DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Ministry of Interior and Police announced guidelines for a new comprehensive initiative that seeks to improve motorcycle safety and reduce traffic fatalities. This comes in response to alarming statistics highlighting the role of motorcycles in both accidents and crime. Many similar measures have been announced in the past with minimal implementation.

The authorities have pledged to draft legislation for the helmet certification law and traffic training programs within the next six months, with the first awareness campaigns expected to launch in late 2025.

Announced at the First National Forum for Responsible Motorcycle Use, the proposals include a mandatory requirement for all new motorcycles sold in the Dominican Republic to come equipped with a certified protective helmet and proper registration from the Tax Agency (DGII).

The forum was organized by the...

Celso Juan Marranzini / Hoy

The ongoing crisis in Haiti, characterized by widespread gang control, represents an “immense and multidimensional risk” to the Dominican Republic, according to Celso Juan Marranzini, president of the National Business Council (Conep). Marranzini made the statements as the private sector and civic society meets government for the Social and Economic Council (CES) talks that open at the Ministry of Foreign Relations convention center on Thursday, 5 June 2025.

Marranzini, spoke to reporters on the day before and emphasized the urgent need for the Dominican Republic to prioritize the Haitian situation as a matter of national security. “A country controlled by gangs is the greatest threat the country and the region face,” he stated, highlighting the direct impact on security, the economy, and stability not only for the Dominican Republic but for the...

Former Dominican ambassador to the United States, economist and historian Bernardo Vega sees a deterioration of the crisis in Haiti with no solution in sight. He writes in Acento that it appears that President Trump, who has expressed reluctance to address the Haitian problem, will only change his mind if thousands of Haitians take to the sea to reach Florida, as happened in 1994 when thousands were even sent to Guantanamo Bay.

Vega mentions that last week, gangs took control of the Malpasse customs post, just west of the Jimani customs post, in the past the main entryway for Haitians and Dominicans, given the proximity to Port-au-Prince, the capital. Today, the area is controlled by the gangs or “terrorists” who charge tolls to allow the mobility of goods.

In recent years, most Dominican exporters have been delivering their goods on this side of the border in...

US President Donald Trump issued an official ban on entry of citizens of 12 countries, including Haiti. The announcement increases the migratory pressure impacting the Dominican Republic, that has a 391 km land border with Haiti. Exceptions are to be made, for example for the World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States.

Trump said the ban is to “protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.”

The President was reacting to a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado where 12 people were injured when an Egyptian man attacked a group that had gathered in support of Israeli hostages.

The ban is set to begin on 9 June 2025 and will apply to citizens of Afghanistan, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

The move was announced from the Oval Office.

Read...

Iván Mejía / El Día

Once the dominant supermarket and megastore chain, the Grupo Ramos of La Sirena and former Pola fame, now operates 82 Multicentros, Multiplazas, Sirena Markets and Aprezio stores nationwide. Just recently, the new executive president of the group, Ivan Mejia announced that the chain will have 200 stores nationwide by 2030. That means that more of the Grupo Ramos’ Multicentro, Multiplaza, Sirena Market and Aprezio branded stores will be opening in smaller towns and nearer to where you live. He said the company will be investing upwards of US$200 million in the expansion.

The company also continues to renovate stores in prime locations, such as the Multicentro Churchill on Av. Winston Churchill in front of Blue Mall.

The chain has been in operation for 60 years. It employs more than 8,000, mostly young people.

The announcement comes at a time...

The case that charged Venezuelan Karla Moya Boada of irregularly practicing medicine in the Dominican Republic could continue in the judiciary if the case is moved to the Supreme Court of Justice. The question is who will present the case to the Supreme Court of Justice?

Journalist Nuria Piera had presented evidence on her investigative journalism program that the Venezuelan was not a graduate of medicine from Venezuela, but two of three judges (Judges Arlin Ventura Jiménez (presiding) and Leticia Martínez Noboa (substitute president), did not admit the evidence.

What stands is that after the decision of the court of appeals, the case could still be appealed to the Supreme Court of Justice. The Supreme Court of Justice would then need to admit the case if considering there is a motive of public interest or important legal standards are at play.

As per Dominican law, the...

Jean Montero / Listín Diario

Dominican national team basketball star Jean Montero once again made the difference, this time leading Valencia Basket to the Spanish League semifinals with a remarkable 36 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. Montero, who played 21 minutes, was the undisputed leader on the court, breaking early career records and securing Valencia’s ticket to the next round. In the Liga Endesa semifinals, Valencia will now face La Laguna Tenerife.

Valencia Basket clinched the hard-fought 94-102 victory against Dreamland Gran Canaria, overcoming a near decade-long winless streak in Gran Canaria. The game went into overtime after a fierce battle, with Valencia ultimately winning.

While no single player logged more than 20 minutes (except for Montero’s 21), all eyes were on Montero, who not only scored 36 points but also contributed significantly in...

Gaila González / El Día

In an electrifying game at the start of the FIVB’s Volleyball Nations League championship in Ottawa, Canada, the Dominican Republic’s Caribbean Queens came from behind and defeated Serbia in game five (3-2).

19-year old setter Ariana Rodriguez explained in a post-game interview that after the team won the third set 25-15, confidence was regained to forge ahead and win the match. The game partials were 26-28, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, and 18-16.

Coach Kwiek said: “It was an important victory, coming from behind. We pushed it to a fifth and took the game. We played a first set, second set, lowered our guard with three errors, and came back strong,” he said.

Ariana Rodriguez sait that after game three, the team “turned on the gears.”

She said for the next game: “We need to be aggressive and dominant throughout the entire game.”

The DR is...

The Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel), in coordination with the ministries of Defense, Culture, and Education, has launched the “Sovereignty 4.0” project. The project seeks to mitigate radio spectrum interference in Dominican border zones caused by Haitian stations through technical enhancements to local broadcasters and the active promotion of Dominican identity and culture.

The Haitian stations reflect the large audience of the large Haitian migrant population in the border provinces. The initiative aims to reinforce national identity and access to local content in the country’s border communities.

During the launch event, Indotel’s president, Guido Gómez Mazara, highlighted that foreign radio stations’ interference on Dominican soil impacts local broadcasters’ operations and poses a threat to the country’s cultural sovereignty and national identity. He noted...

Ambassador Victor Suarez presenting credentials to Pope Leo XIV / Hoy

The Dominican Republic should soon be able to clarify the possible ancestry ties of new Pope Leo XIV with the country now that Ambassador Victor Suarez has presented credentials.

When presenting his letters of credence to Pope Leo XIV on 3 June 2025, Dominican ambassador Victor Valdemar Suarez Diaz also invited the new Pope to visit. The Presidency reports that Suarez told the Pope: “It would be a prophetic sign, Holy Father, if in this Jubilee year, you were to become the first pontiff since Saint John Paul II to set foot on Dominican soil, blessing our ongoing peace efforts.”

The Presidency reported that when Ambassador Suarez extended the invitation to the Pope, he emphasized that the visit would not only for the Pope to see the new Botanical Gardens of Santiago and...

President Luis Abinader explained that the increased supervision rates of the Ministry of Housing and Building (Mived) will fund enhanced construction inspections on behalf of the government.

He responded to a journalist question about the increases in the rates made during the Monday, 2 June 2025 press conference.

“We have to better supervise all structures and simply to do that we are increasing the regular rates,” he said. He said the rates for supervision had been very minimal and had not been updated in decades.

The Abinader government has the lowest public capital investment in decades. A report in Diario Libre says the government is only investing big in sports ventures. The government is preparing to host the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games in summer 2026. The Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center is undergoing a major renovation.

According to data from the National System of Public Investment, capital investment between January-March 2025 was RD$12.8 billion, down from RD$52.6 billion for the same quarter in 2024, a 75% decline.

As the number of government entities has burgeoned in recent years, the availability of funds for capital investments has declined. The Abinader administration has resorted to private investments and public-private partnerships to carry out works that in the past had been fully-funded government capital investments.

Read...

María Elena Vásquez / Diario Libre

A recent study by the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (Pro-Competencia) reveals that three Health Risk Administrators (ARS) control 70% of the Dominican Republic’s health insurance market, raising concerns about competition and access to affordable care.

The report, titled “Study on Market Competition Conditions in the ARS Sector (2010–2024)”, also highlights that private ARS entities manage 85% of the funds for the Family Health Insurance System (SFS), which has seen its revenues surge from RD$24 billion in 2010 to RD$114 billion in 2023—a 363.24% increase.

Pro-Competencia president María Elena Vásquez said the report identified a 33% profit margin per affiliate for private ARS, based on a Lerner Index of 0.33. She called the finding a “wake-up call” for policymakers.

The high yields of the ARSs...

The Public Procurement Agency (DGCP) has recommended that the Office of the Comptroller General suspend all payments associated with approximately 150 contracts signed by the National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie) for school supplies.

This recommendation stems from an ongoing investigation into potential irregularities in three public bidding processes conducted by Inabie, a division under the Ministry of Education. As reported, the DGCP initiated the probe in April 2025 after detecting signs of foul play in the procurement procedures.

The preliminary findings point to anticompetitive practices including collusion among vendors; conflicts of interest among the tender-winning companies, and discrepancies in the domiciles provided by the companies winning the bids.

The DGCP also acknowledges the winning companies lack registration in the National Supplier Registry (RPE)...

Sevilla and Santo Domingo have formalized a sister-city agreement. The mayor of Sevilla, José Luis Sanz, and the mayor of Santo Domingo’s National District, Carolina Mejía, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday, 2 June 2025 at the Spanish city hall, officially declaring the sisterhood between the two capitals.

Interestingly, Sevilla owns up to having the remains of the discoverer of the Americas, Christopher Columbus. The Dominican Republic claims the remains rest in the Christopher Columbus Lighthouse in eastern Santo Domingo.

The sisterhood agreement paves the way for joint initiatives such as fairs, congresses, seminars, cultural and artistic exchanges, and collaborative tourism promotion and dissemination projects.

The ceremony was originally scheduled for early in April 2025, but was postponed after the devastating JetSet tragedy...

USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is deployed to a Latin American and Caribbean tour from June – August 2025 as part of US Naval Forces Southern Command/US 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2025 mission. Comfort is scheduled to visit Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Ecuador and Panama.

US military medical professionals will work alongside partner nation counterparts to provide direct patient care and technical expertise in community clinics to improve medical readiness and strengthen partnerships.

The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is departing from Miami, Florida on Wednesday, 4 June for the South and Central America deployment.

The Mercy-class hospital ship had not been on a similar mission since 2022.

Comfort’s deployment marks the 16th Continuing Promise, which began in 2007. It is the eighth time that Comfort...

Juan Herrera Project / El Caribe

In a press release, Precipitate Gold Corp. announced it has commenced an extensive ground-induced polarization (IP) geophysical survey over multiple zones within its 100% owned Juan de Herrera Project in San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic.

The large 2D pole-dipole IP geophysical survey will cover the four priority exploration targets in the southwestern farming province.

Jeffrey Wilson, Precipitate’s CEO explains that this type of geophysical surveying is a very effective tool for identifying potential gold and copper mineralization, often hidden at depth in the Dominican Republic’s Tireo formation volcanic rocks. “We look forward to completing the IP geophysical survey and assessing the data for future ground truthing and drill targeting,” he says in the press release.

The Juan de Herrera Project is owned 100% by Precipitate...

She was very much applauded for her participation in the record-breaking local Mamma Mia performances in Santo Domingo. It seems that after her very successful lead role (that of Meryl Streep) in Mamma Mia, Puerto Rico’s Miss Universe 2001, Denise Quiñones has decided to record a song she had written a long time ago and move forward with her career as a singer.

Follow the story: El Nacional Denise Quiñones – Sobre el Espacio

Diario Libre

4 June 2025

A new state-of-the-art venue designed for concerts and major events, the Santo Domingo Arena, will open its doors in August 2025 on Jacobo Majluta Avenue, directly across from the Jardín Memorial cemetery grounds in northern Santo Domingo, Noticias SIN reports.

Spanning over 50,000 square meters, the arena will seat approximately 12,000 people, positioning itself as one of the Dominican Republic’s premier entertainment venues.

Entertainment entrepreneur Saymon Díaz, who is behind the project, announced that the first confirmed event will be a concert by Argentine band Erreway on October 17th. Seven additional events have already been scheduled for the following months.

Diaz is most likely the leading show promoter in the country.

Over the years, Diaz has been a frequent renter of the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium, Virgilio Travieso Sports Palace, and Volleyball...

The Reinas del Caribe, the Dominican Republic’s senior women’s volleyball team, has traveled to Canada to participate in the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) first stage games.

The event is taking place 4 to 8 June 2025 at the TD Place in Canada’s capital city, Ottawa.

The DR is competing against host Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Serbia, and Bulgaria.

The DR’s first game will be against Serbia at 4pm on 4 June.

Diario Libre reports that Marcos Kwiek, the Brazilian longtime coach of the senior volleyball team, will be giving emerging players a chance to show their talents in the leading global tournament. He said the team hopes to improve its ranking, now at 11th, behind Serbia.

The best ranking ever by the Dominican senior team was 6th in 2021 when the team defeated Italy in the Nations League tournament.

Read...

A new National Police rollout was officially launched on Monday, 2 June 2025 with 1,100 agents wearing cameras and with specialized community interaction training. The pilot program across 137 urban areas aims to transform and modernize public safety services across the Dominican Republic, with an initial focus on the National District and Santo Domingo.

The first areas slated for reinforced surveillance are Naco, the Colonial City, and Los Mina in Santo Domingo East. The initiative will later expand to Santiago, the country’s second largest city.

The program’s launch, led by President Luis Abinader, showcased a significant upgrade in police operations. New uniforms, body cameras, non-lethal weapons, and multi-purpose belts were unveiled, signaling a “before and after” moment for the institution.

Speaking on the occasion of the start of the...

The Dominican Republic solidified its position as a leading agro-export power in the Caribbean with the successful conclusion of business rounds at Agroalimentaria 2025, a trade fair organized by the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center (ProDominicana) and the Dominican Agribusiness Council (JAD), the Presidency reported.

The event, one of the region’s most important agri-food sector gatherings, generated business leads totaling US$528.6 million, marking a 28.9% increase in sales compared to the previous edition. This figure makes it the largest and most successful Agroalimentaria to date, according to ProDominicana Executive Director Biviana Riveiro Disla.

Riveiro also reported that beyond the business leads, the international fair attracted over 200 international buyers from 33 countries, underscoring global interest in Dominican agri-food products...

The Dominican government is stepping up to provide comprehensive support for families shattered by the recent Jet Set tragedy, where a roof collapse claimed the lives of an estimated 236 people. A multi-institutional committee determined that 232 households required immediate financial and ongoing psychological care.

The government assistance is parallel to more than 60 legal suits presented demanding financial reparations from the owners of the entertainment center. State investigators have yet to present a report on the causes of the collapse of the roof. Official tally of deaths is at 236, but a detailed report on the number of people at the club at the time has yet to be presented.

Meanwhile, the government authorities have established a RD$30,000 support fund for the selected affected families, to be disbursed over a six-month period. Gloria Reyes, director of...

President Luis Abinader announced the plan is for the Los Alcarrizos Metro (Line 2C of the Santo Domingo Metro) to be in operation as of February 2026. He said the trial run of the metro line will happen in September 2025.

Speaking during the Monday, 2 June 2025 press conference, and responding to a journalist questioning the delays in the completion of the line, he referred journalists for more explanations to the Epsa Labco engineering firm that is responsible for the supervision of the metro line. Alstom of France and Spain is supplying the metro cars.

The Metro line would have been in operation in 2024, but corrections have had to be made to enable its completion.

Follow the story: La Semanal 3 June Epsa Labco ...

Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful declared the Dominican Republic is the safest country in the Caribbean and ranks among the top ten safest nations in Latin America according to citizen security indicators, when speaking on occasion of the formal start of a new Police patrol model.

Raful made the remarks emphasizing the nation’s commitment to maintaining its low crime rates through “humility, vocation, and unwavering dedication,” alongside robust training for new officers.

“Citizen security indicators consistently place the Dominican Republic as the safest country in the Caribbean and among the top ten safest in Latin America. We are committed to continuing this positive trajectory, focusing especially on the training and oversight of all personnel involved in public safety,” stated Minister Raful.

As part of the new patrol strategy, the National Police will...

Radar installed in Puerto Plata / El Día

The Presidency used the 2 June 2025 press conference to announce the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season and the preparations the government has advanced, including the operation of the radars in Punta Cana on the East Coast (Punta Cana International Airport) and that in Puerto Plata (Isabel de Torres Mountain) on the North Coast.

President Luis Abinader called for people living in vulnerable areas to leave these in case of a weather threat when these are announced by the more precise weather forecasting that is possible thanks to the radars.

The weather radars installed are of the Doppler C-band that uses C-band frequencies (4-8 GHz) to detect and measure various weather parameters, including precipitation, wind speeds, and the movement of storms. C-band radars are particularly effective at penetrating through moderate atmospheric...

Wander Franco / Diario Libre

Suspended Tampa Bay slugger Wander Franco faces serious charges including sexual abuse and human trafficking involving a 14-year-old girl during his trial underway in Puerto Plata, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The case came to the open when the child complained she was not getting her fair part of the deal that had the complicity of at least her mother. In addition to the baseball player, the victim’s mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, is also charged with alleged sexual exploitation and money laundering.

The start of the actual trial was initially slated for December but was postponed for June 2025.

If convicted, Franco and the mother of the minor could face up to 30 years in prison.

24-year old Franco, who was an All-Star in 2023 before the allegations emerged, told judges he seeks “justice to be done.”

The US media...

Paris Olympic gold medalist Marileidy Paulino capped off an impressive weekend by winning the 200-meter dash during the third day of the Grand Slam Track (GST) 2025 at Philadelphia’s iconic Franklin Field on Sunday, 1 June 2025. Paulino clocked a seasonal best time of 22.46 seconds, solidifying her dominance in the tournament organized by athletics legend Michael Johnson.

She was the long sprints champion of the meet. The win in Philadelphia also means cash prizes of US$100,000 for each race for Paulino, or US$200,000 over the weekend.

Isabella Whittaker of the United States placed second with a time of 22.82 seconds, followed by Jessika Gbai in third with 22.85 seconds, and Salwa Eid Nasser in fourth with 22.90 seconds.

Marileidy Paulino is the first and only winner of an Olympic gold medal for the Dominican Republic. Her weekend performance earned her...

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launched a new Tourism Task Force during the Plenary Meeting of the Americas Business Dialogue (ABD). The meetings were held in Santo Domingo.

The ABD is a private sector-led initiative facilitated by the IDB that promotes high-level dialogue between governments and the private sector in the region to advance development-focused policies. This strategic partnership between the IDB and WTTC outlines a roadmap to shape public policy recommendations, mobilize investment, and scale solutions that benefit communities and tourism destinations.

The Tourism Task Force initially gathers 22 companies, including Marriott International, Copa Airlines, Grupo Aviatur, The Leading Hotels of the World, Anato Colombia, Carnival Cruise Line, COHEP, and Grupo PuntaCana, among others.

The Task Force will convene...

President Luis Abinader announced in Samana advances on the construction of the Samana Port, the US$68 million joint venture of the Dominican government and the Mexican cruise terminal company, ITM Group. ITM Group has built and operates the Puerto Plata city Taino Bay and the beach port in Cabo Rojo, Pedernales on the southwest coast.

Mauricio Hamui, CEO of ITM Group, the company leading the project, expressed his honor in participating in Samaná’s sustainable transformation. “The arrival of major cruise lines will bring new economic opportunities and dynamism to the region,” he said.

The new port is constructed on the south side of the Samana peninsula, a 10 km drive west from Samana City, at the site of the old Duarte Port in Arroyo Barril. It will have capacity for two Oasis class cruise ships.

The Oasis Class ships are a class of...

With a call for unity of the Samana population, President Luis Abinader inaugurated the renovated Samana waterfront, the Santa Barbara de Samana Malecon on Sunday, 1 June 2025. He urged the residents of Samaná province to unite and work together with the government for the comprehensive development of the region. He emphasized the potential of ongoing central government projects to boost the area’s competitiveness as a tourist and economic destination.

The Samaná Malecón project includes hydraulic solutions to mitigate flooding during heavy rains, as well as the comprehensive revitalization of the urban and leisure space. It encompasses 1.3 kilometers of the Samana Bay oceanfront in the municipality of Samaná.

The project features 1.1 km of bike lane, benches and chairs of polished concrete, sidewalks with fiber-reinforced concrete, universal accessibility ramps...

The Dominican Republic is a world leader in the business of wedding tourism. Statistics presented at the recent International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals indicate the country is number one in destination weddings in the insular Caribbean and Central American region and number four worldwide.

And wedding tourism is not, according to Tourism Minister David Collado, a small business by any means. According to the minister, this is a US$90 billion-dollar industry.

The Dominican Republic hosted the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals 2025 Destination Wedding Congress from 26 to 29 May 2025. The world wedding tourism congress was attended by over 400 professionals tied to the industry.

The president of the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals, Kitzia Morales, noted that the Dominican...

Uber has partnered with Aerodom, the managing company at Las Americas International Airport (AILA – SDQ) and Sichala, the airport’s taxi company, to enhance mobility at AILA and provide a better experience to travelers.

Effective immediately, travelers landing at SDQ will encounter clear signage guiding them to designated Uber pickup points. These areas are differentiated for premium service Uber Select and other options like UberX, Comfort, UberXL, and Uber Planet.

“We understand how crucial it is for tourists to feel comfortable and well-oriented upon reaching a new destination,” said Laura Santillán, general manager of Uber for Central America and the Caribbean. “Through this partnership with strategic allies, we aim to make that first journey from the airport easier and more accessible. This alliance further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to...

Twenty-three of 34 voting countries for the executive council of the United Nations Tourism gave a yes to Shaikha Al Nowais to become the next Secretary-General from 2026. The position still needs to be confirmed by the UN Tourism General Assembly in November 2025.

Following protocol, the executive council elected Shaikha Al Nowais as the next Secretary-General, to begin in January 2026. The nomination represents a landmark first for the sector, as the first woman leader of UN Tourism in its 50-year history.

Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais is an Emirati business leader with over 16 years of experience in global hospitality. As corporate vice president at Rotana Hotels, she has overseen owner relations across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Turkey. A graduate of Zayed University in Finance, she also chairs the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group and serves...

Resolution 9-2025 authorizes the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to issue a single standard format effective 1 July 2025. This reform eliminates the previously available “extract” and “extensive” formats for birth, recognition, marriage, divorce, and death certificates. The new measure aims to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and improve citizen access to these essential services.

The civil status documents are available at National Registry Civil Status offices, both domestically and via JCE’s Overseas Service Offices.

The change is expected to reduce bureaucratic delays and simplify document issuance, addressing previous complexities that sometimes hindered citizen understanding and access.

New Fees for Civil Registry Documents

The JCE also announces adjusted fees for civil registry documents:• Birth certificate: RD$600• Recognition certificate...

The Central Electoral Board (JCE) issued Resolution No. 9-2025 authorizing a significant increase in fees for its services both domestically and abroad, effective 1 July 2025. The price hikes range from 17% to 150%. The new fees were announced on Sunday, 1 June 2025.

Justifying the measures, the JCE cited the need to adjust costs associated with various procedures offered through departments such as the Civil Registry, National Identification Office, Electoral Registry Department, Legal Consultancy, and the Secretary General.

Notable increases include:• Cédula certification for DGII (Tax Agency): Up a whopping 150% from 1,000 to 2,500 pesos.• VIP electoral registry certification service: Doubling from 500 to 1,000 pesos.• Cédula ertification for legal purposes: Increasing 67% from 1,500 to 2,500 pesos.• Cédula certification for public ministries (fiscalías): Also up 67%, from 1,500 to 2,500...

Roberto Alvarez / El Caribe

Foreign Relations Minister Roberto Alvarez announced the Dominican Republic and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB) will host the 5th Business Summit of the Americas in early December 2025. This event, a precursor to the 10th Summit of the Americas to which heads of government are invited, will bring together business and political leaders to promote private enterprise and sustainable development. The event will be held in Punta Cana.

Among the issues that will be discussed is the management of the mining of rare earths and other strategic minerals, the conditions needed to secure investments which will touch on security and the future of the region’s financial systems.

The announcement was made after a successful meeting of the Americas Business Dialogue, hosted by the IADB and the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santo Domingo. These talks...

This past weekend, President Luis Abinader was able to provide property certificates to well over 800 person in 21 different sectors of West Santo Domingo and East Santo Domingo. The President told the assembled crowd that his plan is to convert the Dominican Republic into a nation of property owners.

In fact, he said that he intends to deliver as many as 75,000 property deeds between 2025 and 2026. He praised the directors of such agencies as the State Sugar Council, and National Assets who are the spearheads of the drive.

In general terms, the program provides deeds to houses that have been built on state lands, in many cases, and guarantees a roof for needy families.

During his busy round of activities, Luis Abinader also cut the ribbon on the remodeled building housing the remnants of the Sugar Council (CEA), National Assets, and the State...

Santiago’s public transportation system has taken a significant step forward with the formal integration of the Metropolitan Bus Services Office (OMSA) into the Integrated Transportation System (SIT).

The introduction of 23 new buses, to operate on designated corridors, allows passengers to access both buses and the cable car with a single payment of RD$35 (approximately US$0.60). The buses are equipped with GPS systems, video surveillance cameras, and direct connection to the National Emergency System 911. These units join 16 already in operation, bringing the total to 39.

The vehicles will service feeder routes to and from the Santiago cable car’s Terminal Two, expanding the SIT network to over 100 miles (162 kilometers). The new buses have accessibility features, including ramps for passengers with mobility disabilities, positioning them as part of the...

On Friday, 30 May 2025, the Center for Industrial Development and Competitiveness (Proindustria) formalized an inter-institutional agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Loyola Polytechnic Institute. The pact aims to accelerate innovation in the Dominican Republic’s manufacturing industry by strengthening the startup ecosystem.

The agreement establishes the Startup Ecosystem Development and Acceleration Program, an initiative focused on fostering industrial entrepreneurship through training, mentorship, and innovative prototyping for the benefit of the national manufacturing sector.

With a national and inclusive focus, the program aims to train at least 100 Dominican industrial entrepreneurs in startup-oriented methodologies and support 20 of them in developing and...

Effective Monday, 2 June 2025, the Migration Agency (DGM) is no longer accepting cash payments for migration services and procedures for both national and foreign citizens.

Navy Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, who is the director of Migration, highlighted that this policy aligns with their commitment to responsible, efficient, and transparent public administration.

In a statement, the institution clarified that all payments must be made via credit or debit cards, bank deposits, or through their official digital platform. This measure is part of the quality objectives outlined in the Institutional Strategic Plan and the strengthening of administrative controls within its management system.

To assist individuals without bank cards, the DGM now has a consultation module for people to calculate the service fees and administrative charges needed for the...

Ambassador Henry T. Wooster / Wikipedia

The office of the US Secretary of State has announced that Ambassador Henry Wooster will take on the role of Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Haiti beginning 12 June 2025. Ambassador Wooster has been charged with leading a whole-of-government approach to US policy on Haiti. The US Secretary of State says that he is will work with the US partners across the globe, who are providing critical support to Haitian security forces.

The US Secretary of State office explains that Ambassador Wooster has had a long and distinguished career, including service at US Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and as Ambassador to Jordan. He has also served in the United States Army. He holds an M.A. from Yale University and a B.A. from Amherst College.

Wooster is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. He...

Albert Ramdin / El Caribe

The new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Surinamese Albert Ramdin, said he would take an “action-oriented” approach when dealing with beleaguered Haiti during his assumption of office speech on 30 May 2025. He said he was committed to shaping an OAS that is more agile, cost-efficient, responsive and impactful.”

Ramdin was elected on 10 March. He had served as assistant secretary general from 2005 to 2015. Ramdin had championed the case of Haiti when he was assistant secretary of the OAS.

Ramdin’s assistant secretary general will be Laura Gil, of Colombia.

At the time of his appointment, he had been serving as minister of foreign relations for Suriname.

He has ample experience with the OAS. After serving as Suriname’s permanent representative to the OAS from 1997 to 1999, Ramdin was principal advisor to OAS...

The Dominican government through its commercial bank (Banco de Reservas) for decades has facilitated low cost borrowing for new cars in the Dominican Republic. The results are showing. Diario Libre reports that the DR now ranks third in Latin America for vehicles per capital.

With a population of over 11 million, the country now boasts 6,081,697 registered vehicles as of September 2023, a nearly 25% increase over the last four years.

This surge in vehicle ownership, outpacing population growth, has led to noticeable traffic congestion in major cities and strained the nation’s otherwise impressive road infrastructure. The Dominican Republic now has 507.8 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, trailing only Argentina (590) and Brazil (521). This stands in contrast to the regional average of 200 vehicles per 1,000 people as reported by the United Nations’ Economic...

Tensions escalated in the Dominican Republic’s northcentral Cotui region in Sanchez Ramirez province on 30 May 2025 with clashes between local residents and Dominican security forces. Community members have protested against the expansion of the Barrick Pueblo Viejo gold mine.

The mine operators have received government clearing to build infrastructure for a second tailings dam in the province. Populations in other provinces were adamant on not allowing the tailings dam to be built there given the real environmental risks that come with the permanent open sky storing of the toxic mining wastes.

As reported in Diario Libre and Listin Diario, the demonstrations, fueled by environmental and social concerns, were met with tear gas, live ammunition, and reports of militarization, drawing international attention to the long-standing conflict between the mining company and...

After the airing of the El Informe con Alicia Ortega that revealed inappropriate conduct and alleged sexual harassment impacting several female gymnasts, the Gymnastics Federation (Fedogim) ordered the Olympic Gymnastics Academy, a private gymnastics school, to suspend coach Julio Angeles. Angeles also served on the Gymnastics Federation executive committee.

OGA is the private academy of Yamilet Peña, the highest ranked Dominican gymnast. Peña by then had already removed Angeles from the gymn, as reported in Diario Libre. She said she is collaborating with the authorities.

In the El Informe con Alicia Ortega, a mother denounced what she knew of the irregular proceedings by the coach. Her daughter was a long time member of the gym and since 2020 had been on scholarship. The mother presented a complaint for sexual harassment to the Unit...

President Luis Abinader and Vietnamese Ambassador Le Quang Long / Vietnam Plus

Ambassador Le Quang Long presented credentials to President Luis Abinader on 29 May 2025. The Vietnam government release indicates President Abinader proposed enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly telecommunications, agriculture and high technology, the Vietnam News Agency of the Vietnam government reports.

As reported in the Vietnam Plus/VNA release, Ambassador Long affirmed his commitment to advancing bilateral relations to a new level, serving as a bridge to implement agreements reached during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to the Dominican Republic in last November 2024, a milestone in strengthening traditional friendship and boosting economic, trade and investment cooperation.

He called on the government of...

The Dominican Republic is witnessing a troubling trend: a steady increase in divorces while marriages decline, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic, as National Office of Statistics (ONE) data reveals. The higher divorce rates are primarily attributed to financial strain.

According to data from the National Office of Statistics (ONE), in 2024, there were 44,349 recorded marriages and 26,210 divorces in the country. This marks a significant shift from pre-pandemic trends, where the divorce rate hovered around 40% to 50%. Since 2021, however, it has surpassed 60%, meaning six out of ten marriages end in divorce.

Listin Diario reports that while marriage rates have declined overall, with only 4.11 marriages per 1000 inhabitants in 2024, divorce rates are climbing. Urban areas of the National District (capital city), Santiago, that is the second largest city, boast the highest divorce...

The start of dialogue on the “Haitian Crisis and its Implications for the Dominican Republic” at the Economic and Social Council (CES) has been rescheduled for June 5th, from June 3rd.

CES president Rafael Toribio announced the change in a statement, noting the first session will now take place at 4pm in the Professor Juan Bosch Auditorium of the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National Library.

Toribio emphasized that the talks represent a call for democratic maturity and the search for consensus in developing a national strategy to address one of the most complex and prolonged challenges in contemporary history.

He explained that the issues at hand have multiple dimensions requiring a multifaceted approach. As such, six strategic axes have been proposed: migration, bilateral trade, development of border communities, national security, international relations, and labor...

L 87/6.2-liter engine / GM Powered Solutions

There are many GMC Sierras and Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes and several Cadillac Escalades in circulation in the Dominican Republic.

Take note that the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a recall on 24 April 2025, for all General Motors vehicles with the L 87/6.2-liter engine, for model years 2021-2024. This recall (N252494001 and following) is for Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet vehicles with this engine. The recall has been made in three phases: first, for dealers, then for owners within the warranty period, and lastly for all vehicle owners.

This issue is serious. The L87 6.2L engine has a major flaw. The crankshaft is not at the correct tolerance, and the rod bearings tend to disintegrate, and the engines destroy themselves, leaving drivers stranded or worse. To appreciate...

Government justice and police system entities carried out a major raid in the Capotillo sector on the banks of the La Isabela River in the northern part of the National District. The Attorney General Office was represented by 45 prosecutors, and the National Drug Control Agency, the National Police and the Dominican Army put over 600 troops into the operation.

The twin objectives of the operation were to provide a safer, more peaceful environment to the neighborhood and to proactively fight crime.

As a result of their searches, the agents found drugs, money, and illegal slot machines. In a somewhat surprising discovery, the police and army units also found and seized a series of CCTV cameras that were in place illegally, and which were reportedly used to keep track on police and community members.

Together with the show of force, the Ministry of the...

A chaotic scene unfolded Wednesday, 28 May 2025 during a Migration Agency (DGM) raid on a Chinese-owned store, where authorities aimed to detain Haitian nationals working there without proper immigration status, Diario Libre reported.

The incident occurred at the Mudan store on Duarte Avenue in the capital city. Videos circulated online showing store owners and employees attempting to prevent the detention of Haitian workers and even assaulting the prosecutor assisting the DGM operation.

National Police officers deployed pepper spray to disperse the crowd that had gathered outside the store. A Chinese national also appears on the ground as bystanders help her.

Diario Libre reported that the raid that was carried out to identify and detain foreigners working illegally, primarily Haitians, resulted in chaos and violence when met with opposition from the store...

Marileidy Paulino / Bavaro Digital

The Dominican Republic’s Paris Olympics gold medal winner Marileidy Paulino once again showed her class and won first in the women’s 400m Grand Slam Track event held in Philadelphia, USA. She clocked in a season best with 49.12, defeating Nickisha Pryce of Jamaica (50.04) and Isabella Whittaker of USA (50.16). Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain (49.47) ran to the outside lane and was disqualified for lane infringement. Naser was the silver medal winner in the event in the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and has been Paulino’s main competitor since.

The Grand Slam Track events come with the highest cash prizes in athletics, or US$100,000 in the case of the 400m. The second place gets US$50,000 and the third place gets RD$30,000. The prize money is a significant increase over the Diamond League, where winners received US$10,000...

Karla Moya Boada, a Venezuelan national accused of illegally practicing medicine in the Dominican Republic, was acquitted due to a technicality, despite overwhelming evidence against her, N Digital reports.

The Ministry of Public Health shut down a first medical office where she operated, but then she opened a second parallel one as her case was held in court, N Digital reports, but this was not considered in the ruling calling for her acquittal from charges of irregularities.

N Digital explains that two crucial pieces of evidence were deemed inadmissible by the Second Collegiate Appeals Court:

University certification: A document from the South American university where she says she graduated as a physician, certifying that Moya is not a graduate of their institution.LinkedIn profile: Screenshots from Moya’s LinkedIn profile where she claims to be a lawyer...

In a recent episode of the morning talk show El Despertador on Channel 9, Chilean geographer Marcelo Lagos and US meteorologist John Morales emphasized that natural phenomena are not responsible for human disasters and tragedies. Instead, they explained that these events are more often the direct result of poor human decisions in planning, education, and prevention.

The experts agreed that prevention, education, and proper planning are the only truly effective tools to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events, which will continue to be a frequent and significant part of life on our planet.

“Talking about natural disasters or natural risks is almost archaic,” Lagos stated. He explained that blaming nature is a way of shirking responsibility, noting that “it’s evidently a political way of shifting blame onto nature and externalizing...

People have to admit it that this year the weather has been good. The sweltering heat of summer has been delayed. But now with still three weeks away from summer, it is getting as hot as it gets. The entire Dominican Republic is sweltering under a combination of Saharan dust, high humidity and plenty of sunshine.

Here are some tips on where to go to escape the heat, compiled in part from a recent El Dia feature.

Number one is Jarabacoa, a small town located in La Vega province and nestled in the foothills of the Central Mountains. It is often the gateway for trips up to the top of the Caribbean, the Pico Duarte.

Very good places to cool off in Jarabacoa are:

Jimenoa Falls, a must excursion. Located just off the road to Jarabacoa, the falls are easy to locate before reaching the town itself, off to the left with good signage along the way.

If you like golf, the local 9 is...

The Indiana Pacers finally outpaced the New York Knicks 125 to 108 in game six of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs and won the slot to match the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. It will be a first Final since 2000 for the Indiana Pacers. Pascal Siakam of the Pacers was named MVP of the series after recording 31 points and three blocked shots during the Saturday, 31 May 2025 game six in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The New York Knicks, who earned their two NBA titles in 1970 and 1973, remain in search of their first trip to the Finals since 1999. Dominican national basketball team player Karl Anthony Towns gave them a good shot at making the finals in 2025 and the team will certainly be one to reckon with in the next season.

The 2025 NBA finals start on 5 June 2025 and it has been announced they will be transmitted live for Dominican audiences on CDN Channel 37.

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