2025 Major League Baseball season approaches, the MLB Network has published its list of the top 100 players in the Major Leagues, including several Dominican star players that make up 15% of the list.

Of course, the #1 player is Shohei Ohtani, the star of the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitches and plays in the field. And he excels at both jobs. This is the third time that Ohtani has headed the Top 100 list.

Dominican Juan Soto is Number Four (#4) on the list. Only Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. are ranked higher.

The Cleveland third baseman, Jose Ramirez is also a “top ten” in the ninth position. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., currently in salary negotiations with the Toronto Blue Jays, is ranked 13th.

The Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman, Ketel Marte is in the Top 20 at #18.

Numbers 21, 22, and 23 are held by Dominicans: Boston’s...