DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

In a ceremony blending technological advancement with patriotic symbolism, President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje were issued the first new identity and electoral cards (cédula) on Monday, 26 January 2026, coinciding with the 213th anniverary of the birth of founding father of the nation, Juan Pablo Duarte.

The Dominican ID moves from traditional printing toward high-security laser engraving. According to technical specifications provided by the JCE, the card is constructed from nine layers of polycarbonate, a material capable of lasting up to 25 years.

Key security features of the new “smart” ID include:• Laser-engraved data: Information is etched directly into the polycarbonate layers using CLP 60 technology, making it virtually impossible to alter without destroying the card.• Integrated cryptographic chip: Designed to...

In a move that has sent ripples through the Dominican political and academic landscape, President Luis Abinader has dismissed Rafael Féliz García from his position as rector of the Las Américas Institute of Technology (ITLA), a government-owned technology higher learning institute. The dismissal, formalized through Decree 39-26, follows a series of investigative reports that have cast a shadow over Féliz García’s rapid financial growth and administrative ethics.

The Executive Branch announced the removal late Friday, 23 January 2026, effectively revoking Féliz García’s appointment which had been in place since July 2024. While the official communique framed the move as part of an “institutional strengthening and evaluation process,” the timing coincides with a major scandal involving alleged salary kickbacks at the institute.

According to investigative journalist Nuria Piera...

In a significant shift for the Dominican Republic’s political landscape, small political movements, some with fewer than 200 votes and others that did not participate in the last elections, are set to receive nearly RD$4 million each in public funding for 2026, as reported in Diario Libre. This windfall is the result of a landmark 2025 ruling by the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), which overhauled the criteria for distributing state resources to political entities.

The reform will mark the first time the Camino Nuevo (CN) party will access public funds. Despite being recognized in March 2024 and missing the elections due to its recent legalization, the party maintains an active digital presence and national operations.

In contrast, several of the local movements receiving millions appear to have little to no public profile. Investigations into...

Nearly a month after the disappearance of three-year-old Brianna Genao in a small hamlet in Puerto Plata, Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso confirmed that investigations remain active. Nevertheless she stated that legal constraints prevent the release of specific findings to the public or the family at this stage. The child was living with her paternal grandmother, with the child’s mother living in the United States.

Speaking during the inauguration of new Attorney General facilities in La Vega, Reynoso addressed growing public pressure for transparency. She explained that the Dominican Republic’s legal code mandates strict confidentiality during the investigative phase.

“The law itself dictates that until there is a formal process, investigative data cannot be revealed,” Reynoso stated, emphasizing that the restriction is a legal requirement rather than a lack of progress.

Three-year old Brianna Genao vanished on 31 December 2025 in the community of Barrero, Puerto...

After capturing global headlines for her relentless search for the tomb of Cleopatra in Egypt, world-renowned archaeologist Kathleen Martínez Nazar is turning her sights toward her homeland for a new, historic mission: locating the remains of Cacique Enriquillo, known as the first revolutionary of the Americas.

Martínez, whose work at the Taposiris Magna temple in Egypt has made her one of the most recognized names in modern archaeology, will lead an international team to the ruins of Pueblo Viejo in Azua. The objective is to find the final resting place of the legendary indigenous leader who staged the first successful rebellion against European colonial rule in the Americas.

The project, titled “Following the Footsteps of Cacique Enriquillo,” marks a significant pivot for Martínez. While her career has been defined by the mysteries of the Ptolemaic dynasty...

Miss Universe 2025, Fatima Bosch of Mexico is visiting the Dominican Republic after making a first stop in Guatemala on her first world tour. She arrived on 26 January and will be in the country until 3 February 2026.

The reigning Miss Universe arrived to Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo on board an Arajet flight and has an agenda centered on social advocacy and cultural exchange. Her visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the Miss Dominican Republic Organization, and the naming of the first Miss Dominican Republic.

She was welcomed in the Ambassadors’ Lounge by national director Magalis Febles and the current Miss Dominican Republic Universe, Jennifer Ventura.

Central to Bosch’s visit is her commitment to autism awareness, a cause that resonates with her personal journey. The 25-year-old fashion designer has been vocal about her own experiences growing up...

The Leones del Escogido moved within a single victory of a back-to-back championship and their 18th historic crown after outlasting the Toros del Este 4-3 in an 11-inning marathon at Francisco A. Micheli Stadium in La Romana on Monday, 26 January 2026. With this victory, the Leones have a 3-1 lead in the Lidom Final Series, a seven game series.

The game was tied at the close of the ninth inning. With runners on first and second and one out, Erik González hit a sharp grounder to shortstop that appeared to be a textbook double-play ball. However, a throwing error by second baseman Rafael Lantigua allowed Michael De la Cruz to cross the plate, securing the go-ahead run for the visitors.

The drama had peaked earlier in the ninth when De la Cruz lined an RBI single off Joe Corbett to score Raimel Tapia, briefly giving the reigning Caribbean champions the lead. The “Orange Dynasty” fought...

The Dominican Republic reaffirmed its global tourism leadership at the 2026 International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), closing the event with record-breaking negotiations totaling more than US$13.37 billion (approximately RD$885.68 billion), the Ministry of Tourism reports.

Tourism Minister David Collado, joined by representatives from major commercial banks and the Hotels and Tourism Association (Asonahores), described the results as “extraordinarily impressive” and a “total success.”

The bulk of the investment was secured through intensive business rounds led by the country’s top financial institutions Popular (US$6.2 billion), Banreservas (US$4.2 billion) and BHD (US$2.97 billion) leading the way.

These figures stem from over 150 high-level meetings involving 60 co-exhibiting companies. In total, the Dominican delegation conducted approximately 1,500 private...

Bookings are now open for the inaugural season of the year-round seven or 14-night MSC Opera cruise scheduled to homeport in La Romana. La Romana port offers excursions to Altos de Chavon and Casa de Campo, and Cuevas de las Maravillas. The cruise will also stop for swimming at Catalina Island, before heading to Virgin Gorda, BVI, St. John’s in Antigua and Barbuda and Fort-de-France, Martinique. The first voyage is scheduled to depart from La Romana on 16 November 2026.

MSC Cruises, the world’s third-largest cruise line and the market leader in Europe, announced the cruise as part of a major expansion of its Caribbean operations at the Fitur International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid. The La Romana cruise is the first time the line has offered year-round sailings in the southern Caribbean.

Minister of Tourism David Collado and MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato spoke of the...

An hour and a half drive north from Punta Cana International Airport, Miches continues to develop becoming the country’s new emerging destination with new hotel and vacation property primarily focused on the Playa Esmeralda beach area. The area already has around 2,000 resort rooms open and expects to attract around 90,000 tourists this year. But many more are under construction.

During Fitur, several flagship projects were highlighted as the future of Dominican luxury and sustainability. These include Grupo Puntacana and Melia alliance to build the 600-room Paradisus Miches; the adults only 467-suites Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana and the Miches Grand, a 7,000 unit mixed-use development.

Miches is attracting global attention. It recently made The New York Times list as one of the recommended travel destinations in 2026.

Read...

The Dominican Republic has reached the top of the Travel Choice Awards in Trip Advisor for 2026.Trip Advisor explains that the Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best title celebrates the highest level of excellence in travel. It’s awarded to those who receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Out of our 8 million listings, fewer than 1% achieve this milestone.

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As a massive winter storm paralyzes the United States with polar temperatures and heavy snowfall, the impact is being felt thousands of kilometers away in the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic, currently the leading destination for US tourists, is facing a significant disruption to its peak winter travel season.

The “polar chaos” currently gripping the US has led to the cancellation of an estimated 16,000 flights. Because the Dominican Republic receives most of its tourists from the US market, particularly from the Northeast corridor, these cancellations represent thousands of travelers unable to reach their resorts and hotels. For a country where tourism is a primary economic driver, the sudden halt in arrivals during the busy month of January creates a ripple effect, impacting everything from local transportation to hospitality revenue.

JetBlue, the leading US carrier to the...

Amidst the bustling atmosphere of the 2026 International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), Dominican Minister of Tourism David Collado reaffirmed his commitment to the nation’s leading economic engine, stating that the industry must be “better understood” by society to fully realize its value.

Leading a high-level delegation of hoteliers, bankers, and government officials, Collado spoke with Diario Libre between high-stakes meetings at the Dominican Republic’s vibrant pavilion. Having recently confirmed he will remain in his post for one more year, the Minister outlined a strategy focused on continuity and refinement rather than radical change. David Collado has announced his aspirations to seek the presidency in the 2028 general election.

“What works and yields good results is improved, but not changed,” Collado said when asked about his goals for the upcoming year. He pointed to the...

Fine pearls and precious stones are ranked high in Dominican exports in 2025, playing a pivotal role in a banner year for the nation’s foreign trade. According to the latest year-end report from the Customs Agency (DGA), total exports reached US$14,645.23 million, marking a robust 13.41% increase compared to 2024, as reported in El Dia.

The data reveals a significant shift in the country’s trade dynamics, with the “national regime” sector, which excludes free trade zones exports, seeing a dramatic 36.77% growth to reach US$5.46 billion. Within this category, pearls and precious stones accounted for a dominant 45.08% of the total value.

The export landscape remains heavily specialized. While pearls and stones led the way, metallic goods like gold and silver remained critical, making up nearly 45% of the national regime’s metallic exports. Gold is riding a wave of record prices.

Other key...

Environmental advocates have leveled sharp accusations against the Ministry of Environment claiming the government body has shifted from being a regulatory watchdog to a “facilitating agency” for corporate interests. Since August 2024, the Ministry of Environment is under Paino Henriquez, a highly reputed corporate lawyer. It is his first position in government.

Critics argue that the Ministry’s handling of the Los Negros case in Azua provides concrete evidence of its complicity with both national and foreign capital. The controversy centers on three power-generating barges owned by the Turkish firm Karpowership. According to the environmentalists, the ships burn “Bunker C,” which they describe as one of the dirtiest fuels in the world. They allege the barges emit thick black smoke and persistent noise that have degraded a “natural paradise into a living...

Members of the Dominican Republic Army intercepted a Canadian national on Tuesday for allegedly transporting undocumented Haitian migrants, marking the second time the same individual has been detained for the same offense since late 2025, Diario Libre reports citing a note from the Army.

The suspect, identified as Creamer Troy James, was apprehended at the El Rubio military checkpoint in Santiago province. During a search of his vehicle, a white Changan SUV, authorities discovered seven Haitian nationals — five men, one woman, and a minor— none of whom possessed legal documentation to reside or visit the country. The authorities said they seized eight mobile phones, five Haitian passports, a laptop and a tablet.

James has been handed over to the Public Ministry to face legal charges. The seven migrants were transferred to the Migration Agency...

Escogido fans gathered at the Quisqueya Ball Park, their home stadium, thought it was a loss. It was the ninth inning and the team was losing 6-2 in the first game of the series of seven to decide the champion of the Dominican Winter Professional Baseball League (Lidom) for the 2025-2026 season.

For the fans of Leones del Escogido gathered at Quisqueya Ballpark, the night felt like a slow-motion heartbreak. By the ninth inning, with the team trailing 6-2 in the opening game of the playoffs, many assumed the loss was already written in the books and left early. They had suffered through eight innings of frustration, watching their home team struggle to find a rhythm against the Toros del Este.

However, in a stunning turn of events, the team delivered. The atmosphere shifted from despair to hope as the Leones ignited an explosive four-run rally in their final at-bat.

The...