Preliminary reports on the causes of the JetSet roof collapse, experts give opinions

[Dolores]

This past week, the media has been abuzz with the testimonies of those who were at the JetSet Club on 8 April 2025 and with expert opinions on the collapse of the roof and legal perspectives.

President Luis Abinader has entrusted the Oficina Naiconal de Evaluacion Sismica y Vulnerabilidad de Infrastructura y Edificaciones (Onesvie) to prepare a technical report on what happened. The report would be ready in three months. The president of the Codia, the Engineers, Architects and Surveyors Guild, had said they were prepared to carry out a report in a week.

The Attorney General Office is in charge of the investigations. At the Attorney General Office, Wilson Camacho, former director of Administrative Corruption and today director of the Prosecution Department together with National District prosecutor Rosalba Ramos are designated to lead the investigation.

The debris...

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[CristoRey]

Democratic Option proposes Habitability Certificate to strengthen building safety.

The Democratic Option (Opción Democrática, OD) party has proposed the creation of a Certificate of Use and Habitability to improve infrastructure safety in the Dominican Republic and prevent tragedies like the recent collapse at the Jet Set entertainment center.

According to the proposal, the certificate would be a technical and legal document validating that a building is safe and suitable for occupancy, based on factors such as structural integrity, sanitation, electrical and fire safety, signage, accessibility, and environmental standards. Unlike current practices, this certificate would require renewal every ten years, or after changes in use, renovations, or natural events. It would also be linked to property transfers and insurance, promoting greater compliance and a culture of prevention.

The initiative was originally put forward by architect Roseric Mercedes, a former OD candidate in Santiago, and will be formally submitted to Congress, the Ministry of Housing (MIVED), and local governments. It has the backing of OD Secretary General Miguel Alejandro Martínez, a civil engineer and disaster risk expert, who emphasized the urgent need to end the country’s culture of institutional negligence and urban deregulation.

A technical committee involving MIVED, Onesvie, local mayors, and fire departments would oversee issuance of the certificate. OD is calling on authorities and professionals to support this preventive public policy to ensure safe, regulated living spaces for all Dominicans.

Source: DominicanToday