DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Experts call for rethinking Abinader government solutions to capital city mass transit needs

An analysis by Omar Santana for Diario Libre alerts the Abinader administration of major flaws in the monorail solution chosen for the capital city. Santana says that experts interviewed say it would not meet the objectives and the lack of interconnection with the current system would reduce usage.

Diario Libre report favors those that have said the government should continue with the underground lines as originally contemplated.

The analysis urges the government to wait for the checks and balances in the new procurement law before immersing itself in the new mass transit solutions.

Read more in Spanish:

• Diario Libre

A raised road section near Hostos Park has reduced collisions but drivers complain of congestion, Diario Libre reports. The extension of the access and exit ramps for the elevated speed reducers installed last week by authorities in front of Eugenio María de Hostos Park apparently have led to smoother traffic in the area, Adalberto de la Rosa reports for Diario Libre.

Vehicles, including those with low chassis, are reportedly no longer scraping the pavement as they were before, reducing the negative reactions from drivers. However, the raised platform itself, which is constructed at the same level as the sidewalks, remains in place.

De la Rosa reports that international standards for traffic calming measures of this type set a maximum height of 12 centimeters (4.7 inches). By leveling the structure with the sidewalk, pedestrians are left unprotected from vehicles due to the absence of curbs. Curbs serve the dual purpose of channeling storm drainage and acting as a protective...

The Dominican Republic has taken the helm of the Association of Latin American Telecommunications Regulators (REGULATEL) for a second time, signaling a major institutional milestone and solidifying the country’s leadership role in the region’s telecommunications agenda.

Regulatel comprises telecommunications regulatory authorities from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe, bringing together countries like Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Its mission is to articulate common positions and harmonize public policies in telecommunications and digital transformation.

Guido Gómez Mazara, president of the Board of Directors of the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), officially assumed the post on behalf of the nation during the organization’s 28th Plenary Assembly, held in Punta Cana. The presidency was transferred from Colombia, which was represented by Claudia Ximena Bustamante, Executive...

Thirty-four women-led businesses in the Dominican Republic have been selected as beneficiaries of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, which was launched by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in 2024. The announcement was made in Santo Domingo on 9 December 2025, marking a significant step in expanding the WEIDE Fund’s implementation across beneficiary countries.

The call for applications in the Dominican Republic received over 200 submissions from micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Following a competitive evaluation process, the 34 companies were selected. The beneficiaries will receive tailored support aimed at strengthening their digital capabilities, financial readiness and export competitiveness.

The implementation of the WEIDE Fund is currently underway in four countries, in partnership with four business support organizations: ProDominicana, the Jordan Enterprise Development...

The high-profile corruption case centered on alleged sabotage of the nation’s traffic light system and terrorism took another procedural turn today, as state representatives demanded a RD$12.707 billion (US$215 million) in civil damages.

The Sixth Court of Instruction of the National District, presided over by Magistrate Yanibet Rivas, postponed the preliminary hearing for 9 February 2026. The victims in the case include the Dominican state, the Ministry of Defense, and the Intrant itself.

The claim, filed strictly within the civil jurisdiction, is against former National Institute of Traffic and Terrestrial Transport (Intrant) Director Hugo Beras, José Ángel Gómez Canaan (Jochi), and other individuals implicated in the sweeping scandal.

The Public Ministry has levied serious criminal charges against the accused, including falsification of documents and criminal association, in addition to the allegations of corruption, traffic system sabotage, and terrorism.

The...

Maestro Jose Antonio Molina will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra for a star-studded performance at the Centro Cultural Perelló (CCP). The 12th annual “Christmas Gala Concert,” a traditional gift to the community and the nation, will feature a stellar lineup of Dominican talent, including celebrated vocalists Maridalia Hernández and Frank Ceara, the Koribe Choir, the Induban Choir, and folklorist, Xiomara Fortuna. The concert is scheduled for 7pm. The RSVP telephone is 809-754-1449

Julia Castillo, director of the CCP, emphasized the center’s pride in the annual tradition. “Our institution is honored to celebrate Christmas with this complimentary concert, which brings together distinguished Dominican artists of recognized trajectory,” Castillo stated. “It is a high-quality cultural offering for the enjoyment of all citizens.”

The CCP, inaugurated in 2011, operates as a non-profit institution dedicated to cultural management and promotion. It maintains an extensive...

Yerik Pérez / LIDOM

Tourism Minister David Collado announced that the country is preparing an ambitious Sports Tourism Strategy that will be unveiled at the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) in Spain in January 2026. The International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR 2026, will be held in Madrid from 21 to 25 January 2026 in Madrid, Spain.

The strategy, centered around hosting major international sporting events, is designed to solidify the Dominican Republic’s reputation as a world-class destination.

“Initiatives such as PGA Corales, Oceanman, Ironman, the República Dominicana Open (ATP), Master of the Ocean, Master Surf Reunion, Cabarete Pro, Noches de Leyendas, the Central American and Caribbean Games, and other high-level events reinforce our tourism offering,” Minister Collado stated on his X account.

Collado emphasized the multifaceted benefits of this approach, noting that these events...

For a quarter-century, a single ferry company has quietly but consistently built a maritime bridge between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, transporting over 1.2 million visitors and counting, Diario Libre reports. Travelers have the option of traveling with their vehicle, overnighting in a cabin, or partying all night long on deck.

The Ferries del Caribe ship has a capacity for up to 1,750 passengers, 70 vehicles, and 1,669 linear meters of general cargo, traveling at a speed of 25 knots (about 46.3 kilometers per hour).

While the Dominican Republic has cemented its status as a major cruise destination, attracting over two million cruise passengers annually, the reliable ferry DR-Puerto Rico service has provided a critical alternative, shuttling an average of 44,590 visitors per year since 1999.

Puerto Rican-based Ferries del Caribe is the sole operator of...

Chayanne is showing off his style dancing bachata as he promotes his 11 April 2026 concert in Santo Domingo. The Saturday concert is part of his Bailemos Otra Vez Tour 2026. He will perform at the Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal. Tickets are for sale at Viagogo and Uepa Tickets online.

Read more in Spanish:

• CDN
• Viagogo
• Instagram

Grupo Globalia, also the owner of Air Europa, has officially relaunched the iconic Hamaca hotel in Boca Chica as the Santo Domingo Bay Convention Resort & Casino.

President Luis Abinader and Tourism Minister David Collado attended the reopening event. The Santo Domingo Bay Convention Resort & Casino now presents a comprehensive package designed for both leisure travelers and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) groups, offering facilities ideal for weddings and major conventions.

The newly renovated hotel seeks to position itself as the all-inclusive experience nearest to the Dominican Republic’s capital.

The resort, strategically located just 10 minutes from Las Américas International Airport and a 30-minute drive from the historic Colonial City, is being marketed as a new meeting point connecting the city and the sea.

Tourism...

President Luis Abinader was present for the official opening of the side-by-side Dreams and Secrets Playa Esmeralda hotels in Miches, El Seibo province, north of Punta Cana on Tuesday, 9 December 2025. The beach resorts called for a US$390 million investment that significantly bolsters the eastern coast’s tourism infrastructure. The two new resorts are operating under the Hyatt Inclusive Collection, span over 500,000 square meters and feature more than 10 restaurants and 7 bars.

Secrets is a 500-suite, adults-only property that boasts a world-class spa and specialized dining. Dreams is also a 500-suite hotel that complements Secrets and is geared towards families and multi-generational groups. Dreams features family amenities like water parks and kids/teens clubs.

Both are located on the pristine Miches beachfront. The hotels share a central plaza designed as...

Spirit Airlines is promoting limited-time anniversary fares starting at US$107 one way to Punta Cana (PUJ) from Florida, including taxes and fees. The anniversary fare must be booked through 21 December 2025, for travel 13 January through 4 March 2026.

“We first landed in Punta Cana 20 years ago and have delivered a great value for travel between the Caribbean island and the United States ever since,” said Andrea Lusso, vice president of Network Planning at Spirit Airlines. “Punta Cana’s warm hospitality and beautiful beaches have been a long-time hot spot in our network, and we’re thankful to our airport partners in the Dominican Republic for their continued support over the years.”

Spirit launched its Punta Cana service in 2005 and currently offers nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale (FLL). The airline is increasing service between FLL and PUJ to daily from 18 December...

In a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, President Luis Abinader announced that job growth in the nation’s various industrial free zones has grown by 67% over the past half-decade. President Abinader was particularly proud of the fact that the nation was capable of rebounding from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to such a marked degree.

Between 2020 and 2025, formal employment in the free zones went from 119,974 to 200,134, some 80,000 new jobs.

The sector creates hard currency and the jobs pay taxes and contribute to the Social Security System.

Abinader was gracious with his praise of the private and public investments in the free zone sector of the economy, which in his words, “has made the Dominican Republic a serious, stable and capable partner” for international trade.

Minister of Industry & Commerce Victor Bisono, noted that there were 436 new businesses. He...

The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) has announced a significant surge in remittances, with inflows reaching US$10.78 billion between January and November 2025. This figure represents a substantial increase of US$1.02 billion, or 10.5%, compared to the same period in 2024.

Building on this strong performance, the BCRD projects total remittances to exceed US$11.7 billion by the close of 2025, a new record.

In November alone, the country received US$889.5 million in remittances, an increase of US$48.7 million (5.8%) over November 2024.

These funds, supplied by the Dominican diaspora abroad, are critical to the national economy, having a “multiplier effect on consumption, investment, and the financing of the country’s most vulnerable sectors,” the BCRD stated in a press release.

The BCRD largely attributes the robust performance of remittances to the...

The Dominican Republic has been very slow in implementing measures to reduce plastic wastes. The Chamber of Deputies passed the amendments to Law 225-20 on Solid Waste Management and Coprocessing. The bill already had passed in the Senate so it moves to the Presidency for enactment.

Law 225-20 on Solid Waste Management and Coprocessing dates back to 2020, but only now is the government getting around implementations, including reduction of single use plastics.

Law 225-20 has now been modified to exclude the use of those Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)trays used in supermarkets to exhibit meats, fruits and vegetables. This foam and its cousin, the polystyrene bags used to hold groceries are due to be phased out at the beginning of 2026.

Plastic bags are one of the most ubiquitous pieces of solid refuse in the Dominican Republic. Photos of rivers at flood stage often look...

The Presidency sent Congress a legislative proposal to merge the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Minerd and Mescyt respectively).

According to the press release, if the bill passes in the ruling party majority Congress, the Ministry of Education would absorb all of the functions of the Mescyt, and place the ministry in control of all educational systems in the country. In addition, an Education Council would be created to serve as a consultant and accompany the Minerd in formulating, evaluating and providing educational policies.

The proposal is for the creating of new deputy ministers to cover the different areas. There will be a Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Educational Operating Services, Technical and Pedagogical Services, Territorial Management and Supervision, Development and Strengthening of the...

After 9pm on Sunday, 14 December 2025, Judge Rigoberto Sena of the National District Permanent Attention Court returned to the courthouse after deliberation and ordered the maximum 18-month pre-trial imprisonment at Najayo Jail following the indictment presented by the Attorney General towards the former director of the National Health Insurance plan (Senasa) plan, orthopedian Santiago Hazim Albainy and six others – Rafael Luis Martinez Hazim, Gustavo Enrique Messina Cruz, German Rafael Robles Quiñones, Francisco Ivan Minaya Perez, Ramon Alan Speakler Mateo and Ada Ledesma Ubiera. Ubiera was ordered to the Najayo women’s jail. The judge also declared the case complex that gives more time for the hearings.

In line with a request from the Public Ministry, Judge Sena also imposed less severe measures—including house arrest, travel bans, and periodic reporting—on Eduardo Read...

Luis Peña Núñez / CMD

Dr. Luis Peña Núñez officially assumed the leadership of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), taking the oath of office as the new national president for the 2025-2027 term.

The swearing-in ceremony was held this Friday at the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National Library.

Dr. Peña Núñez was inducted by the outgoing president, Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero, and his board of directors. The transition was carried out in accordance with the Medical Collegiation Law (68-03), formally establishing the new authorities who will guide the CMD for the upcoming two-year period.

Read more in Spanish:

• Listin Diario

The National Penitentiary of La Victoria, an infamous facility inaugurated in 1952 during the regime of dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo regime, has closed its doors. It was designed for 2,000 men and at times harbored more than 9,000 men. It was marked by decades by crippling overcrowding, rampant human rights violations and systemic corruption, Listin Diario writes in its note on the shutdown.

Inmates have been transferred to the Las Parras Correction and Rehabilitation Center, the country’s largest jail located in San Antonio de Guerra in northeastern Santo Domingo province. The relocation began in mid November.

In its report on the shutdown, Listin Diario recalls that corruption and criminal activity were deeply embedded at every level at the Victoria Jail. Public denunciations, such as those made in 2022 by Roberto Santana, the current director general of...

On International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December 2025), the Dominican Republic marked a major milestone in public integrity by launching InvestmentMap 2.0 (MapaInversiones 2.0), described in an Interamerican Development Bank press release as a groundbreaking digital platform. This IDB initiative positions the nation as a global leader in leveraging new technologies, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), to fight corruption and strengthen public accountability across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The IDB’s regional InvestmentMap project is dedicated to the traceability of budgets, investments, and public procurement. The renewed platform, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Dominican Republic and offers citizens an unprecedented level of access and oversight into how public funds are utilized.

InvestmentMap 2.0 achieves a unified, articulated view...

The Dominican Republic once again was at the center of the maelstrom surrounding Haiti and the roving gangs that control much of its territory. The DR took part in the discussions of the United Nations International Force Generating Conference, convened by the United States and Canada. More than 20 nations from Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean were present at the conference that sought to decide on actions to bring domestic tranquility to the neighboring country.

A force of 5,500 members was agreed upon, and their assignment will be to neutralize, dissuade or suppress the gangs, now designated as terrorist organizations by the United States as well as the Dominican Republic.

Some countries have already pledged funds for the operation: The European Union has pledged ten million euros and Qatar has pledged US$44...

The Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act (H.R. 6504) bill passed the Ways and Means Committee of the US House of Representatives with a vote of 37-3. The Ways and Means approval is considered a step forward for congressional approval.

Haiti receives US trade preferences for textile and apparel products through several trade programs, including the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE) and Haiti Economic Lift Program Act (HELP).

The legislators voted in favor considering that an extended lapse in these programs could jeopardize Haiti’s apparel manufacturing industry, exacerbating the current political instability in the country and increasing security concerns in the United States.

The bill renews duty-free treatment provided with respect to certain imports from Haiti under the HOPE/HELP program for...

Colombian authorities have dismantled a sophisticated criminal organization accused of trafficking citizens from the Dominican Republic, providing them with fraudulent Colombian civil registries, national ID cards (cédulas de ciudadanía), and passports to facilitate illegal travel to the United States and Europe.

The operation, dubbed “Operation Belén,” successfully identified the illicit activities of the transnational network dedicated to migrant smuggling and document fraud. The migrants reportedly paid between US$3,000 and US$5,000 to be transported from the Dominican Republic to Colombian cities like Medellín and Planeta Rica (Córdoba), where the ring processed the fake documentation.

A major break in the case involved the alleged participation of an insider: Andrés Felipe Saltarín, a civil servant at the Auxiliary Registry Office of Belén...

Toros del Este / Diario Libre

The Leones del Escogido (10.5 games behind), Estrellas Orientales (11.5 games behind) and Gigantes del Cibao (12 games behind) are battling it out for the fourth position to move beyond the regular season in the 2025-26 Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship. The regular season ends on 23 December 2025.

So far, the Aguilas have ensured their presence in the tournament’s round robin. The Toros del Este (La Romana) are 4.5 games away from the first place, and the Tigres del Licey are third, some 9.5 games behind.

In the Sunday 14 December 2025 games, the Escogido improved its positioning and grabbed the fourth position after defeating the Gigantes, the team that is in the last position.

Juan Soto and Juan Marichal / Diario Libre

Star outfielder Juan Soto is only awaiting New York Mets permission to be included in the Dominican roster of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). The slugger, who holds the highest contract in professional sports history, declared his readiness after receiving the prestigious Juan Marichal Award for the second time. The award honors the best Dominican player in Major League Baseball.

“Everyone already knows that answer [about playing in the Classic]… we are ready,” Soto affirmed when questioned about his commitment after accepting the accolade.

Soto, 26, emphasized that his decision to represent the country was his own and a goal he had set for the coming year. “It was my decision,” he stated in an interview with “Luz García El Podcast.”

“I had always wanted to put on the Dominican Republic uniform,” he...

In a move heralded as a significant step toward modernizing the Dominican Republic’s foreign trade, the Customs Agency (DGA) has signed a historic inter-institutional agreement with ten key government agencies. The accord aims to further expedite container freight clearance and solidify the operation of the Integrated Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE).

The DGA’s director general, Yayo (Eduardo Jose) Sanz Lovatón, penned the agreement, which seeks to transform the entire logistics chain through process standardization, automation, and integration, promising greater efficiency, security, and regulatory compliance.

The new agreement builds on the success of the existing 24-Hour Clearance Program, which has already facilitated the clearance of over 100,000 containers. This initiative has generated estimated savings for the Dominican economy ranging from RD$2...

Despite a public defense from the National Institute of Traffic and Land Transport (Intrant), a controversial speed reduction ramp installed on the Avenida George Washington (the Malecón) continues to draw intense fire from the public, with critics arguing the measure was implemented without adequate warning or public consultation. The widespread complaints highlight a critical safety lapse that appears to be fueling, rather than preventing, accidents.

The inherent danger of the new structure was dramatically underscored this week when a vehicle slammed into an electrical pole in the Eugenio de Hostos Park. The condition of the driver remains unknown, but the incident serves as a grim warning of the ramp’s potential to cause serious harm.

While complaints focus heavily on the structure’s abruptness, some local residents support the ramp...

UNESCO World Heritage site managers from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to promote Sustainable Tourism and share best practices. The regional workshop focused on strengthening capacities in visitor management and promoting inclusive and sustainable development.

UNESCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of the National District of Santo Domingo, organized the regional workshop on World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism, in the framework of the project ‘Communities for Heritage – Latin America and the Caribbean’ funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

With the participation of the Central American Educational and Cultural Coordination (CECC/SICA) and Secretariat for Central American Tourism Integration (SITCA), the event brought together experts and...

The Center for Diabetes, Obesity, and Specialties (Cemdoe) officially announced its transformation into a full-service hospital on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, following the completion of an extensive regulatory process and the construction of significant new clinical and support areas, as reported in Diario Libre following a tour of the new services.

The initial phase of the new hospital operation features a substantial increase in capacity for critical and complex care:28 beds for general hospitalization, including seven dedicated to intensive care.Four high-complexity operating theaters.A state-of-the-art hemodynamics suite, specifically designed to manage cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergencies—the two leading causes of death in the Dominican Republic.

The hospital that is located in western Santo Domingo also has upped its emergency services that...

The Attorney General of the Republic Yeni Berenice Reynoso confirmed on 10 December 2025 that an investigation is underway targeting doctors and various health centers implicated in billing the National Health Insurance and Health Risk Administrator (Senasa) for fraudulent, unnecessary, adulterated, and false medical procedures, as reported in El Caribe.

Calling the practice of performing five catheterizations on a patient who needed none, or administering unrequired radiotherapy sessions, “absolutely criminal,” the Attorney General emphasized that a second phase of prosecution is forthcoming. This new phase will be linked to the corruption case that already includes the indictment of Senasa’s director, Santiago Hazim, and nine other individuals.

“I can give you absolute assurance that more people will be charged, and yes, there are people under investigation...

Maxy Gerardo Montilla Sierra / CDN

The high-profile corruption case against Maxy Gerardo Montilla Sierra, the brother-in-law of former President Danilo Medina, has reached a definitive conclusion. A judge has approved a significant “opportunity criterion agreement” that extinguishes all criminal charges against Montilla and his associated companies in exchange for massive financial compensation and the dissolution of the firms involved.

Judge Reymundo Antonio Mejía Zorrilla of the First Instruction Court of the National District homologated the agreement, effectively ending the penal process for alleged acts of corruption, money laundering, bribery, and fraud against the Dominican state and the power distribution companies: Edeeste, Edesur, and Edenorte.

The judicial resolution cited Article 370.6 of the Penal Procedure Code, noting that the defendant “collaborated effectively” with...

In the developing case surrounding the tragic death of 11-year old Stephora Joseph during a school field trip on 14 November 2025, a Santiago court imposed precautionary measures on three defendants linked to the alleged negligence. A fourth defendant was released without restrictions after being deemed unconnected to the fatal event. The accused all worked at the Instituto Integral Da Vinci school in Gurabo, Santiago that organized the excursion to the Hacienda Los Caballos. The child would drown in a swimming pool.

Judge Yeritza Cabra, presiding over the Santiago Permanent Attention Court, authorized Yris del Carmen Reyes Adames, administrative director of the school; Francisca Josefina Tavárez Vélez, psychology guidance staff; and Vilma Altagracia Vargas Morel, high school coordinator, to post a bond of RD$500,000...

Tampa Bay Rays baseball player Wander Franco was convicted in June 2025 of sexually abusing a minor in the Dominican Republic and then received a two-year suspended sentence. His lawyers were able to get a court of appeals to order a retrial and thus a new panel of judges will now oversee Franco’s case, as reported in Yahoo Sports.

“The court understood that there were many flaws, many omissions … many issues, and decided to send the case to a new trial,” Franco’s attorney, Teodosio Jáquez, told the Associated Press.

Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in June. He was accused of having a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence for the illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, which allows him to remain...

Banco Popular Dominicano is inviting families to once again witness its cherished holiday tradition, the Milagro de la Navidad (Miracle of Christmas). This free theatrical spectacle, a staple of the Dominican holiday season for over three decades, will be staged on three select dates in December at the bank’s headquarters, the Torre Popular at Av. John F. Kennedy in Santo Domingo.

The performances are scheduled for Sunday, December 15th, Sunday, December 22nd, and Wednesday, December 25th (Christmas Day). Each of the three performances will begin at 6:30 p.m. The evening will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display that is always a delight for attendees of all ages.

The show is a dramatic recreation of the Nativity, intended by Banco Popular as a spiritual gift to Dominican society, with a message of peace, harmony, and family unity that has become a core part of the...

Ballet Concierto Dominicano is inviting audiences to dream with The Kingdom of the Nutcracker, a new version by Sarah Estevez and Carlos Veitia of the beloved Christmas classic, promising an evening filled with fantasy, music, and exquisite dance.

This fresh take on The Nutcracker is set to transport spectators directly into the heart of the festive season, making it a must-see event on the Christmas cultural calendar.

Special guests from the Ballet Nacional Dominicano Oficial are joining the Ballet Concierto for the performance.

The performances are at the Sala Carlos Piantini of the Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito. Three shows are programmed for Friday, 12 December at 8:30pm and Saturday, 13 and Sunday, 14 at 6:30pm. Tickets are for sale at Uepa Tickets online, and physically at the Supermercados Nacional and Jumbo stores.

Read more in...

A police reform bill seeks to overhaul the current legislative framework, introducing significant changes aimed at regulating the organization and operation of the National Police.

Included in the new bill on the reform of the National Police submitted to Congress on Monday, 8 December 2025, is a provision that would impede the assignment of police agents to government or private institutions.

The new rule, detailed in Article 147 of the proposed reform to Law 590-16 (National Police Organic Law), explicitly states that police personnel cannot be assigned to surveillance, custody, reception, or internal security roles in ministries, departments, agencies, autonomous entities, public enterprises, or any other official state dependencies.

“Each public institution shall be responsible for guaranteeing its own perimeter and internal security, through private services...

Penal attorney Francisco Álvarez Martínez, has issued a stark warning, asserting that the recently enacted Code of Criminal Procedure (CPP) could trigger a wave of legal challenges before the Constitutional Court. Álvarez attributes this risk to what he describes as flawed deliberation, rushed amendments, and the controversial lack of a vacatio legis (implementation period) before its immediate enforcement, CDN reports.

The new rules for criminal cases are in effect as of Wednesday, 10 December 2025 nationwide.

The attorney’s remarks come amid widespread complaints about the code’s instant entry into force. The reform has been defended by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco, who maintained that the process was “responsible, broad, and consensual.”

During an interview on the program 55 Minutos con Julissa Céspedes on CDN, Channel 37, Álvarez...

Public Assets Recovery Team against Senasa / Diario Libre

The Dominican state has formally filed a civil complaint against the individuals accused in the major fraud case involving the National Health Insurance (Senasa), with a legal team committed to work pro bono until all stolen funds are recovered. The alleged scheme is being characterized as a direct “assault on life” against the nation’s health beneficiaries. The public health service primarily serves the country’s poor.

The Public Assets Recovery Team (ERPP) deposited the formal complaint and civil suit yesterday, concerning the alleged fraud committed against Senasa. The legal team labeled the massive embezzlement as “a direct attack against the life and health of Dominicans.”

The collective affirmed it will work closely with the Public Ministry...

The pre-trial hearing against the first 10 arrested in the National Health Insurance (Senasa), the public health insurance ARS case is set for Thursday, 11 December 2025.

Meanwhile, local media continue to publish details of the Public Ministry case against officials of Senasa. The evidence leans against the statement of innocence of former general manager Dr. Santiago Hazim who in September 2025 when the case began to make headlines in the press blamed others in the system.

As reported in Hoy, Wilson Camacho, for the prosecution team, called the case the most sinister they have dealt with.

The over 500-page file presented by state prosecutors unveils an alleged major corruption network. The Public Ministry’s probe describes a complex web that reportedly involved a combination of administrative fraud, corruption, document falsification, and money laundering...

State prosecutors are presenting charges of negligence and involuntary murder of 11 year old Stephora Anne-Mircie Joseph, during a school outing to a ranch with swimming pool on 14 November 2025 against the school’s administrative director and three employees of the Colegio Da Vinci of Santiago. The private school is not charged in the case.

The case was postponed for the first hearing on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.

Media reports say that a video shared with the lawyers of the mother of the deceased reveal that there was not surveillance of the pool area. Making matters worse, the video shows how the 11-year old steps into deep water and calls for help but her cries were ignored by a school staff member and children in the area.

The drowning was only noticed when one of the children thought the girl was playing and touched her drowned body.

The video also...

Military air traffic from the United States into the Dominican Republic has recently escalated, with a noticeable increase in flights to both the San Isidro Air Base and the Las Américas International Airport (AILA), according to information obtained from military sources, Diario Libre reports.

Diario Libre reports that a C-5 Super Galaxy, regarded as one of the world’s largest cargo planes, touched down at the San Isidro Air Base, and a C-17 Globemaster III arrived at Las Americas International Airport on Sunday, 7 December 2025.

President Luis Abinader had announced on 26 November 2025 that the Dominican government had authorized the provisional use of the Las Americas International Airport and San Isidro Air Base for military and drug combating operations of the US Department of War (Defense). The announcement was made during a press conference...

Claro Dominicana reported a major service interruption on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, causing widespread intermittent connectivity and slow speeds for both its fixed and mobile internet users across the country.

The telecommunications company confirmed the outage was due to two separate cuts in its fiber optic network. Compounding the issue, one of these cuts critically compromised the system’s backup infrastructure, leading to the nationwide degradation of internet service.

In a statement, Claro apologized to customers and detailed its response: “We are experiencing two fiber optic cuts. One of them affected the backup system, which has generated intermittency and slowness in some fixed and mobile internet services nationwide. Our technical team is working intensely to restore services as quickly as possible. We appreciate your understanding.”

The company assured the public...

President Luis Abinader and Minister of Industry and Commerce Victor Bisono participated in the ground breaking on 28 November 2025 for the construction of the City Center by Lady Lee, a US$700 million investment of a business group from Honduras. The City Center is marketed as the largest mall in the Dominican Republic. It will be built in eastern Santo Domingo with access from the Las Americas Highway.

Rachid Maalouf, the president of the Lady Lee Corporation, the Honduran company building the mall, explained the ambitious project as a mixed one that promises to transform urban development in eastern Santo Domingo. The mall will have capacity for 400 stores. The project calls for a hotel and corporate tower, as well as residential areas.

The largest mixed-use development in the Dominican Republic is designed by RSP Architects in Miami, Florida, USA...

Santo Domingo Motors, the Dominican Nissan, Chevrolet, Suzuki, Infiniti and Cadillac dealership, is now open to serve customers with a full range of technological services in Punta Cana, backed by a significant investment of US$14 million.

The new branch is open at Boulevard Turístico del Este Km 8, in Punta Cana, between Downtown Punta Cana to the North and the Punta Cana International Airport to the South.

During the opening ceremony, company president Aníbal Rodríguez underscored that this strategic move reinforces the concessionaire’s market leadership. Santo Domingo Motors is currently recognized as the number one auto dealer in reputation within the Dominican automotive sector.

Let there be no doubt, Cooperstown Hall of Fame member Albert Pujols is calling the shots for the Dominican team in the World Baseball Classic, the global baseball event set for 5 to 17 March 2026. Japan is the defending champion. The DR won the title in 2013 and Pujols is putting his heart and soul to ensure the DR gets the championship this coming 2026.

Pujols has stated that the quality of Dominican players and the large number who want to make the team are his dilemma as he chooses the roster. “It’s a good headache to have so many superstars. Each one of them will have their moment, a high point to help us win,” Pujols has said, as reported by David Venn for MLB.

The DR team manager has mentioned Elly de la Cruz, Johan Rojas, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Junior Caminero, Sandy Alcántara and Geraldo Perdomo as team members but has yet to announce his full roster.

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For the second time in six years, the Detroit Tigers will head to the Dominican Republic for part of their Spring training this coming March 2026.

This time, they’ll play two games against the Dominican Republic team that Cooperstown Hall of Famer Albert Pujols is assembling for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

The two-game DR Team vs Detroit Tigers series is scheduled for 3-4 March 2026 and will be played in memory of the victims from the Jet Set nightclub tragedy in Santo Domingo last April. MLB will make a donation to the Dominican Red Cross as part of the event.

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10 December 2025