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The Passports Office (DGP) is set to move its main headquarters to the former Teleantillas building on Dr Defillo street in the National District. A first phase lease is being made with the purchase to be made in three years, Diario Libre reports. The agreement, valued at nearly US$6 million or around RD$360 million, was granted through a sole-source procurement process. The monthly rent would be for RD$10 million over the 36-month term. Diario Libre says this procedure raises questions about the selection method.
The move will see the passport agency occupy the renovated structure located at the intersection of John F. Kennedy Avenue and Doctor Defilló in the Los Prados sector. The building, originally constructed in 1982 with two floors and a basement, has undergone significant remodeling, including the addition of a third story built atop a steel beam structure.
As reported, the contract was awarded on 8 July, following a selection process that bypassed competitive...
There is much expectation for the announced presentation on the morning of Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at the Botanical Gardens by the Ministry of Public Works of the roadworks modernization plan addressing concerns the roadworks would impact the National Botanical Gardens of Santo Domingo.
Minister of Public Works Eduardo Estrella is scheduled to announce the project for the roadworks modernization. In response to generalized concern, President Luis Abinader said in his weekly press conference on Monday, 21 July 2025, that the roadworks “will not touch the Botanical Gardens.” Instead, he said a tunnel would be built.
The Minister of Environment had said earlier in the week that 0.01% of the Botanical Gardens would be impacted. The Botanical Gardens has around two million square meters.
A generalized uproar had demanded more information from the government. Most...
Kelvin Cruz / En Segundos
Minister of Sports Kelvin Cruz says he was not aware trees were being felled at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center to make way for venues for the Central American and Caribbean Sports Games 2026.
As reported in En Segundos, the controversy surrounding the felling of trees at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center in Santo Domingo has escalated, with Sports and Recreation Minister Kelvin Cruz publicly distancing himself from the intervention and expressing strong opposition.
“I found out through the media — after it had already happened. I was outraged and immediately called those responsible to demand an explanation. They told me the Baseball Federation requested the space, but I do not agree with what was done,” Cruz said during an interview on El Show del Mediodía on Monday, 21 July 2025.
According to journalist Moisés Mejía in Listín Diario, the...
President Luis Abinader issued Decree No. 396-25, officially approving the Implementation Regulations for Law No. 368-22 on Territorial Planning, Land Use, and Human Settlements. This marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to foster integrated and balanced municipal development across the Dominican Republic.
The announcement was made by Antoliano Peralta Romero, legal consultant to the Executive Branch. He highlighted the collaborative process behind the regulation, which saw input from various government institutions, including the ministries of the Presidency, Tourism, and Housing and Buildings. The draft, initially prepared by the Vice Ministry of Territorial Planning and Regional Development within the Ministry of Economy, underwent a public review and was extensively discussed in a process spearheaded by the Legal Consultancy of the Executive Branch...
Government officials announced several highly anticipated completion and operational dates for state projects, including Line 2C of the Santo Domingo Metro, the Las Parras prison and the Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City.
The announcements were made during the final session of the Business Forums 2025 on Government Management, titled “Challenges, Objectives, and Goals.” Ministers José Ignacio Paliza (Presidency), Sigmund Freund (Public Administration), and Carlos Bonilla (Housing and Edifications) provided updates on these crucial infrastructure and administrative initiatives.
After years of anticipation, Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza confirmed that the physical works for the Line 2C Metro extension, connecting Kilometer 9 to Los Alcarrizos, are expected to conclude by late summer or early autumn. This will pave the way for full operation by early 2026.
Minister of Housing and Edifications Carlos Bonilla announced that the first phase of the Las Parras...
Tourism Minister David Collado has announced the suspension of the proposed public trust for the Puerto Plata Cable Car, responding to mounting concerns from local communities and business owners who depend heavily on the tourism generated by the attraction. The Puerto Plata Cable Car has around a year closed as the government shuffles amidst optimization options.
President Luis Abinader had issued Decree 162-25 that established the Public Trust for the Management of the Puerto Plata Cable Car (FI-TEPP) with a duration of 40 years. The decree ordered that the Dominican State will serve as both trustee and beneficiary through the Ministry of Tourism, while Fiduciaria Reservas, S.A. will act as the trustee responsible for operations.
The decision to put the public trust on hold calls instead for a new phase of technical review aimed at ensuring its safety and operational...
The Dominican Republic’s tobacco product exports have reached an impressive US$1.34 billion annually, a figure that significantly surpasses pre-pandemic levels. President Luis Abinader announced the milestone during his “La Semanal con la Prensa” address on 21 July 2025, highlighting the industry’s robust recovery and growth.
This represents a remarkable US$400 million increase compared to 2019, firmly establishing tobacco as one of the country’s top three export products. Dominican cigars are globally renowned for their exceptional quality and rich tradition.
President Abinader emphasized that tobacco now accounts for 10% of all Dominican exports, trailing only gold and medical supplies. He underscored the international acclaim received by Dominican cigars, often considered the world’s best due to their superior quality, flavor, and artisanal craftsmanship.
“In...
The Dominican Republic’s imports from China have seen a significant jump in the first half of 2025, reaching US$2.59 billion. This marks a substantial 10.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024, when imports from the Asian giant totaled US$2.34 billion, as reported in El Nacional.
The surge of US$254.6 million positions China as the fastest-growing source of goods for the Dominican Republic, both in absolute and relative terms, among its primary trading partners. This growth solidifies China’s role as the Dominican Republic’s second-largest import partner, trailing only the United States and expanding its crucial influence on the nation’s productive and consumer sectors.
Long-established large stores in the Dominican Republic have repeatedly complained that the Chinese competitors have been allowed to take advantage of loopholes for importing goods paying low taxes...
The Senate passed the Penal Code that now moves to the Chamber of Deputies for approval. The present legislation closes on 24 July 2025 and reopens on 16 August 2025.
The Penal Code as approved is criticized for articles that would criminalize the right to social protests, allow the prescription of government corruption crimes and child abuse, release from legal responsibility to political parties and city governments, grant penal immunity to church representatives. The Penal Code also failed to incorporate the three exceptions for abortion.
Read more in Spanish:
The Chamber of Deputies has approved, in two consecutive sessions and with modifications, the organic bill that establishes the Ministry of Justice. The legislation now returns to the Senate for review of the amendments.
The bill aims to create and define the structure and responsibilities of the new ministry, that the government says will strengthen the country’s justice system.
According to one of its provisions, the Ministry of Justice will serve as the executive body responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and implementing powers delegated by the Constitution and laws to the Executive Branch. It will play a key role in supporting the judicial system both functionally and administratively, as well as in representing the State in legal matters.
The bill outlines the structure of the new ministry, which will include the following departments:Vice Ministry of Support and...
In response to what it calls the “passive and complicit” stance of congressional leadership and political parties, the civic watchdog group Participación Ciudadana is calling on the Public Ministry of the Attorney General Office to investigate current and former legislators who have not submitted their sworn asset declarations.
Participación Ciudadana is the local chapter of Transparency International.
Information obtained by Participación Ciudadana from the Chamber of Accounts reveals a significant number of lawmakers in violation of the law. Twenty deputies elected in 2024 and 78 who left office the same year have failed to file their declarations.
The list includes deputy Kinsberly Taveras, who has in her record being removed from the position as Minister of Youth during the first government of President Luis Abinader for questions as to the millions in...
The Police arrested a US citizen who is suspect of having thrown a dog to his death from an 11th floor apartment in the Bella Vista neighborhood. Animal protection units protested the happening and called for an investigation. As reported in El Nacional, the authorities also found another dog with visible signs of abuse in the possession of the US citizen at the time of his arrest.
Upon his arrest, the Police found a brown Doberman with visible neck injuries, further intensifying the accusations of animal abuse pending against him. The case is being handled by the Ensanche Naco Community Prosecutor’s Office.
The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Michael E. Williams. He was apprehended on Monday afternoon, 21 July 2025, by agents from the Department II of Animal and Environmental Protection (Anti Cuatreros) of the Central Investigation Department of the...
President Luis Abinader is set to travel this Tuesday, 22 July 2025 to Georgetown, Guyana, to take part in the launch of the Global Alliance for Biodiversity—an international initiative aimed at addressing the escalating environmental and climate crises.
According to an official statement from the Dominican Presidency, the summit, which runs from 23 to 25 July 2025, will mark a significant step in global cooperation to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable development.
The Dominican Republic will use the platform to highlight its leadership on environmental issues in both the regional and global arenas. The country plans to position biodiversity as a strategic asset for well-being, resilience, and sustainable economic growth.
The Global Alliance will bring together government leaders, multilateral organizations, private sector entities, academic...
President Luis Abinader in his 14 July 2025 press conference had said that the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Public Works were in charge of making a presentation of the roadwork that would be built. He spoke answering a question about the impact of the roadwork on the Santo Domingo Botanical Gardens park that has about 200,000 square meters. Unnamed technicians of the Botanical Gardens, and a former director of the park, have shared concerns that studies were underway for cuts in areas at the beloved city park.
During the La Semanal press conference on 21 July 2025, nevertheless, President Abinader would tell everyone to hold their horses and wait for the government presentation on 23 July 2025 at the Botanical Gardens.
He advanced: “The Botanical Gardens not only will not be touched, instead we will add 20,000 m2 to the North.” He...
President Luis Abinader took advantage of his weekly La Semanal press conference on 21 July 2025 to announce the inauguration of the Bani bypass road for 12 August 2025. The bypass is expected to shave at least half an hour off the driving time for those headed west. Those headed from Santo Domingo to Barahona will now be able to do so in less than two hours. The Baní bypass was the only one missing. The San Cristobal and the Azua bypasses are already in use.
The announcement follows a visit made by Minister of Public Works Eduardo Estrella to the bypass work areas on Monday, 21 July 2025, in the company of Listin Diario executive editor Miguel Franjul and reporters.
The Baní Bypass stretches over a distance of more than 20 kilometers, beginning in Ojo de Agua, in Paya, where it connects with the Sánchez Highway, and ending where it merges...
President Luis Abinader has convened the National Council of the Magistracy to review the performance of several Supreme Court of Justice judges.
On Friday, 25 July 2025 at 8pm, President Luis Abinader is scheduled to lead a session of the National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) at the Presidential Palace.
The meeting will focus on three major items:• Performance evaluations for four sitting justices of the Supreme Court: Blas Rafael Fernández Gómez, Pilar Jiménez Ortiz, Manuel Alexis Read Ortiz, and Moisés Ferrer Landrón.• Discussion of the vacancy left by Justice Napoleón Estévez Lavandier, who is the president of the Constitutional Court.• Selection of new members and alternates for the Superior Electoral Court, as the current members’ terms expire this month.
In addition to President Luis Abinader, the other voting members of the National Council of the...
29-year old Yamilex Hernandez of La Vega, Dominican Republic was named the winner of the Telemundo Miss Universe Latin America televised reality show, aired from Bogotá, Colombia. She had made the Top 5 of the Miss Universe Latin America, competing against Génesis Dávila (Puerto Rico), Gemmy Quelliz (RD), Laura Pérez (México) y Andrea Bazarte (México). Genesis Davila of Puerto Rico was the first runner up, and Gemmy Quelliz of DR the third runner up.
The event serves as a preparatory round for the Miss Universe 2025 that will be held in November in Thailand. But new rules of the Miss Universe pageant allow for the winner of the reality pageant to represent Latin America in the Miss Universe contest, No. 74. This means that the DR could have two candidates in the November Miss Universe contest.
The event was marred on the day before when the eight finalists were about to...
Four Reinas del Caribe, the world class senior volleyball team of the Dominican Republic, a Puerto Rican and a Cuban Olympian, will be sharing their experiences in sport and how what they have learned can apply to life in general. The event will take place 26 July 2025 at 4pm at the Escenario 360 of Galeria 360 mall on Av. John F. Kennedy.
Gina Mambru, of the Reinas del Caribe, says this is a panel during which the players will help others organize their own life paths. She highlights the importance of mentors and support groups, be they parents, coaches, or members of the sports federation to success in life in general.
The six Olympic volleyball players that will be telling their life stories and sharing insights will be Bethania de la Cruz, Gina Mambru, Camil Dominguez, Karla Echenique, Aury Cruz (Puerto Rico) and Mireya Luis (Cuba).
The panel will be...
Luis Bravo’s “Forever Tango”, the internationally celebrated entertainment event that has played to great acclaim in Europe, Canada, Asia, Mexico and throughout the United States (Broadway), returns to the Teatro Nacional in Santo Domingo for a showing on Friday, 25 July 2025. Forever Tango opened on Broadway June of 1997 for an eight-week engagement and ran for about 14 months, returning for other engagements in future years.
The performance in Santo Domingo will feature 14 world-class tango dancers, 11 musicians, including four playing the bandoneon, the bellows-driven free-reed musical instrument best associated with tango music. Dominican Maridalia Hernandez will be the guest performer.
Follow the story: YouTube Forever Tango Instagram Forever...
In a move aimed at boosting tourism and cultural exchange, Argentina has announced that Dominican citizens holding a valid United States visa will no longer need to apply for an Argentine visa for tourism purposes. The new resolution, published on 18 July 2025, streamlines entry for Dominicans, allowing for stays of up to 90 days. The start date has yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, the official resolution, detailed in Article 1, states: “Entry without an Argentine consular visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is authorized for foreign nationals of the Dominican Republic, holders of ordinary passports, when such entry occurs with the presentation of a valid and current visa for entry into the United States of America corresponding to a similar migratory category.”
This new measure applies exclusively to tourism and permits a maximum stay of 90...
Source: Expedia
Expedia, the leading accommodations booking engine, mentions the Dominican Republic first in its Instagram take on its hot list of 10 top islands for vacations. The list presents the top 10 islands that are trending for 2025, reflected in their billings for hotel accommodations.
The Hot List includes the Dominican Republic and the island destinations of Sardinia (Italy), Aruba, Paros (Greece), Koh Samui (Thailand), Fiji, Bali, Jamaica, Maldives, Oahu (Hawaii).
Follow the story: Instagram Expedia CDN
22 July 2025
The Dominican Republic officially unveiled its new global campaign “Dominicana smiles at you” ( Dominicana te sonríe) at a gala event at the iconic Faena Forum in Miami Beach on 17 July 2025. Designed to capture the warmth, authenticity and lively spirit of the Dominican people, the campaign invites travelers from around the world to discover why the Dominican Republic is more than just a destination ─ it’s a feeling.
Figures from across the travel and tourism industry, including top airline executives, over 200 tour operators and travel agents, and familiar faces from the worlds of television and sports. Attendees got an exclusive first look at the new campaign and heard updates on the country’s continued growth and evolution as one of the region’s leading travel destinations.
The launch event last week drew a mix of industry insiders and recognizable faces, including...
Juan Manuel Martin de Oliva and Monika Infante / MITUR
The Santo Domingo Tourism Cluster (CTSD) has elected Juan Manuel Martín de Oliva, long-standing vice president for tourism businesses at the Banco Popular Dominicano, as its new president for the 2025-2027 term. The election took place during a recent assembly on 18 July 2025.
Martín de Oliva, a seasoned professional with 27 years dedicated to the tourism sector within Banco Popular, expressed his profound commitment to his new role. “From Banco Popular, I have passionately and committedly supported the growth of tourism for 27 years, and I will do the same from the Cluster,” he stated. “For me, tourism is not just an industry; it is a tool for development, inclusion, and national pride. As a professional and a citizen, I have always felt like an ambassador for Dominican tourism.”
Martín de Oliva...
Protests are picking up, with many who love the Botanical Gardens telling the government a big “no” to reducing its size or the areas directly outside the city park’s fence.
In recent weeks and days, the issue has been whether the expansion of the Colombia Avenue would affect the grounds of the National Botanical Gardens.
A lot of the arguments surround the idea that getting traffic to move faster is more important than keeping a corner of the city park.
A technician at the Botanical Gardens told Hoy newspaper that the environmental service of the city park is at about 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide reduction. The park is also a shield against pollution by exhaust gases from cars and trucks. He said that “it is a filter for the air of Santo Domingo.”
In addition, the park preserves most of the native flora, and the area is obviously a wonderful...
The government continues the practice of issuing decrees ordering the payment of special pensions for the retirement of a selection of persons. The pensions compensate for the low levels of pension retirement that employees in general are awarded as part of the social security pension plans under financial entities that report high yields. The government has been slow in accessing the generally available pension plans and instead has resorted to selecting those who will get a good retirement by using its discretion powers.
The Presidency does not regularly list the decrees granting the pensions for public viewing.
Diario Libre reports President Luis Abinader granted special state pensions of RD$50,000 per month to another 116 persons in June 2025, a move that also increased the pensions of six other individuals. The provision, outlined in Decree 326-25 signed on 16 June...
People irregularly parked may return to find their vehicle towed away and a bill of RD$5,000 to get the vehicle back. The government has contracted a private towing company that will receive RD$4,000 for the towing and storage and the Digesett will receive RD$1,000 of the total billed. The fine covers the cost of towing, transportation, storage, and retention of vehicles removed from public spaces.
The measure goes into effect on 4 August 2025 in the Poligono Central, the dense commercial and residential area of the capital city. It is part of new actions to improve the flow of traffic under the RD Se Mueve program.
The state-managed trust Parquéat_RD announced on Sunday, 20 July 2025 that the new fee structure complies with Article 242 of Law 63-17 and is intended to improve traffic flow, reclaim public space, and promote urban mobility.
Since July 1, Parquéat_RD...
The USNS Comfort, a hospital ship serving as part of Operation Continuing Promise 2025, anchored in Puerto Plata this weekend and reportedly offered medical assistance to over 1500 persons on Saturday. The medical assistance was offered at the Javier Martinez Arias Polytech High School in Puerto Plata.
The visit, coordinated by the US Embassy and the Ministry of Public Health offered consultations in very broad spectrum of specialties. People were presented with medicines, vitamins, eyeglasses, and school supplies.
Naval captain Dan Reiher, the deputy commander of the vessel, told reporters that in addition to the 1,500 plus consultations at the school, there were 35 major surgical procedures carried out on board the hospital ship itself.
Patients had previously been examined and medically evaluated the day before. Specialists aboard the vessel even...
Taking part in a weekly breakfast at the Corripio Group, Minister of Education Luis Miguel De Camps stated quite clearly that school hours will not be changed in the immediate future to assist the DR Get Moving program initiated by the government just recently. This means that at the start of the school year, which is just around the corner, there will be hundreds of thousands of school children on the streets in the mornings and afternoons.
The minister noted that since the program to improve traffic flows in Greater Santo Domingo was in its first phase, he felt that it was wise to wait and see the results of the initial efforts such as changing the hours of government workers and eliminating left turns at key intersections.
So far, according to authorities, the elimination of left turns of Lope de Vega has helped reduce transit time along that route by 30%. After the first...
The Chamber of Deputies has approved, after a second reading, a legislative proposal that of people are in favor of the legislation, and there are several group that are opposed. The proposal was first introduced back in August 2024. The idea is to codify for once and for all, the many processes surrounding rental and lease agreements.
By clearly establishing such things as deposits, rental or lease terms, and obligations, the law seeks to end the seemingly infinite variations that have been created over the years by real estate brokers and property owners.
One of the prime concerns was the amount of surety deposits would be legal. According to reports, the deputies agreed on a three-month deposit. Upon learning of the approval of the legislative proposal, the Dominican Association of Housing Promoters and Builders (Acoprovi) heartedly approved, telling reporters that the...
Albert Ramdin accompanied by Lt General Gernandez Onofre / Diario Libre
In a high-level visit underscoring regional and international focus on border security and stability, Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), conducted an extensive tour of the land border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. He was accompanied by Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre (ERD), the Dominican Minister of Defense, the Presidency reports.
The delegation traveled from Pedernales province to Manzanillo, inspecting key surveillance and control points. The purpose of the visit was to gain a firsthand understanding of the overall border situation and to observe the coordinated efforts of Dominican state institutions, particularly those implemented by the Ministry of Defense through the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the...
On occasion of the recent touring of the border by the OAS Secretary General, Carlos Castillo urges a change in strategy to one where the successful operation of Codevi industrial park on the border be replicated. Writing in Diario Libre, he says the commercial wall is a proven path to a stronger border.
Castillo is a lawyer, political analyst and former consul in Port-au-Prince.
“Instead of building a concrete wall, imagine a ‘commercial wall’ along the Dominican-Haitian border. This isn’t just an idealistic notion; it’s a proven strategy, exemplified by the Codevi industrial park,” he writes. He highlights that “in these uncertain times, with renewed calls for physical barriers between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, it’s crucial to remember that a far more effective, durable, and humane “wall” already exists: a commercial wall.
“This isn’t theory; it’s a functioning reality. Codevi, an industrial park established by Grupo M in Ouanaminthe, just across the border from...
Gustavo Petro during his visit to Haiti / Noticias Telemicro
The newly appointed Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, toured the entire border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti (about 391 km) accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Lt. General Fernandez Onofre. The group traveled from Pedernales in the south to Montecristi in the north, observing the different checkpoints and migration controls along the border.
The Secretary General later spoke at the VIII Ministerial Meeting on Public Security that took place in Santiago de los Caballeros. In his comments, Ramdin echoed previous statements made by Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez and President Luis Abinader, in the sense that the international community needs to step up its efforts to bring peace and stability to Haiti. He was emphatic in calling for...
The number of births by Haitian mothers in Dominican public hospitals has significantly decreased, falling to 17% of total deliveries since the implementation of new immigration controls on 21 April 2025, Diario Libre reports. This marks a sharp decline from previous figures, when Haitian women giving birth at public hospitals fluctuated from 32 to 38% of total births.
The collaborative protocol, initiated by the National Health Service (SNS) and the Migration Agency, has had a noticeable impact on hospital delivery statistics. Data from the Health Services Information and Statistics Repository (Riess) reveals a steady decline in Haitian birthing mothers. The protocol accepts to continue the free birthing service, but once this is performed, the mother and child are deported to Haiti. The change in procedures also called for attending non-emergencies only of those with legal...
The wonderful cable car that offered tourists a thrilling trip up to the top of Isabel de Torres mountain in Puerto Plata city has been closed for nearly a year. The system had been refurbished at least twice since it opened more than 50 years ago. However, it appears that recent inspections have caused officials to take the cable cars out of service.
There is growing protest over the prolonged closure. Most of the protests came from the many merchants who sold items to tourists and whose livelihood depended on the operation of the system. There is a road up to the Botanical Gardens at the top of the mountain, but the ride up was the highlight that had people visiting.
It is, or was, aside from the beaches, one of the two most important natural tourist attractions on the North Coast, with the other being the 27 Falls at Damajagua.
In response to popular...
Former president of the Supreme Court of Justice Jorge Subero Isa, who is appointed to head the presidential commission for the La Fe neighborhood sports and residential development, shared some insights with the press on the ambitious redevelopment plans. At the center of the development are the plans for the reconstruction of the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium and the surrounding area. The project involves the rebuilding of the stadium to Major League Baseball standards.
Subero Isa explained to the press that the residential developments were added to make the project feasible.
As reported in Hoy, Subero Isa said the project is about much more than baseball. His opening statements set the tone for the press conference:“This is not just any commission.”“This is serious.”“President Luis Abinader is highly enthusiastic about this project and what it means for...
René Fortunato / Hoy
The name of Rene Fortunato is synonymous with historical documentaries on Dominican government and politicians in the Dominican Republic. Fortunato passed away on Friday, 18 July 2025. He was but 67. He died from a rare form of cancer.
Eighteen days before his passing, acclaimed Dominican filmmaker and documentarian René Fortunato had premiered his latest and final production, El Triunfo de la Democracia (The Triumph of Democracy), at the Sala Carlos Piantini of the Eduardo Brito National Theater.
This most recent documentary tells the story of how the Dominican Revolutionarey Party (PRD) made it to the presidency in 1978 and the racist campaign against PRD politician José Francisco Peña Gómez. It features historical events surrounding the rise to the Presidency of Antonio Guzman and historical events leading to the stepping down from the Presidency of...
57-year old Cristian Tiburcio died of health problems this past week. He is remembered as a master ceramic artist and leaves the legacy of the Casa Museo Tiburcio in the central city of Bonao, half-way between the south and north coasts. The eclectic and impressive Casa Museo Tiburcio turned his home into a ceramics museum.
La Casa Museo Tiburcio is described as a livable art gallery where every corner seems to tell a story. Designed and transformed by artist Cristian Tiburcio, this home-turned-museum is an explosion of color, form, and emotion. Every stairway, window, bed, and bathroom is adorned with ceramic art, making the entire house a dynamic, immersive experience.
Read more in Spanish:
Master drawer and painter Jose Cestero passed away on this weekend. He was 88 years old. He had an innate talent for drawing, portraying landscapes, attractions and situations with a different eye. His paintings are in thousands of homes of Dominicans who valued his skill with the brush and colors. He loved bright yellows, but equally painted the greens and the blues of Dominican landscapes and the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. He painted a series dedicated to Quixote. Cestero himself was a Quixote, who lived a free life as an artist.
In 2022, the Museum of Modern Art carried out a retrospective to honor the prolific painter.
Economist Alberto Veloz / MEPyD
New US tariff policies could significantly impact the Dominican Republic’s economy, according to economists and customs experts speaking at a recent colloquium, Listin Diario reported. The US has announced it will impose 10% tariff on imports from the Dominican Republic as of 1 August 2025.
The colloquium, hosted by the Padre José Luis Alemán, S.J. Center for Economic and Social Studies (CEPA) and coordinated by the Economic Analysis Team (EAE) of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), brought together leading voices to discuss the potential fallout.
Economist Alberto Veloz highlighted the Dominican Republic’s heavy reliance on free zone exports, particularly to the United States. In 2023 and 2024, these zones accounted for a striking 66% of the country’s total exports. “This could be a breaking point for our economy in the near...
Over the years, the boom of the free zone export plants, with their generous tax incentives and labor benefits, in the Dominican Republic has given the impression the country is a strong exporter. Nevertheless, economist Ellen Perez Ducy says exports of companies outside of the free zones have staggered. She finds there is a lot of myth to Dominican exports and urges the country focus more on becoming the power house of regional exports.
Perez Ducy writes in Diario Libre that the Dominican Republic’s goods exports doubled between 2014 and 2024, rising from US$6.8 billion to US$13.8 billion. Nevertheless, of these numbers, free zone exports were 60% of the total. Domestic exports, both agricultural and industrial sectors represented a modest increase of just US$1.22 billion over a decade and a half, while free zone exports grew by over US$4 billion.
Meanwhile...
Judge Samuel Arias Arzeno / Diario Libre
Santo Domingo will host the inaugural International Open Justice Conference on 27-28 August 2025, at the Hotel El Embajador. The Dominican Judicial Branch has organized the conference in line with national efforts to promote accessible and people-centered justice.
The conference serves as a vital platform for discussing and advancing initiatives that promote transparency within the justice system. With an emphasis on people-centered approaches, participants will engage in meaningful dialogues aimed at reforming and improving justice practices.
The conference will bring together national and international experts to showcase advancements in Latin America and the Caribbean while addressing ongoing challenges in the field of open justice.
This high-level regional event, organized by the Judicial Branch of the Dominican Republic...
Carlos Ruiz Massieu / X
Carlos G. Ruiz Massieu of Mexico is the United Nations new special representative for Haiti and head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). He succeeds María Isabel Salvador of Ecuador.
The appointment follows the extension of the BINUH mission in Haiti. The United Nations Security Council had decided on 14 July 2025 to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) until 31 January 2026 as Council members spotlighted the Office’s critical support to a country in the throes of multi-dimensional crisis.
In describing his background, the UN says that Ruiz Massieu brings to this position over 30 years of experience in public service and diplomacy, both in bilateral and multilateral contexts. As special representative of the Secretary-General in Colombia since 2019, he led the United Nations...
A rice transporting truck gave a lift to six undocumented Haitians as these made their way into the Dominican Republic. The truck was intercepted by the Army in Hatillo Palma, Montecristi province, on the northwestern border, Diario Libre reported.
The driver and assistant, the truck and the six Haitians were taken to the Fortaleza San Fernando and will be turned in to the Migration Agency for processing, deportation and legal actions.
Read more in Spanish Diario Libre
17 July 2025
National rescue services concluded the search for survivors of the capsizing of a small boat off the shores of Juanillo Beach in Punta Cana on Wednesday, 16 July 2025. Survivors say 40 to 50 men, women and children headed for Puerto Rico. Both Haitians and Dominicans were on the shipwrecked boat.
So far, the authorities say eight corpses have been found of people who were on the boat. A seven-year old child reportedly was onboard and drowned. He has not been identified.
As reported, the boat capsized because it was overloaded and impacted by the weather conditions.
Danilo Reynoso y Evelyna Rodríguez / Diario Libre
The groundbreaking SmartFilms festival, which champions the art of filmmaking using only mobile phones, has officially launched in the Dominican Republic. This marks the first time the innovative festival, born in Colombia, will be held in the Caribbean nation, Diario Libre reports.
Actress Evelyna Rodríguez and producer Danilo Reynoso are spearheading the festival’s arrival. “This is the world’s largest festival, and after three years of work, we can finally bring it to the Dominican Republic,” Rodríguez told reporters at a press conference.
Rodríguez emphasized the festival’s educational mission, stating that SmartFilms “has an academic agenda that will allow everyone to learn how to make films with limited resources and tell simple stories.” The festival targets a broad audience, including...
The Dominican Republic’s baseball players may get a shot at an Olympic gold medal now that baseball is included in the Los Angeles Olympic Games 2028. Baseball had not been included in three of the past four Olympic Games.
The Olympics’ baseball tournament would be played from 15 to 20 July 2028 at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The dates fall around the time the Major League Baseball holds its All Star festivities, a break time from the regular season. MLB says the All Star festivities would also be held.
The baseball Olympic tournament would be short. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is backing the tournament. This week, he told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America during a press conference: “I think it is an opportunity to market the game on a really global stage.”
“It is possible to play the All-Star Game in its normal spot, have a single...
The Dominican Republic team clinched the victory over Venezuela during the Serie del Caribe Kids 2025 played in La Guaira, Venezuela. The DR was the defending champion and won all its games. The tournament took place 7 to 13 July 2025.
The tournament is played by children 11 and 12 years from the DR, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Panama and Curacao.
The star of the evening for the Dominican team was Anyelo Feliz who said he was bothered he had struck out twice in the game. The DR was losing when Feliz slammed the pitch resulting in two runs and the win for the DR in the last inning.
Feliz delivered six home runs during the series. He was named the MVP of the Series.
The next Caribbean Series Kids will be held in 2026 in Curacao.
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