DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The long-standing conflict over the Romero gold mining project in the San Juan Valley reached a boiling point on 27 April 2026 as local communities initiated a 24-hour general strike, paralyzing commerce, transport, and education. Protesters, united under the slogan “Agua sí, oro no” (Water yes, gold no), are demanding the definitive rejection of the project proposed by the Canadian multinational GoldQuest.

The same project had been rejected during past administrations for the same reasons.

The tension underscores a deep-seated lack of trust in the mining industry’s promises of economic prosperity. Critics argue that the history of extractive industries in the Dominican Republic is marked by legal irregularities and environmental degradation, leaving local communities with little more than depleted resources.

A legacy of mistrustJose Manuel Mateo...