DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended the Dominican Republic for its strong economic performance over the past two decades. The country’s ability to navigate the challenges of the past year, including a global economic slowdown and high inflation, has been highlighted in a recent IMF staff report. The IMF attributes the strong economic performance to sound policies and institutional frameworks.

An IMF mission was in the Dominican Republic for two weeks to assess the economic management in the country.

The IMF mission notes that despite a growth deceleration in 2023, the Dominican Republic was able to successfully bring inflation back to its target range through a combination of monetary tightening and fiscal prudence. The IMF highlighted in its assessment review that the country’s financial sector remained resilient amidst the challenges.

Looking forward, the IMF recommends a...

William Malamud, President Luis Abinader, María Waleska Alvarez and Minister Roberto Alvarez / Diario Libre

In the recap of his four-year term as Minister of Foreign Relations to the monthly luncheon audience of the American Chamber of Commerce, Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez called for a major change in the way government deals with migration. As reported in Diario Libre, Alvarez called for a change in the way illegal migration is persecuted. He urged vigorous persecution of people smugglers take prevalence over deportation efforts.

In his address to the business group, Minister Alvarez emphasized the critical need to combat migrant trafficking. The urgency of the situation is underscored as he highlighted the escalating challenges posed by illegal migration.

Alvarez stated: “Reversing the focus is necessary to once...

The Ministry of Education reports on the success of the second edition of its 2024 Summer Robotics Camp. Over 14,700 students from across the nation participated in the intensive eight-day program designed to foster learning and holistic development.

Participants engaged in a variety of activities, including iconographic programming, robotic model construction, and educational robotics simulations. They utilized cutting-edge technology such as Mindstorms Education EV3, WeDo 1.0 and 2.0, simple machine sets, digital science labs, and Arduino electronics kits. The program also emphasized the development of socio-emotional skills through sports and cultural activities.

The summer camp, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Education’s Educational Technologies Department, aims to continually enhance students’ technological competencies. The camp was...

In a dramatic turnaround, the Dominican Republic’s public school transport program, TRAE, has achieved the remarkable feat: reducing the number of students who have died commuting to or from school from a staggering 400 in a year to zero in its inaugural year.

At present, the TRAE operates the buses along 602 routes with 1,700 buses covering 7,000 km and benefiting more than nine million public school children. The program has affiliated private sector suppliers but demands these dedicate the bus units exclusively to school transport.

In its first seven months, 9.8 million students have benefited with estimated economic savings of RD$2.l 9 billion the families had been paying for transportation of their children.

In an interview for El Despertador morning talk show on Channel 9, the director of the Sistema de Transporte Estudiantil (TRAE) of the Ministry of Education, Oneximo...

Transit expert Onéximo González revealed on Wednesday, 24 July 2024 when interviewed for the morning Channel 9 talk show “El Despertador” that the Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) is preparing to build an overpass plus a tunnel road solution that will extend from Jacobo Majluta Avenue to the Botanical Garden. The north-south interconnection is expected to bring relief to those commuting in Greater Santo Domingo.

Oneximo González is the technical director for the Km 9 Duarte Highway road solutions. He also serves as director of the National School Mobility System (TRAE) at the Ministry of Education. During the interview for Channel 9 he shared details of the new road solution.

“When you reach the intersection of Colombia and Jacobo Majluta, there will be an overpass, and a tunnel will be constructed that exits in front of the Botanical Garden,” he...

Antonio Marte / Noticias SIN

After senator and transport kingpin Antonio Marte (Conatra) met with the new director of the National Institute of Transport and Transit (Intrant), Milton Morrison, the Ministry of Public Works has announced it will be continuing with the plans to build 14 lanes in the vicinity of the government-owned green area where Marte built and has operated for years with government lenience his Km 9 transport depot.

Diario Libre reports that Morrison and Marte discussed temporary solutions for the Km 9 Duarte Highway bus stop.

The government is exploring a temporary solution for the bus terminal at kilometer 9 of the Duarte Highway by constructing a two-level metal structure adjacent to the current terminal while negotiations for the acquisition of a nearby plot of land continue.

According to Onéximo González, the engineer overseeing the expansion...

With one day for the legislature to end, the 2020-24 legislature passed a bill that bans sugary drinks and processed foods from being sold at school cafeterias. The bill still requires Senate approval. The landmark bill is aimed at improving children’s nutrition.

The bill, sponsored by Deputy Nelsa Soraya Suárez (PRM-Santiago), mandates that school cafeterias offer only healthy food options. “The foods consumed in schools must fulfill their role of providing the necessary nutrients for the physical and intellectual development of children,” the bill states.

The drat law requires that schools prepare their own meals on-site to ensure quality control and freshness.

Schools will be encouraged to purchase food products from local farmers to support the local economy and promote traditional Dominican food.

Likewise, the bill imposes penalties on suppliers who engage in fraudulent...

At the closing of their term for 2020-2024, Chamber of Deputies legislators approved a new regulation requiring lawmakers that start on 16 August 2024 for the 2024-2028 legislature, to attend at least 80% of legislative sessions. The rule aims to enhance accountability and ensure greater legislative participation.

The penalties for not complying, though, are weak, and much the same as what has existed in the past.

Under the new regulations, deputies who fail to meet the 80% attendance threshold will face public exposure and potential sanctions. Their names will be published on the Chamber’s official website, and their cases will be referred to a disciplinary committee for evaluation.

Furthermore, at the conclusion of each legislative term, deputies who do not meet the attendance requirement for committee meetings will be subject to impeachment proceedings in the...

In a spirited and committed gathering, the official formation of David Collado’s presidential campaign command took place on Tuesday, 23 July 2024, in New York City, 7 Dias reports. The event took place at the renowned Jalao Restaurant located at 2420 Ave Amsterdam, New York.

Several other politicians are already preparing their campaigns for 2028, as reported in El Dia, after President Luis Abinader announced he would not be a candidate in 2028.

President Luis Abinader has announced he will not run for President again. The 2015 Constitution disenables him from running. The President has also said he will not use the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) majority in both houses of Congress to change the Constitution to legally enable him to seek a second reelection.

To add a new term for a President is the most common cause of the convening of the National Assembly to amend the...

Another global IT outage caused by a software failure at CrowdStrike left countless travelers stranded at the Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) as airlines grappled with widespread flight cancellations.

Listin Diario reported that passengers at the airport’s second-level check-in counters reported long wait times and frustration as they attempted to reschedule their flights. Many had booked tickets on flights canceled on Monday and Tuesday, with destinations primarily in New York.

Some travelers, hailing from rural areas across the country, expressed additional hardship due to the unexpected travel disruption. The added costs of transportation and accommodations to reach the airport places a significant financial burden on them, they complained to Listin Diario.

A Delta Airlines executive at the airport, who requested anonymity, confirmed to the...

María Victoria Bayo, the reigning Miss World Dominican Republic, had reported a theft at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, according to El Nuevo Dia in Puerto Rico. The beauty queen’s crown, valued at US$10,000, and her Miss World sash were stolen early in the morning of Wednesday, 24 July 2024.

The incident was referred to the Carolina Criminal Investigations Corps Property Division for further investigation.

The Puerto Rican authorities urged anyone with information to come forward.

And a 57-year old Puerto Rican woman did. As reported, the woman contacted the Police via social media and returned the crown and sash. She said she had found the package and took it to safeguard it. She is described as a traveler who was visiting in Puerto Rico.

According to the police report, Bayo inadvertently had left a brown case containing the royal regalia on a chair in the...

A 30-year-old Italian man was apprehended by agents of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and members of the Specialized Airport Security Corps (CESAC) at the Punta Cana International Airport. The man had attempted to board a flight to Paris, France, with a significant quantity of suspected narcotics concealed within his body.

The foreign national was detained in the migration area and, following standard procedures, authorities detected foreign objects in his digestive system. Acting on the instructions of the public prosecutor, the individual was immediately transported to the Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia Hospital in Higuey, where he initially expelled 33 packets of the substance.

However, the man subsequently developed symptoms that alarmed medical specialists, prompting them to perform surgery. During the procedure, an additional 71 packets...

Playing in the first stage of the Paris Olympics men’s football tournament, the Dominican Republic team debuted with a 0-0 game against Egypt. The FIFA ranking of Egypt is 36th and that of the Dominican Republic 150th.

The men’s football tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games features 16 teams divided into four groups. In this tournament, players must generally be under 23 years of age, with each team allowed to include up to three over-age players. The competition is taking place from 24 July to 9 August 2024, across various stadiums in France.

The Dominican Olympic website reports that the Dominican U-23 team delivered a strong performance in its Olympic debut, earning the valuable 0-0 draw against Egypt at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Egypt dominated possession in the opening 20 minutes but, despite several shots on goal, failed to break the deadlock.

The...

Customs Agency head Eduardo Sanz Lovaton celebrates the passing of new logistics legislation. The Logistics Centers, Logistics Operating Enterprises and Logistics Hubs Bill passed in Congress on Monday, 22 July 2024 and now moves to the Presidency for enactment.

In an interview with El Caribe-CDN37, he described the logistics operations here as the new gold export and highlighted the impact of these for the future of the country. The mention of gold is because gold has for years been the star revenue-producing Dominican export. Mining, nevertheless, has significant negative impacts on the environment.

Sanz Lovaton highlighted the logistics sector is currently thriving, marking a pivotal time for the country’s economy.

“Logistics is akin to what many of us think of tourism today, and President Luis Abinader was among the first to grasp this,” said Sanz Lovatón in the...

The Ministry of Foreign Relations reported that as of 22 July 2024, 14 heads of state and/or government and one vice president have confirmed their participation in the swearing-in ceremony of President Luis Abinader and Vice President Raquel Peña for the 2024-2028 constitutional term scheduled for 16 August 2024. The announcement is made as a follow-up of remarks made by President Luis Abinader during the La Semanal press conference. The President said that his and Vice President Raquel Peña’s swearing-in ceremony was being passed to the National Theater to accommodate more special guests.

The large number of heads of state who have confirmed their coming for the inaugural reflects on the new leadership role President Luis Abinader has achieved in the region.

Traditionally, foreign diplomats are invited to the General Assembly hall at Congress for the event. The...

The Ministry of Public Health in the Dominican Republic is backing a general effort to digitalize healthcare systems in the country.

Public Health Minister Victor Atallah participated in the recent RECAINSA Digital Health Forum 2024 held in Santo Domingo 23-25 July 2024. Leading experts from the healthcare and technology fields are meeting to discuss and formulate public policies aimed at accelerating the digitalization of healthcare systems both within the Dominican Republic and across the region.

Representatives from 21 countries have come to share experiences and exchange ideas to promote the inclusive and equitable digital transformation of the healthcare sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. “Digital health is not a trend, digital health is not a step… it is an essential need in the transformation and in the way we do health and make health more efficient in our...

Attorney General Miriam German Brito presented a summary of her achievements and the challenges she has tackled since being named to the position on 16 August 2020. She took over the Attorney General Office (PGR) from her predecessor, Jean Alain Rodriguez, who had accused her of corruption when she sat for confirmation as a judge for the Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice. Rodriguez is now being tried for major corruption in his term at the PGR.

On 16 August 2020, at the start of his term President Luis Abinader had announced the appointment of the removed Penal Court judge German Brito for Attorney General in his attempt to ensure an independent Attorney General Office.

In her remarks on 23 July 2024, German Brito reflected on her challenging four-year tenure that she described as one marked by subtle internal attacks and criticisms. She noted...

The Chamber of Deputies approved on 23 July 2024 legislation establishing the Specialized Body for Emergency and Disaster Mitigation (CEMED), a new branch of the Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defense. The bill defines the Ministry of Defense’s role as supporting national authorities nationwide during natural disasters.

The new entity is intended to enhance the state’s response capabilities to emergencies and disasters through non-combat military operations.

The CEMED draft was proposed by the Executive Branch. The bill had already been approved in the Senate and now returns to the Presidency for enactment or revision.

CEMED will undertake 11 new functions and include members from the Dominican Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The law comprises 15 articles. The institution will operate with a National Fund for Prevention, Mitigation, and Response, funded by...

Wednesday, 24 July 2024 is the crucial day for the Chamber of Deputies to decide whether to incorporate amendments and send the bill to the Senate for review on Thursday, 25 July, or let the bill go until the new legislature on 16 August 2024.

Alexis Jimenez, who presides over the special committee to review the Penal Code, spoke of how the special committee on Monday, 22 July 2024 had listened for seven hours to citizens make proposals to improve the Penal Code. He understands that the legislators did just what President Luis Abinader had recommended in his La Semanal press conference – it gave time to harmonize the controversial bill.

The ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) majority Chamber of Deputies had originally given its blessing to the bill received from the Senate but then was barraged by more than 150 proposals for changes that restrained advocates in their...

Dominican Republic’s Health Minister Víctor Atallah justified on Tuesday, 23 July 2024 the preventive measures the country has taken regarding announcements in Haiti of cases of anthrax.

While Dr. Atallah said that the country has not registered a single case of anthrax in over four decades, he also said that prevention is never too much. He assured the public that the Dominican healthcare system is fully equipped to handle any positive diagnosis that may arise.

“We are protected, we are taken care of. We have all the operational systems in place and we have the full response capacity to ensure that the Dominican people feel at ease. We have the medicines, we have the diagnostic tests to do this,” the official declared.

Regarding comments made by the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Waldo Ariel Suero, who suggested that an unnecessary alarm had been created in the...

According to the latest Annual Yearbook of Vital Statistics from the National Statistics Office (ONE), in 2023, 647 girls between the ages of nine and 14 gave birth in the Dominican Republic. These 647 new mothers represent 0.41% of the total number of births registered in 2023, which were 156,024. The total figure reflects a decrease of 8.26% compared to the previous year (2022) when there were 170,069 registered births, Diario Libre reports.

“It is still important to note that there were still births to women under the age of 15, which represented 0.41% of the total, reflecting an increase of 0.07% compared to 2022 (0.34%)”, the ONE report states.

The Dominican Republic has a relatively high rate of teenage pregnancy, with 20.4% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 being mothers. Teenage pregnancy can have a significant negative impact on the lives of young...

The divorce rate in the Dominican Republic continues its upward trend, reaching a staggering 55 divorces per 100 marriages in 2022, according to Census 2022 data from the National Statistics Office (ONE). This represents a significant increase from the 41 divorces per 100 marriages recorded between 2011 and 2016.

The 55 divorces to 100 marriages in the Dominican Republic is high when compared to the statistics for the United States. The US divorces to marriages rate was around 43%, the result of 989,518 divorces to 2,315,440 marriages in 2022, according to a report by Bowling Green State University.

Diario Libre reported that in the Dominican Republic, the trend in divorces to marriages was temporarily interrupted in 2020 due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a reduced divorce rate of 35.16 per 100 marriages. However, as the country reopened...

President Luis Abinader announced in the La Semanal press conference on Monday, 22 July 2024 that a record number of heads of government and celebrities have expressed their interest in coming for his second inaugural on 16 August 2024.

He confirmed that the inaugural for the first time would take place at the National Theater to accommodate the large number of special guests. He said that the General Assembly at Congress, where the event is normally held, is too small. He said both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies have agreed to the change of venue.

He said that at least 15 heads of government have announced their interest in coming.

Follow the story: La Semanal

23 July 2024

Speaking during the La Semanal weekly press conference, President Luis Abinader declined to endorse either Republicans or Democrats as winners of the upcoming US elections on Monday, stating simply that his preference is “whoever wins.”

Abinader emphasized the good relations that have existed with the United States over the years.

He experienced this in his Presidency. He explained his government began in August 2020 with President Trump of the Republican Party in power and how when President Joe Biden began his term in January 2021, the good relations continued.

Abinader stressed the importance of a peaceful outcome in the upcoming election, saying, “Whatever the result, what we want is for it to be peaceful, and we will have the best of relations with whoever democratically wins in that nation.”

He also noted the Dominican Republic’s solidarity with the...

President Luis Abinader said the Penal Code needs to be studied and harmonized better, in answering a journalist question as to whether he would order an extension of the present legislature of Congress to give time to the passing of the Penal Code in Congress. President Abinader said that the extension would not be enough time for the needed reviews.

The President’s opinion is key because even if Congress were to pass the bill in the present legislature, it would then need to be enacted by the Presidency.

Alfredo Pacheco (PRM-National District) and Ricardo de los Santos (PRM-Sanchez Ramirez) have attempted to ram through a draft bill that is described by most as a major setback for the country and a covert boost to the same corruption and crime it would seek to combat.

At present, the draft is in the Chamber of Deputies awaiting the report to be issued by...

The Ministry of Public Health that is heading efforts to monitor alerted outbreak of anthrax in Haiti says the disease is treated with antibiotics. The country’s Defense and Public Health departments have taken several measures to control the entry of the disease from Haiti.

Speaking on the issue during the weekly press conference on 22 July 2024, President Luis Abinader explained there are no health statistics in Haiti as that country’s public health system is collapsed. Nevertheless, he said locally the Ministry of Public Health is keeping close tabs on the situation as it could affect the Dominican Republic working in coordination with local intelligence teams.

President Luis Abinader has inaugurated a Migrant Processing Center in Haina, San Cristóbal municipality at a cost of more than RD$88 million.

According to Migration Agency director Venancio Alcántara, the center was built to international standards to provide a more humane facility for both nationals and foreigners undergoing processing.

The new facility has a capacity for 2,500 individuals, with separate halls for men and women, an area for children to be handed over to Unicef, and another for repatriated Dominicans, said the official.

Alcántara emphasized that since assuming leadership at Migration, efforts have been focused on enhancing transparency and optimizing services.

He noted an increase in deportations and underscored Migration’s vigilant oversight of foreign entries and exits, highlighting strengthened policies for receiving...

The Ministry of Industry & Commerce reported on the participation of a high-level Dominican delegation in SEMICON West 2024, the premier event for the global semiconductor industry.

The delegation, consisting of 50 key figures united under the ChipDRiven National Strategy, showcased the Dominican Republic’s commitment to fostering a vibrant domestic semiconductor ecosystem. The Ministry of Industry & Commerce press release says the Dominican strong presence underscored the country’s proactive approach to attracting investment and building a skilled workforce in this critical sector.

The Dominican delegation met with Jose W. Fernandez, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the US Department of State, and Virginia Kent, senior coordinator at the ITSI Fund. These high-profile meetings highlight the Dominican Republic’s dedication to...

The Abinader administration is applying its pro-business model to fresh produce markets nationwide.

President Luis Abinader announced the country now has a trust for the construction, remodeling, and expansion of Santo Domingo’s wholesale markets, as reported in Diario Libre and Hoy.

Through decree 357-24, the President mandated the creation of the “Public Trust for Real Estate Development, Administration, Investment, Payment Source, Guarantee, and Public Offering, to be named Public Trust for the Modernization of Santo Domingo’s Wholesale Markets (Fimerca-SD).”

This initiative targets historic markets in the capital where hundreds engage daily in commerce, moving millions of pesos, despite the poor condition of the structures.

Article 3 outlines the trust’s objectives:

“The purpose of Fimerca-SD Trust is to receive movable and immovable assets...

The Dominican Republic’s expanded unemployment rate, which includes individuals who actively sought work but were not available, or who did not actively seek work but were available, stood at 10.7% at the end of 2023, representing a year-on-year decrease of 0.3 percentage points, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD). The report highlights that more than 50% of active jobs were informal, Diario Libre points out.

“Despite showing a wider gender gap, this rate is trending downwards, reaching its lowest levels in the last three years (10.6%), 1.4 percentage points lower than those shown during the same period in 2022 (12%)”, underlines the document “Monitoring Employment: An Analysis for 2023”.

The MEPyD indicates that the purpose of the report is to carry out a concise and detailed analysis of the selected policy for...

The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic announced that new RD$25 coins, minted in 2023, will enter circulation on Thursday, 1 August 2024.

The new coins have the same characteristics as the RD$25 coins currently in circulation, with the only difference being the year of minting.

Both the old and new coins will maintain their legal tender status for the payment of all public and private obligations.

Read more in Spanish:

• Central Bank of the Dominican Republic
• Noticias SIN

All-powerful and tough Antonio Marte, president of the National Confederation of Transport Organizations (Conatra), says he is not moving his operation at Km. 9. The Ministry of Public Works is trying to finish the roadworks at the site to enable traffic to flow between the capital city and the north, southern and northeastern crossroads. Several bypasses converge at the site.

Conatra is a transport company that used violent measures in its time to gain the monopoly of routes and keep competitors out. Its leader, Antonio Marte moved into politics and is today a honorable senator representing the province of Santiago Rodriguez, in addition to keeping his monopoly of many key transport routes and other business ventures.

Noticias SIN interviewed him recently and he confirmed that he will not be moving the bus stop at Km 9.

Despite rumors and initial plans...

The Air Force has made official the purchase of seven T-35 Pillan training aircraft from the Spanish Air Force. The news was first released by a specialized aviation news service in Spain.

A press release from the Dominican Republic Air Force (FARD) says the aircraft was purchased to significantly enhance its pilot training capabilities. The aircraft purchase from the Spanish Air Force is described as a pivotal step in strengthening the institution’s operational capacity and ensuring a seamless transition for aspiring pilots.

The FARD says that in August 2022, at the outset of the current administration, the FARD faced a critical challenge: a lack of available training aircraft due to maintenance requirements. This situation placed five classes of officers awaiting pilot training courses in limbo, with another class scheduled to commence in December 2022...

Team Canada (NextGen men’s team) defeated the United States 3-1 (26-24, 26-24, 26-28, 25-19) in the gold-medal match of the Norceca Men’s Pan American Volleyball Cup held on Sunday, 21 July 2024 in Santo Domingo at the Ricardo Arias National Volleyball Pavilion. Puerto Rico was third, Cuba was fourth, and the DR was fifth.

The DR’s national men team’s fifth place finish is major progress for the team. In the 2023 tournament, the DR had finished in 10th place.

To win the fifth place, the DR defeated Colombia 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 26-24) in straight sets.

José Gutiérrez, coach of the Dominican Republic told Norceca: “It was a match more mental than physical and technical, even the third set was more mental, I think that in that aspect we showed that we are strengthened, which we continue working and growing and that in the future in the next Cup we can be...

The small town of San Jose de las Matas, popularly called “Sajoma,” celebrates its first Multi-sector Fair this next weekend – Thursday, 25 July to Sunday, 28 July 2024. Sajoma is located south of Santiago de los Caballeros with a very good highway leading up into the mountains.

The Expo is organized by the Farm Coop of San Jose de las Matas, to showcase the varied farm production of the area and promote domestic tourism. The theme is: Commerce, Farms, and Fun. There will be exhibitions and sales of farm equipment, animals raised in the area, fresh produce and foods prepared by local chefs, a true gastronomical wonder.

The intention is to bring farmers and livestock breeders together for a celebration of the agriculture accomplishments and discuss the advancement of farmers – much like a 4H Country Fair in the US or Canada.

There will also be livestock auctions. Finally, the “fun”...

The Dominican Professional Baseball League (Lidom) will begin its regular season on 16 October 2024. The regular season of the six teams in the league will see 150 games played and ends on 22 December.

Tourists can easily enjoy a Dominican winter championship baseball game here. There are ballparks located in or near the major touristic destinations. The La Romana Francisco Micheli Ball Park is close for tourists staying in Casa de Campo or Bayahibe/Dominicus hotels. It is also close enough for people staying in Punta Cana, a half-hour drive away.

The Tetelo Vargas, home to the Estrellas Orientales in San Pedro de Macoris is near the hotel area of Guayacanes and Juan Dolio, and is under remodeling to be ready in time for the 2024-25 season.

Then there is the capital city Quisqueya Ball Park in the capital city, home to the Tigres del Licey and Leones del Escogido...

Thailand included the Dominican Republic in the 36 new countries added to its visa exemption list. Thailand allows citizens from 93 countries to enter under the new immigration rules.

To enter Thailand under the visa exemption scheme, a passport is usually the only document required. However, the border agent may request additional information that must be provided to secure entry. These documents include: A return travel ticket, proof of sufficient financials (10,000 THB per person, or 20,000 THB per family), proof of temporary accommodation in the country (e.g., hotel booking itinerary)

Countries in the Americas that benefit from the Thailand visa exemption are Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, United States and Uruguay.

Citizens of these countries are now able to stay...

The CrowdStrike failure that caused generalized flight cancellations affected several flights in the Dominican Republic, disrupting travel plans for thousands. Diario Libre reported there were 19 flights delayed and two were cancelled due to the Microsoft systems failure.

CNN reports that over 1,000 flights into, within or out of the United States were canceled by Monday afternoon (22 July 2024), and over 5,500 were delayed, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. Delta passengers have been slammed by more than 4,400 cancellations since Friday, including more than 800 on Monday, by far the most of any airline.

CNN called the event the largest IT outage in history. The outage was prompted by a software update for Microsoft devices late Thursday, 16 July 2024 and extended into the early hours of Friday, impacting an estimated 8.5 million Windows...

Andrés Bautista / Listín Diario

Recently named to the position, Porfirio Andres Bautista García replaces Igor Rodríguez Durán, who was filling in for Jose Ignacio Paliza, who had taken a leave of absence to lead the political campaigns of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) into the May 2024 general election. Paliza is the president of the PRM.

The Administrative Minister of the Presidency in the Dominican Republic plays a crucial role in the executive branch of government, primarily serving as a key advisor and administrator under the President. This position is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Presidency and ensuring that the executive office functions efficiently.

At the onset of his second term as President, Luis Abinader announced he had chosen Porfirio Andres Bautista Garcia, one of the original founders of the Modern Revolutionary Party...

The Ministry of Education (Minerd) plans to issue electronic birth certificates for students starting this 2024-2025 school year.

A pilot project is underway and gradually should expand to all public schools enabling schools to use digital birth certficates to enroll students in public schools. Parents need but to take their IDs to the school for the birth certificates to be generated.

The move seeks to simplify the school enrollment process and save families money while ensuring data accuracy.

This initiative, led by the Ministry of Education (Minerd) in collaboration with the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies (OGTIC), is part of the Efficient Government (Zero Bureaucracy) Program.

Víctor Hernández, director of Information and Communication Technology (DGTIC) at Minerd, explained...

It was a normal day at the ruling PRM majority Chamber of Deputies when on Friday, 20 July 2024, despite the priority being the Penal Code, the deputies passed loans for US$485 million.

Meanwhile, Congress has continued under much pressure as defendants of the Penal Code seek amendments to the draft received from the Senate. Most of the media, civic society, women’s groups and business groups have come forward to strongly reject about a third of the bill’s clauses and urge the Penal Code amendments be left to the next legislature that opens on 16 August 2024.

On one hand, the defendants of the Senate bill belittle the arguments against its passing in the present legislature, saying those against it will have a year to push changes through Congress before it goes into effect.

The general public questions the rush of the Senate presided by Ricardo de los...

Anyoli Sanabria / Hoy

Unicef is warning that the Dominican Republic’s draft Penal Code under study in the Chamber of Deputies endorses child abuse at home. The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) office in the Dominican Republic has raised concerns about a provision in the draft Penal Code that suggests that violence against children and adolescents in the home is permissible as long as it is not a pattern and is not repeated, Diario Libre reports.

During his participation in the public hearings on the controversial bill last week, the Unicef director in the DR called for the protection of children’s integrity in all aspects.

“We understand that the Special Committee studying the draft Penal Code of the Dominican Republic has a recognized interest, openness, and commitment to addressing issues of protection of the rights of girls, boys, and adolescents in the country, a nation...

On Friday, 19July 2024, the Constitutional Court (TC) ruled that a child’s life is above the religious beliefs of the parents. This is a major decision that has stirred up debates. The case revolves around what happens when physicians order a blood transfusion but this clashes with the parents’ beliefs. The parents of the child in question are members of the Jehovah’s Witness, refused on religious grounds.

Anonymous calls to the Prosecutors Office for Boys, Girls and Adolescents for the province of Santo Domingo had reported that a baby needed transfusions due to low levels of hemoglobin and high levels of bilirubin in addition to incompatibility of the Rh factors, but the parents were refusing the transfusion citing religious grounds.

Prosecutor Xarama Saray Guerrero Rojas filed an appeal with the Children’s Court of Santo Domingo. Since there were conflicts of...

Two people died in Bayara, the first municipal section of Petit-Goâve, in Haiti after consuming beef contaminated with anthrax and ten other people were hospitalized, according to CASEC Wilnord Delicieux, Haiti Libre reported on 16 July 2024.

In the Dominican Republic, defense and health authorities took new preventive measures to protect against a spill-off of the disease on this side of the border.

The Ministry of Defense says the measures seek to prevent the population even when there is currently no official diagnostic confirmation of the disease.

The Ministry of Health informed the public that it has been in constant communication with international organizations such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based in Haiti. These entities have confirmed that, to date, there have been no confirmed cases of anthrax...

Dominican traditional exports / Analytica

Statistics from the Customs Agency (DGA) reveal that exports to South America are growing steadily. One of the plusses making the difference is the large number of flights down South that have cargo space available.

In the first five months of 2024, some US$48 million were exported to the South American countries. This is US$10 million above the 2023 numbers.

The products going to the South include traditional exports such as tobacco, cigars, and some farm goods. But there is also medical instruments, veterinary equipment, and mining products, including ferro-nickel and gold.

Guyana, a relative newcomer to Dominican foreign relations, is the major trading partner, receiving more than half of all exports sent to South America (US$26.3 million). This has to be in large part because of the recent...

RD Vial reported the resumption on Sunday, 21 July 2024 of the Fast Pass and cash payment services at all lanes of the Las Americas Expressway tolls plaza following a temporary disruption caused by a lightning strike early on Saturday, 20 July 2024 in the morning.

Jean Luis Rodríguez, director of RD Vial, praised the swift response of the technical teams, stating, “Multiple technical units intervened at the station to efficiently and timely restore vital services on one of the country’s main thoroughfares.”

Read more in Spanish:

• RD Vial
• Diario Libre

If you were not already aware, the water in five-gallon bottles stored in the sun can be toxic. A headline story in Listin Diario alerts Dominican consumers to the reality that the water stored outdoors for purchase could be contaminated. Originally, water companies bottled the water in glass, but the bottles would break and were heavy and this was replaced by PET. Listin Diario reports the bottles sell for RD$35 to RD$95.

Listin Diario reports that some businesses take efforts to shade the water bottles. Yet, another reality is that most of the water bottles are transported in trucks that already expose the bottles to the sunlight.

Scientific research shows that the effects of drinking bottled water that could be contaminated are accumulative, reports Listin Diario. Likewise, the hot temperatures facilitate the proliferation of bacteria inside the...

There have been nearly a thousand cases of dengue (“bonebreak”) fever so far this year, a reminder for people to keep to preventive measures.

Dengue is only transmitted by one type of mosquito, the Aedes aegypti, and that mosquito breeds only in stagnant waters. The mosquito is fairly easy to kill. Simply remove any stagnant water in an area, and the mosquito population goes way down.

Here in the Dominican Republic, there have been over 8,000 suspected cases and 1,000 confirmed cases, with, sadly nine fatalities.

On more than one occasion, DR1 News has reminded its readers to remove all possible water vessels from yards and driveways: even dried leaves, uncovered water tanks, or cisterns, old tires (tyres), and empty bottles. A teaspoon of water can produce thousands of mosquitos. Prevention is the key.

Read...

Convicted congresswoman Rosa Amalia Pilarte López (PRM-La Vega) has submitted a petition to the full Supreme Court of Justice asking for a review of her appeal against ruling SCJ-SS-24-0592 issued by the Second Chamber of that high court on 28 May 2024.

Her attorneys Eduardo Jorge Prats, Julio Cury, and Roberto Medina Reyes, presented a 112-page appeal that outlines seven alleged legal errors committed by the Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court. These include violations of due process, the right to be tried by a competent jurisdiction according to pre-existing laws at the time of the alleged offenses for which the legislator was judged and convicted, and being tried without prior impeachment proceedings by the congressional body to which she still belongs.

The appeal criticizes the court for its “strange and false interpretation” of the legislator’s actions...

Police Colonel Ysabelita de los Santos / Hoy

Police Colonel Ysabelita de los Santos, the former head of El Coco dog track facility where seized vehicles were stored, was sentenced to six months of suspended prison, along with two other defendants, in the case involving her alleged abuse of power against the National Ombudsman and a team of El Caribe journalists.

The ruling came from the Ninth Criminal Court, where Colonel Ysabelita de los Santos Pérez, Geraldina de los Santos Peña, and Marisol Vargas were found guilty of rebellion and assault. Despite the prosecution’s request for a two-year prison term, the judge opted for a six-month suspended sentence.

Additionally, defendants Ronny Recio Rosario and Carlos Oliver Borque Paulino were acquitted on grounds thatr there was a lack of evidence.

Originally, the five defendants were not brought to trial...

Online 23-year old “influencer” Starlin Silvestre Corporán was remanded in custody for a month following a ruling by interim judge Kenty Marisela Nuesi de Trinidad of the Judicial Office for Permanent Service in San Cristobal.

Silvestre Corporan had apologized and turned himself in to facilitate the investigation after his post with the threat went viral.

The authorities confiscated his iPhone XR that he used to record and subsequently upload the threatening video targeting the Dominican President on TikTok under the username @Estarlindhdtok.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office had filed a motion for preventive detention against Silvestre Corporán after he posted the video on social media issuing the threats against the President. The prosecution ordered the preventive custody on ground that Silvestre Corporán lacks sufficient ties to guarantee his appearance at legal...

A Santiago court ordered two men accused of pimping and aggravated sexual exploitation of 45 foreign women to serve one year of pre-trial detention. Judge José Rafael D’Asís of the Santiago Permanent Services Attention Court ruled against defendants David (Junior) Matos Monegro and Estarly Almanzar Perez for their leading a criminal organization that recruited women, controlled them and sexually exploited them in apartments in Santiago city. Of the 45 women, 43 were Colombian and two Venezuelans.

According to the file presented by the Santiago Prosecutor’s Office, the defendants “exercised physical and psychological violence against the victims, subjected them to degrading and humiliating treatment, and isolated them from their families and social environment.”

Judge José Rafael D’Asís declared the case complex to give time for an extensive...

Over 6,000 grams of presumed cocaine (06 packages) were seized by agents of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and members of the Public Ministry during a joint surveillance and interdiction operation conducted in the municipality of Bayahibe, La Altagracia province on Sunday, 21 July 2024.

Acting on intelligence reports, anti-narcotics agents launched an operation on the main street near the entrance to the park in Bayahibe to apprehend several men allegedly involved in a drug transaction.

During the operation, authorities intercepted a white Honda CRV SUV with three men on board. Upon inspection, a bag containing six packages of presumed cocaine, totaling approximately 6,110 grams, was found in the trunk.

Continuing their anti-narcotics efforts, agents also intervened with the driver of another vehicle, a Land Rover SUV, who was serving as a lookout...

Dominican-born Adrian Beltre was inducted on Sunday, 21 July 2024 to the legendary Cooperstown Hall of Fame. He is the fifth Dominican MLB player to enter the Hall of Fame. He followes pitchers Juan Marichal (1983) and Pedro Martinez (2015), and power hitters Vladimir Guerrero (2018) and David Ortiz (2022).

He was inducted for the Texas Rangers. Beltre began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004). He also played with the Seattle Mariners (2005-2009), Boston Red Sox (2010 and Texas Rangers (2011-2018). His career-high season was with the Dodgers in 2004, with 48 homers and finishing second in National League MVP voting.

Over 21 seasons (1998-2018), he earned more than US$200 million through multiple multi-year contracts.

His Hall of Fame biography states:

“A four-time All Star, Beltré played 21 seasons for the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers...