DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) announced a 78% reduction in malaria cases across the country compared to the same period in 2025. This significant decline is attributed to intensified screening, early detection protocols, and targeted preventive treatments.

According to the latest Epidemiological Bulletin, the country recorded zero new cases of malaria during the 13th week of 2026. This brings the year-to-date total to 79 cases, a sharp contrast to the previous year’s figures.

The statistical shift is reflected in the disease’s incidence rate:2026 Incidence Rate: 2.86 per 100,000 inhabitants.2025 Incidence Rate: 12.88 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The MSP credits these results to strategic actions in high-risk focus areas, including reinforced epidemiological surveillance and active case-finding missions.

Dengue, leptospirosis, and other pathogensThe report also...

President Luis Abinader, accompanied by Vice President Raquel Peña and Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez, formally received the credentials of six new ambassadors to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, 22 April 2026. The ceremony, held in the Ambassadors’ Room of the Presidential Palace, marked the official accreditation of diplomats representing Italy, Finland, New Zealand, San Marino, Sweden and Switzerland. Of the six, only Italy, Switzerland and San Marino are based in Santo Domingo.

Following the formal presentations, the President held brief private audiences with each envoy to discuss shared regional and economic interests.

The newly accredited diplomats bring extensive experience in migration, trade, and multilateral relations:Italy: Sergio Maffettone. A career diplomat and law graduate from the University of Naples, Maffettone entered...

A new report by the Dominican Initiative for Quality Education (IDEC) reveals a sobering reality that more than half of enrolled teenagers drop out of the nation’s public school system.

Analyzing a cohort of 162,000 students from the 2016-2017 and 2018-2019 academic cycles over an eight-year period, researchers found that approximately 52,000 students had been out of the classroom for more than two consecutive years, for a 52.9% dropout rate, as reported in Listin Diario.

The findings, presented to faculty at the Universidad Iberoamericana (Unibe), highlight that the crisis is most acute in urban areas and among specific demographics.

Demographic disparities and geographic hotspotsThe IDEC report underscores significant gaps in retention based on nationality and gender. The dropout rate for Haitian nationals stands at 49.7%, nearly 18 percentage points higher than the...

Following nearly five years of agonizing uncertainty for the family, the Public Ministry and the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) have confirmed that skeletal remains discovered in a Sosúa villa belong to 22-year old Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche. The missing person case has now been officially reclassified as a homicide.

Her grandmother, Paulina Gonzalez had filed a report of missing person with the Sosua police on 13 September 2021 when she was not able to contact her grand daughter since 5 September, the day the woman registered into the hotel. Guzman Roche had traveled to Sosua from her hometown in the municipality of Bani, in southcentral Peravia province.

At the time, the management of the hotel located at Calle Alejo Martinez in El Batey, Sosua had reported the woman had registered on 5 September in room #33 of the hotel. She did not check out...

Deivy Carlos Abreu Quezada / N Digital

The relatives of Deivy Carlos Abreu Quezada, a 40-year-old garbage truck driver, are publicly denouncing delays in the judicial process against the men accused of his killing. Despite the existence of video footage capturing the fatal incident in Santiago de los Caballeros, the victim’s family maintains that the prosecution has not moved with the necessary speed to ensure justice for the father of four.

While preliminary reports initially indicated the confrontation began after Abreu’s truck accidentally brushed against a motorcyclist, a more complex theory is now circulating among investigators and the public. Reports suggest that the group of motorcyclists involved may have been a gang of debt collectors (“cobradores”). The National Police is currently investigating this lead to determine if the attack was a spontaneous act of road rage...

A series of viral videos documenting large groups of motorcyclists performing stunts on major thoroughfares has ignited a firestorm of criticism regarding the perceived surrender of public space to lawlessness. Remarks by Amaury Mo for En Segundos underscore a growing sentiment that the Dominican Republic has effectively “lost the battle” against reckless operators who now openly defy the General Law of Mobility, Land Transport, Transit and Road Safety (Law 63-17).

He writes that organized “swarms” of motorcyclists in recent days have been filmed taking over entire lanes on elevated viaducts (elevados). These riders are increasingly engaging in “calibrando,” the practice of popping wheelies at high speeds—while traveling in dense packs.

The use of elevated bypasses by these groups is particularly galling to the commuting public, as these routes are designed for...

The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) and meteorologist Jean Suriel have issued urgent weather advisories as a pre-frontal trough combined with a cold front system brings heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds to the Dominican Republic.

Drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution due to significantly reduced visibility during heavy downpours. Dangerous surf and high tides are forecast for the north coast from Samana to Montecristi.

The East Coast is spared from the bad weather alerts, nevertheless. The East Coast is the least impacted, but Indomet reports small boats should not operate due to turbulence in the Atlantic Ocean.

Updated alert levelsThe COE bulletin released at 10:30pm on Wednesday details the following provincial statuses:Red Alert (2 Provinces): Puerto Plata and Espaillat (on the north coast)Yellow Alert (10 Provinces): Santo Domingo (including...

Karl-Anthony Towns, World Cup 2023 / Diario Libre

The Virgilio Travieso Soto Palacio de los Deportes, known as the “Media Naranja,” is set to officially reopen its doors on 3 July 2026. The landmark event will feature a high-stakes matchup between the Dominican Republic and the United States as part of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. On 6 July, the DR will play Nicaragua in the same qualifiers at the same renovated venue.

This game carries significant weight following the Dominican Republic’s historic performance in Window 2 of the qualifiers. On 26 February 2026, the Dominican squad stunned the basketball world by defeating the United States 87–79 at the Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.

In that historic victory, the Team DR’s fourth consecutive road win, Jassel Perez led with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, supported by veteran center Angel Delgado...

A year after the collapse of the Jet Set Club roof, the case remains in the instructional phase as parties debate which evidence will be admitted for a potential trial. Private plaintiffs are currently seeking to upgrade the legal classification to “homicide,” arguing that a technical report and testimony from former employee Gregorio Adames provide sufficient proof to justify the stricter charge.

During the 20 April 2026 hearing of the JetSet case, relatives of the late Eduardo Grullon and Johanna Rodriguez requested First Instruction Court of the National District Raymundo Mejia change the charge against siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat to voluntary homicide that would enable a harsher penalty. The prosecutors so far have charged the siblings with involuntary murder, a charge that carries a maximum of two years in jail.

Legal representatives for the family of Johanna...

Santo Domingo will host the first-ever International Performing Arts Festival (FESTAE 2026) this coming 15 to 19 May 2026. The event aims to establish a premier regional platform by uniting theater, music, and dance through a high-level program featuring national artists and international guests from Colombia, Argentina, Equatorial Guinea, and France.

The festival’s details were unveiled during a press conference led by festival director and veteran producer Fausto Rojas. Speaking at the Juan Lockward Theater Café within the Eduardo Brito National Theater, Rojas described the initiative as a “transcendental step” for the global projection of the Dominican creative scene.

“Dominican Republic is becoming the cultural heart of the Caribbean, positioning the country as a benchmark destination for the performing arts,” Rojas stated, emphasizing that the project is designed to...

The National District City Council (ADN) is set to inaugurate the Malecón Deportivo tomorrow, a 1.7-kilometer urban intervention designed to pivot the capital’s coastline from a high-speed transit artery into a premier destination for sports, recreation, and family life, Diario Libre reports.

Developed by the ADN in partnership with Right Construction, the project represents an investment of RD$333 million. Spanning approximately 90,000 square meters, the “mega-project” serves as the second phase of a broader coastal recovery initiative that has reclaimed 5.2 kilometers of the coastal boulevard over the last six years.

A hub for modern athleticsThe Malecón Deportivo is specifically engineered to meet the growing demand for diverse public sports facilities. Key installations include:• Soccer & basketball: A closed soccer pitch featuring artificial turf and night...

The Mayor’s Office of the National District (ADN) and Banco Popular Dominicano officially opened the Parque Sensorial Mirador Sur on 21 April 2026. The park area is a specialized recreational environment designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other sensory conditions. The space is specifically engineered to foster cognitive, emotional, and social development through sensory stimulation.

Located near Kilometer 0 and the Kinder Park, just meters from Anacaona Avenue, the 340 m2 facility was funded by RD$5 million from Banco Popular Dominicano.

The park serves as a benchmark for universal accessibility, featuring a perimeter metallic mesh fence for safety and specialized surfaces to accommodate all users. Key installations include:• Interactive learning: Panels featuring Braille and sign language instructions.• Tactile and auditory...

The Dominican Republic’s internal debt reached a milestone of US$16.61 billion during the first quarter of 2026. According to the latest public credit data, this figure represents a 7.22% increase compared to 2022 levels, Joel Suriel reports for N Digital.

This domestic debt is now 25.6% of the Non-Financial Public Sector (NFPS) debt, which cumulatively stands at 49% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With the current exchange rate holding at RD$60.35 to the US dollar, the total internal debt translates to approximately RD$1.003 trillion (RD$1,002,751,460,000).

Four-year growth vs. GDP ratioOver the past four years, the country’s internal debt has expanded by US$1.12 billion, climbing from the US$15.5 billion recorded in 2022 to the current US$16.61 billion.

Despite this nominal increase in dollar terms, the internal debt’s weight relative to the total...

The current situation surrounding US tariff restitutions presents a complex challenge for the Dominican Republic. While a new US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) system has launched to return billions in “unconstitutional” tariffs, the political cost of claiming those funds has become a central issue for importers and trade partners.

The new system for requesting refunds of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump went into effect on Monday, 20 April 2026 in the United States, with expected refunds that could reach US$166 billion for US businesses. According to a court filing released on Tuesday, 15 April, US Customs and Border Protection reported that it has completed the initial phase of the refund system, called CAPE. The tool will allow for the consolidation of refunds, ensuring that importers receive a single electronic payment, with interest where applicable, instead of...

Miguel Martínez, general secretary of the Opción Democrática (OD) party, identifies citizen apathy and systemic inequality as the primary hurdles for emerging political organizations in the Dominican Republic. Elected in October 2024 through a direct vote by the members of the party, under a strict no-reelection policy, Martínez balances his role as a civil engineer with the “intense” responsibility of “motorizing” a party that operates without the vast resources of traditional political machineries.

The challenge of political antipathyMartínez argues that the greatest “silent adversary” is the deep-seated frustration of a populace that views all political parties as nests of corruption. To break this cycle of apathy, he advocates for consistent aligning political discourse with ethical practice to prove that politics can exist without clientelism. He...

More than 200 social and environmental organizations have formed a unified front to demand the immediate and permanent cancellation of all mining projects in the Cordillera Central, Cordillera Septentrional, and Bahoruco Oriental. During a press conference held at the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) headquarters, the coalition warned that concessions granted to foreign corporations (including GoldQuest, Unigold, and Belfond) threaten the nation’s water security, agricultural viability, and tourism industry.

The mobilization coincides with the 61st anniversary of the April 24 Revolution. Leaders of the movement issued a call for mass protests, rejecting government policies they claim force the poor, the working class, and the middle class to shoulder the burden of the global economic crisis and international conflicts while favoring national oligarchies and...

The Dominican short film “Caballo Blanco” (The White Horse), written and directed by young filmmaker Ramón Alfonso Peña Rodríguez was recognized at the 10th edition of the 21 Islands International Short Film Festival 2026 held in New York.

The film secured two major awards in a highly competitive field:• Best Screenplay: Awarded to Ramón Alfonso Peña Rodríguez.• Best Acting: Awarded to Clara Morel for her portrayal of the lead character, Andrea.

The 2026 edition of the festival featured 3,007 submissions representing 21 island nations, states, and territories worldwide. The competition spanned various categories, including animation, documentary, experimental, and narrative filmmaking.

About “Caballo Blanco”Produced by Vicio Films and Producciones Saeta, the 14-minute short explores themes of family and caregiving through a lens of drama and suspense. The plot...

The New York Mets have officially completed and inaugurated a state-of-the-art player development facility in Boca Chica, located approximately 30 minutes from Santo Domingo. Funded by team owners Steve and Alex Cohen, the project represents a nearly $10 million investment designed to give the organization a competitive edge in developing international talent, Anthony DiComo reported in his Mets Beat newsletter.

All 30 Major League Baseball teams have training camps in the Dominican Republic. These mainly prepare Dominican and Venezuelan players. The primary residents are teenagers in the Dominican Summer League (DSL).

The Boca Chica training facility was inspired by high-performance training centers found in US Division 1 college football. Mets executives, including Director of Player Development Andrew Christie and Assistant General Manager Eduardo Brizuela...

In a major step toward resolving the chronic parking shortage in Santo Domingo’s historic district, Mayor Carolina Mejía and the Presidency of the Republic officially broke ground on the José Reyes parking building on 20 April 2026. The project, located at the intersection of Calle José Reyes and Calle El Conde, involves an investment of RD$950 million and is expected to be completed in approximately 22 months.

The start of construction marks the end of a long period of inactivity for the site. The original structure was shut down five years ago due to severe structural vulnerabilities and subsequently demolished. Despite initial promises of a swift rebuild, the site remained vacant, exacerbating the significant traffic and parking challenges faced by residents, merchants, and tourists headed to the Colonial City.

Modern infrastructure and capacityThe new...

A reported electrical failure caused what is described as the fourth stop of Santo Domingo Metro operations this year. The Santo Domingo Metro is used by approximately 400,000 commuters every day. Those caught in the outage had to leave the Metro and proceed by other means. The outage lasted about an hour.

The operator of the system has yet to give explanations to the most recent and past outages.

Read more in Spanish Listin Diario El Caribe

21 April 2026

For years, in the Dominican Republic the authorities (transit and police) have allowed motorcyclists to write their own code. The resulting lawlessness is a state where laws are ignored and unenforced. The most recent consequence of the government permissiveness is the recent murder of garbage dump truck driver, 40-year old Deivy Carlos Abreu Quezada, who bled to death after being stabbed by a motorcyclist. The death is evidence of the chaos that is worsening exponentially as the number of motorcyclists continues to increase and circulate without controls.

The tragic death has sparked nationwide outrage and cast a harsh spotlight on the “mob mentality” often associated with motorcyclists in the Dominican Republic. The incident, which occurred after a group of motorcyclists chased Abreu Quezada into the parking lot of the Santiago Palace of Justice where he sought refuge, has led to a heated...

Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán / Listín Diario

The Foundation for Institutionalism and Justice (Finjus), a prominent Dominican non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting the rule of law, judicial reform, and democratic transparency, has issued a stern warning regarding the state of public safety.

The executive vice president of the entity, Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán, stated that the recent death of a garbage truck driver Deivy Carlos Abreu Quezada, brutally attacked by a mob of motorcyclists in Santiago city, is not an isolated incident. Instead, it is a manifestation of a structural crisis that has been eroding citizen security for years.

Castaños Guzmán noted that in many sectors of the country, motorcyclist groups operate using collective force and intimidation. This behavior has shifted from simple informal transportation toward criminal patterns typical...

According to information from the National Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) and weather analyst Jean Suriel, a shift in weather patterns is expected for the Dominican Republic with more blue skies forecast.

Nevertheless, on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, the approach of a frontal system and a pre-frontal trough will influence conditions throughout the day. The showers are expected to be brief, but in the afternoon cloudiness should increase with more frequent moderate to heavy downpours and in some areas with wind gusts especially in the Northwest, North, Cordillera Central, and the western border region.

There will be noontime highs of around 28°C with lows around 22°C. A slight drop in temperature may be felt in mountainous areas as the frontal system settles.

For Wednesday, 22 April, the rainy period is expected to intensify as the trough and frontal system remain over the...

“Milly, Reina del Merengue” is generating significant buzz as a high-value cultural reference, chronicling the journey of Milly Quezada and career achievements that have led her to be known as “Queen of Merengue.” The film premiered on 16 April 2026.

Directed by Leticia Tonos, the film explores how Quezada surpassed numerous difficulties and persevered. The leading role is portrayed by Sandy Hernández, a Dominican-American actress recognized for her recent performance as Minerva Mirabal in the Star+ series The Roar of the Butterflies.

As reviewed in imdb.com:

“Milly, Reina del Merengue,” is both a love story and an eye-opener that chronicles the struggles of Dominican icon Milly Quezada. It masterfully captures her journey to become an inspiration for new generations, showing how she navigated complex family circumstances to harness her...

Jacqueline Mora / El Nuevo Diario

The government is actively pivoting toward attracting new ventures with a higher spending per visitor to ensure sustainability. Vice Minister of Tourism Jacqueline Mora recently announced several leading luxury brands are positioning themselves in the Dominican Republic. The Ministry of Tourism is intentionally encouraging developers of volume-based tourism toward value-based luxury to increase the Average Daily Rate (ADR).

Aman, Rosewood, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Hilton Curio Collection and Marriott’s Autograph Collection have opened lodging here or are developing projects in recent years.

Luxury tourism in the Dominican Republic is currently experiencing a historic expansion, with the entry of ultra-luxury “European Plan” (EP) brands. Vice Minister Mora stresses the challenge remains to raise the overall quality of the...

The Rainieri Cultural Center and the Frank & Haydée Rainieri Foundation inaugurated the “El Prado in the Streets” exhibition on Friday, 17 April 2026. The initiative brings 77 full-scale photographic reproductions of masterpieces from Spain’s Museo Nacional del Prado to the public squares and walkways of the Puntacana enclave, where Punta Cana got its start.

The exhibition, part of the broader “El Prado among us” (El Prado en nosotros) project, is a collaborative effort involving the Centro León in Santiago, the Eduardo León Jimenes Foundation, KahKow, and Banco Popular Dominicano, with the support of the Amigos del Museo del Prado Foundation in Spain.

A journey through art historyCurated by Sara Hermann and Orlando Isaac, the collection spans from the 12th century to the early 20th century. The display allows residents and tourists to encounter iconic works...

Tourism Minister David Collado announced in Miami, Florida that an agreement has been reached between MSC Cruises and Costasur Casa de Campo to create a joint venture for the operation, management and development of Catalina Island.

According to the head of the cruise port and airports division of Costasur, Luis Emilio Rodriguez Amiama, this means that La Romana will be a homeport for MSC Cruises starting in November 2026.

In the cruise industry, a homeport (or port of embarkation) is the primary hub where a cruise ship begins and ends its itinerary. Unlike a “port of call,” where a ship visits for just 8–10 hours, a homeport serves as the ship’s base of operations.

The new itinerary will stop at Catalina Island and other ports in the Dominican Republic.

The agreement consolidates relations between Central Romana Corporation, Casa de Campo...

The ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) majority Chamber of Deputies has passed a controversial bill in its second reading that authorizes the government to pay state contractors for public works executed without formal contracts. A similar bill benefiting 571 contractors had been vetoed by the Presidency. The bill orders the government to pay millions for work that did not comply with government procedures.

The bill received the positive vote of 96 PRM deputies, a majority for its passing.

What is different in the new bill is that while the previous bill recognized the debts of 571 contractors and ordered their payment, the new bill creates a commission that is required to review each claim before authorizing the payments.

This legislation, defended by the PRM as a way to settle inherited debts from previous administrations, has been labeled a “blank check”...

In a milestone for Caribbean agriculture, Minister of Agriculture Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosme announced that the Dominican Republic has secured its position as the leading rice producer in the Central American and Caribbean region. During an event in Bonao headed by President Luis Abinader to launch the annual harvest, Espaillat Bencosme revealed that domestic production now exceeds the combined output of all other nations in the region.

Rice is a leading Dominican food staple. Per capita consumption in the Dominican Republic stands at approximately 128 pounds per year.

The Minister underscored the country’s robust food security, noting that the national inventory currently holds over five million quintals of rice. This figure excludes the ongoing harvest, ensuring a steady supply for the domestic market despite global economic uncertainties.

According to data released...

Foreigns Ministers Reina Forbin and Roberto Alvarez / MIREX

The Dominican Republic and Haiti are working to reopen the airspace between both countries starting in May 2026. The opening specifically connects Dominican airports with the Cap Haitien International Airport to facilitate mobility and economic ties.

The Dominican Republic had closed its airspace with Haiti in March 2024. Only humanitarian flights were allowed. The Dominican Republic cited the high levels of insecurity in the neighboring nation.

The decision is part of a Joint Statement issued by Foreign Ministers of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Roberto Alvarez and Raina Forbin. The ministers led the high-level delegations of their respective government committees that met for the talks at the installations of Codevi Industrial Park on the border to advance the bilateral agenda on 17 April...

President Luis Abinader inaugurated on 16 April 2026 the RD$3 billion Renacer plastic recycling plant in southeastern San Pedro de Macoris. The plant is described as the first facility in the Caribbean capable of producing food-grade recycled PET resin. This milestone supports the country’s circular economy goals and industrial modernization.

Located within the Zona Franca Quisqueya, the project is a collaboration between the Dominican company Diesco and the Honduran-based Invema Group. It is designed to meet the increasing global demand for sustainable packaging, particularly from multinational beverage corporations operating in the region.

Diesco, a prominent multi-sectoral conglomerate headquartered in Santo Domingo, manufactures packaging (Polyplas and Termopac) and beverages.

The new plant possesses the technology to process 124 million bottles annually...

The Dominican economy demonstrated remarkable resilience in the first quarter of 2026. In March alone, the country surpassed the historic US$1.4 billion barrier in exports, recording US$1.45 billion in outward trade. The country exported 20.7% more compared to March 2025.

This time the primary driver of this growth is raw gold, which experienced a 78.2% surge in value, adding US$110.8 million to the monthly total. Gold reached a new record peak of US$5,626.75 on 29 January 2026. Since then, the price has fluctuated due to a “push and pull” between geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and shifting interest rate expectations. This is up from the peak of US$3,613.20 for the ounce of gold in 2025.

Other high-performing sectors included tobacco (up US$16.5 million) and medical instruments (up US$12.3 million). Canada has emerged as a major growth market, with...

The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) has ordered the total temporary closure of the Ocoa-Cruce de Ocoa highway. The local traffic and transit agency Digesett is currently managing alternate routes while a provisional pass is constructed to restore connectivity.

On 18 April 2026, the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) mandated the total and temporary closure of the Ocoa-Cruce de Ocoa highway following a significant geological failure. The collapse was classified as a major sinkhole (socavón). The sinkhole was precipitated by persistent heavy rainfall that destabilized the underlying limestone strata, a condition exacerbated by the region’s complex hydrological network.

The Transit Agency (Digesett) is redirecting traffic through narrow, secondary routes that were not designed for the heavy agricultural transport typical of the Ocoa region.

Engineers from...

Media reports on the heavy rains that have been falling in the Dominican Republic continue to bring forth evidence that builders cannot cut corners. Cheap constructions create new vulnerabilities. Likewise, people need to know the price to be paid for moving into areas where previously there were rivers and streams.

Once again, the rains are headline news.

Greater Santo Domingo was for the most part exempt from the heavy rains over the weekend, with the exception of a downpour on Saturday evening.

As announced by Gloria Ceballos, director of the National Meteorological Institute (Indomet), the rains came on Friday and Saturday, and were intense in the central portion of the nation. The most serious damage was the washout of the San Jose de Ocoa road that halted traffic for more than a day. Rivers have flooded in La Vega and Constanza, causing personal and material...

The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC), now under Minister Eduardo Estrella, says the renovation of Duarte Highway is on track for a 2027 completion. The renovation has included a complex system of overpasses and new tolls booths.

This multi-phase project, which spans from Santo Domingo to the Cibao region, also involves the elimination of over 150 illegal U-turns and the construction of safe-access ramps and elevated pedestrian crossings to reduce the high fatality rate historically associated with this route. The government is also working on the structural reinforcement of the aging bridge infrastructure that connects the northern provinces to the country’s main ports on the south side.

The Duarte Highway renovation has picked up pace after an excruciatingly slow start when Deligne Ascencion was the minister. When the project began in May 2022, Ascencion had announced that the...

On the fiscal front, small business (Mipymes) are facing a strict 15 May 2026 deadline for the mandatory implementation of the electronic invoicing system. This new regime, overseen by the Tax Agency (DGII), is designed to reduce tax evasion and streamline fiscal reporting, but it has met with resistance from small business owners who cite the high cost of digital integration and the lack of reliable internet in remote provinces.

The government has promised technical support, but analysts warn that if the deadline is not extended, a significant percentage of small businesses could face heavy fines or forced closures.

Read more in Spanish:

• El Día

Recent audits and investigative reports have highlighted transparency concerns within the National Congress. Diario Libre reports that the administrative staff of a single senator’s office now rivals the size of a medium-sized private company.

In its report on the perceived excesses at the Senate offices, Diario Libre reveals that the payroll for senatorial offices has ballooned to 1,284 employees, with a monthly salary expense exceeding RD$41 million.

The most glaring example is the office of Senator Dagoberto Rodríguez Adames in the sparsely populated province of Independencia, which employs 69 people, outnumbering the staffs of senators from major urban centers like the National District and Santiago. This spending represents roughly 40% of the Senate’s total budget, sparking a renewed debate over the “barrilito” (the controversial discretionary fund) and the lack of a...

In the DR, traffic cops do not enforce traffic laws with motorcyclists. For years, people have been complaining that the negligence of local authorities in applying the law to motorcyclists is empowering these in the wrong way. Making matters worse, motorcyclists are known to band together if anything happens to their kind.

The inevitable happened this Sunday, 19 April 2026. A garbage dump truck driver who had brushed a motorcyclist saw himself under the siege of eight motorcyclists. He bled to death when one of the motorcyclists knifed him.

Ironically, he had entered the Santiago Justice headquarters seeking protection.

Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful pledged that the case not escape justice.

The Dominican Republic is currently embroiled in several high-profile legal battles concerning environmental management and natural resource extraction. The legal battles are ongoing regarding environmental evaluations for mining operations in the Cordillera Septentrional and the Cordillera Central, the central and northern mountain ranges.

Senator Daniel Rivera of Santiago has emerged as a vocal opponent of mining permits in the Cordillera Central, arguing that the protection of the nation’s primary water sources must take precedence over economic gain. Rivera is a former Minister of Public Health.

However, the Abinader administration’s Ministry of Energy and Mines has defended the issuance of exploration permits, claiming the exploration permits do not authorize actual extraction and are necessary for the country to understand its mineral potential. Exploration permits are the...

A heartwarming story of entrepreneurship is trending as Gregory Adames, the key witness in the Jet Set Club roof collapse case, has received widespread public support for his “catibias” (yucca plus fillings) business following a social media push.

The intersection of tragedy and entrepreneurship has captured the national attention through the story of Adames. The former employee of the Jet Set nightclub is regarded as the key witness in the investigation into the April 2025 roof collapse that killed 236 people. The technical report on the collapse, which occurred during a Rubby Pérez concert, attributes the collapse to inadequate structural support and the weight of equipment on the roof. The file on the case reveals that Adames on numerous occasions had notified the owners of the need to carry out major works and the vulnerabilities of the roof.

Adames, worked as a waiter...

Michael Lee-Chin / El Nacional

The Dominican government could still appeal, yet this month a US court confirmed a previous sentence and awarded around US$44 million to Jamaican businessman Michael Lee-Chin after the government takeover of the Duquesa garbage dump, El Nacional reports. The judge determined his ownership of the property had been violated.

The multi-million dollar consequence resulted from the lack of action by Dominican legislators and officials to determine the fraud of the title. If the government had acted to dispute the ownership, the businessman would have had to sue who sold him the fraudulent title and not the Dominican government. The businessman had bought Lajun company that claims it is the owner of the land where the dump site for garbage in Greater Santo Domingo is located.

The businessman took the Dominican government to court under the Caricom Free Trade...

The Dominican Plastic Surgery Society (Sodocipre) has urged prospective patients to verify the credentials of their surgeons and the accreditation of the facilities. The announcement is reiterated after the death on 15 April 2026 of 27-year old Anyeli Meliza Sanchez Castillo after she underwent multiple surgeries under the responsibility of Dr. Jose Desena Montero. Desena Montero is not listed as a member of Sodocipre.

Diario Libre reports the victim underwent an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction in multiple areas, and a fat transfer, all on the same day. She had a four-year old child.

Health officials clarified that undergoing multiple procedures during a single plastic surgery session is permitted under current Dominican health regulations, provided specific safety protocols are met.

The plastic surgery society reports the complication rates by their members is at...

The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) executed a major interdiction in Pedernales, seizing 1.6 tons of cocaine following an intense armed confrontation. This operation is part of a broader crackdown that recently included the interception of 151 drug packages at sea and the arrest of a bus driver in Barahona carrying 11 packages of marijuana in the southwestern region last week.

The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) has executed a series of high-impact operations that underscore the shifting dynamics of Caribbean narcotics trafficking. On 18 April 2026, agents seized a massive cargo of 1,670 packages, weighing approximately 1.6 tons of presumed cocaine, off the coast of Pedernales.

This seizure occurred following an intense maritime chase and an armed confrontation, where the suspects utilized high-powered outboard motors to ground the vessel before fleeing...

Judicial reports from the National District now link approximately 70% of all minor crimes — including petty theft, street robbery, and domestic disturbances — to local drug consumption. This staggering statistic has prompted Magistrate Kenya Romero, coordinator of the Instruction Courts, to advocate for a “restorative and therapeutic justice” model during the 2026 Judiciary Conference.

The goal is to move beyond the traditional adversarial system and implement supervised recovery programs for defendants with narcotic dependencies. This approach, inspired by the Puerto Rican model, acknowledges that the current prison system is an expensive “revolving door,” costing the state far more than targeted health interventions that could potentially resolve the thousands of processes currently stalled by minor infractions.

Vice President Raquel Peña and Minister of Culture Roberto Angel Salcedo officially opened the first Cibao Regional Book and Culture Fair 2026 on Sunday, 19 April 2026. Hosted in the gardens of the Gran Teatro del Cibao, the event serves as a cultural nexus for the 14 provinces of the northern region, aiming to strengthen historical ties and showcase the literary and artistic wealth of the central Cibao Valley region.

The fair, which runs from 19 April to 26 April 2026, was proposed by Santiago Senator Daniel Rivera to the Vice President, a Santiago native.

The inaugural regional edition is dedicated to the memory of former President and intellectual Ulises Francisco Espaillat, marking the 150th anniversary of his administration.

A commitment to cultural decentralizationDuring the opening ceremony held at the Restauración Hall of the Grand Theater, Vice President Peña...

Dominican national basketball team member Karl-Anthony Towns led the New York Knicks to their first playoff victory of the season.

Towns played a pivotal role in the Knicks’ 113-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on 18 April 2026.

The next game is scheduled for 20 April 2026. As of 19 April 2026, Karl-Anthony Towns is currently leading the New York Knicks through the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs following a productive regular season.

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Court Vision

20 April 2026

Preparations for the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 are accelerating following the delivery of two major venues. Last week, the Ministry of Housing and Edifications (Mivhed) officially handed over the fully remodeled gymnastics and table tennis pavilions, signaling a significant milestone in the city’s readiness for the regional event.

Table tennis pavilionMivhed Minister Victor (Ito) Bisono delivered the renovated table tennis pavilion located within the Parque del Este sports complex.The extensive renovation focused on both structural integrity and technological upgrades, including:• Capacity: Stands designed to accommodate 1,344 spectators, including a dedicated VIP area.• Infrastructure: Complete maintenance and painting of the roof structure, alongside generalized interior and exterior lighting.• Facilities: Modernized electrical...