Wednesday, 21 January, is the Feast of Our Lady of High Grace, the Protector of the Dominican Republic. For the occasions, thousands travel east to honor the Virgin Mary at the Basilica in Higuey. The government has declared Wednesday a national non-working holiday. Nevertheless, the holiday will be followed by the Duarte Day celebrations that turn the upcoming weekend into a long weekend. The Duarte Day holiday falls on a Monday, 26 January.
The Center for Emergency Operations (COE), working with the provincial governor’s office of La Altagracia, announces the start of traffic control and assistance as of Monday, 19 January 2026 after 2pm on the highways and roads leading to the Basilica of Our Lady High Grace in Higuey, the capital of La Altagracia province.
The operation will continue until 6pm Wednesday, 21 January. Some 9,000 agents and volunteers will be scattered along the highways and roads leading to the city of Higuey.
In an attempt to reduce traffic accidents and to care for those involved in accidents, there will be nearly 100 ambulances on hand, and over 300 aid station placed along the routes that lead to the Basilica. Civil Defense and units from the Dominican Red Cross will also be on hand, together with mobile repair vehicles and at least seven tow-trucks. Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fernandez Onofre has placed a helicopter at the service of the COE.
Given the massive number of persons that will circulate around the Basilica, there will be three rings of assistance: just outside, there will be members of the Fire Departments Fast Action teams, Civil Defense teams, and members of the Red Cross; on the esplanade around the Basilica, there will be tents for pre-hospital case and at least two ambulances on hand; and inside the Basilica there will be a fixed aid station with roving personnel that can assist persons overcome by excitement or the heat.
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Diario Libre
19 January 2026