DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

President Luis Abinader announced during his weekly press conference on Monday, 19 May 2025 that a major road security pact will be soon announced as a major step towards the reduction of traffic accidents and reduction of traffic jams. Abinader said the initiative seeks to unify efforts among the government, private sector, and civil society to tackle the nation’s pressing challenges in traffic management and road safety.

“The pact is quite advanced; some arrangements are being made to launch it in the coming weeks. I believe it should be launched in June,” President Abinader stated. He emphasized that the pact will be supported by extensive studies designed to improve both road safety and traffic flow, noting that “the two things go hand in hand.”

A first “National Pact for Road Safety” was initially unveiled by the government in November 2024, following the...

Starting this Monday, 19 May 2025, the Tax Agency (DGII) is enforcing a 2% retention on all sales made via credit and debit cards, regardless of the business’s size.

The measure is outlined in General Norm 06-2023 and its supplementary regulations, and is part of recent adjustments to the ITBIS (Value Added Tax) retention scheme. This means that every electronic transaction made with a card at a business is now automatically subject to this deduction by the tax office.

While authorities justify the move as a step towards greater economic formalization and a crackdown on tax evasion, the 2% retention is already sparking concerns among productive sectors. There’s worry that it could discourage the use of credit and debit cards, potentially impacting electronic transactions across the country.

In recent years, businesses are encouraging payment via bank transfers.

Read...

The Tax Agency (DGII) issued Notice 12-25 extending the deadline for the mandatory implementation of Electronic Invoicing for Large Local and Medium Taxpayers by six months. The notice moves the deadline for obligatory compliance from 15 May 2025 to 15 November 2025.

The DGII, nevertheless, announced that the extension applies only to taxpayers who have already initiated the implementation process. Those who have initiated the process will automatically get the extension.

The DGII says that after the six-month extension period has expired, taxpayers who have not completed the process to become electronic invoice issuers will be subject to the penalties established under Law 32-23.

This is the second extension given to large and medium-sized companies. The first was in April 2024.

There is concern about the implementation of the system in small businesses...

The “Juan Sebastián de Elcano,” the Spanish Navy’s emblematic training ship, sailed into Santo Domingo’s port on Monday, 19 May 2025, with the Spanish royalty heiress Princess Leonor of Borbón on board as part of her military training. Her father, today King Felipe VI had also visited on the same tallship during his training years.

The brigantine-schooner, one of Spain’s most iconic vessels, traveled here from Colombia.

Princess Leonor is the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. As such, she is the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne, holding the title of Princess of Asturias. This means that upon her father’s eventual abdication or death, she is next in line to become Spain’s Queen. Her military training, including this transatlantic voyage, is a crucial part of her preparation for her future role as head...

Former President Leonel Fernandez was in Washington, D. C. for the 17 May 2025 graduation of his 21-year-old daughter, Yolanda America Maria Fernandez Cedeño. This is his daughter with former Vice President Margarita Cedeño, born in 2003 during his third term in office. Cedeño would go on to be the vice president in the Danilo Medina’s governments.

Yolanda Fernandez Cedeño received a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from George Washington University in Washington DC.

For the occasion, her parents took to social media to celebrate this significant achievement, with Leonel Fernández stating: “It fills me with pride.”

Diario Libre reports that the daughter of the former President and Vice President has always been kept out of the news, contrary to her half-siblings, Nicole Fernandez, known for her love of designer bags, and now married to...

The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) announced the operation of a state-of-the-art Doppler weather radar on the iconic Isabel de Torres Mount in Puerto Plata, at 793 meters. The Presidency says this C-band, dual-polarization, solid-state radar marks a significant step by the government to modernize the national meteorological system and enhance operational safety within Dominican airspace.

Previously, the DR has depended on the radar in San Juan, Puerto Rico for much of its weather forecasting.

The commissioning ceremony was led by Puerto Plata-born Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza and IDAC director general Igor Rodríguez Durán. Both officials emphasized the strategic importance of this new equipment in the context of the country’s technological transformation in risk management and air navigation systems...

The White Marlin Tournament Cap Cana is set to kick off this Thursday, 22 May 2025 with the participation of 30 yachts. Silvano Suazo, director of Marina Cap Cana, says the actual fishing action will commence on Friday, May 23rd, following the social event marking tournament’s official inauguration.

The competition will run through Saturday, 24 May, with participants competing in both Sonar and Non-Sonar categories.

To date, a significant 70% of the registered boats hail from Puerto Rico, with another 20% from the United States. The remaining participants are arriving from Brazil, Italy, Cuba, and the host nation, the Dominican Republic.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three boats overall. Individual accolades will also be given to the overall top angler, the highest-scoring female angler, and the most outstanding junior angler (under 17 years...

The government’s program to develop the Colonial City of the National District will take a big step forward as it undertakes the refurbishment of over 140 houses in the area. The new areas to undergo renovations include the nearby barrios such as San Lazaro, Santa Barbara, and San Anton. Additional financing for the ambitious project will come from the European Union.

An extension of this initiative, the government’s program to support the smallest of businesses will recondition some 20 small businesses in the area to make them more appealing to tourists.

The “Paint Your City” program, financed by the InterAmerican Development Bank is yet another component in the overall plan to make the Colonial City as attractive as possible. The program enables the use of multiple colors, in contrast with the previous white or ochre colors.

Among the steps to be taken are new stone...

Víctor Cabral Amiama / Diario Libre

The late President Antonio Guzman chose Victor Cabral Amiama to be the country’s first Secretary of Tourism (1978-1981). Previously, tourism had a low participation in the economy, in a land where sugar and cacao exports prevailed. Cabral is credited with the firm start of major tourism development in the country.

Cabral has served as the president of Casa de Campo, the pioneer of tourism in the country, and internationally as president of Sheraton Latin America. In Mexico he also served as adjunct director of the Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (Fonatur).

Cabral today lives in Mexico. Diario Libre interviewed him when he visited and picked his brains as to where tourism in the DR is headed and what should be improved.

When asked about the DR’s positioning in Caribbean tourism, Cabral remarked that the DR isn’t just competing...

The Ministry of Tourism published a sponsored report highlighting the country’s consolidating and up-and-coming tourism destinations.

The advertorial was part of the US tourism campaign undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism that complements the road trips, the tourism presentations at leading hotels in key US cities held this year.

The promotion highlights the new luxury tourism destinations, with the participation of Aman, Four Seasons and St. Regis brands. Also mentioned are up-and-coming destinations such as Santiago, Miches and Pedernales and the popular Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, La Romana, Bayahibe and Samana vacation areas.

Read More:

• Conde Nast Traveler

Tourism Minister David Collado and former MLB superstar Alex Rodriguez jointly announced on Monday, 19 May 2025 a massive luxury tourism investment exceeding US$1 billion at the Playa Grande complex in María Trinidad Sánchez province, on the northern coast.

The ambitious project will introduce new hotel accommodations and residential properties as part of an initial ultra-luxury development phase. Collado emphasized that this significant investment underscores the private sector’s strong confidence in the Dominican Republic and its commitment to developing new niche markets within the national tourism landscape.

“This investment is an unprecedented initiative for our country that will bring extraordinary development to our nation’s luxury tourism sector, as well as to the northern region and the communities of Río San Juan and Cabrera,” Collado...

Sports tourism continues to add leading regional events. Juan Dolio Beach, less than 40 minutes from Santo Domingo or La Romana, is the center of two Norceca competitions back-to-back, gathering top beach volleyball competitors from North, Central America and the Caribbean. The first tournament, from 15 to 19 May, concluded with wins of Mexican men and Puerto Rican women with the participation of 17 women’s teams and 19 men’s teams.

Norceca reported that Puerto Ricans Allanis Navas and María González claimed the gold medal after defeating Mexico’s Susana Torres and Atenas Rodríguez in a thrilling match 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) in the second stage of the 2025 Norceca Beach Volleyball Continental Tour. The bronze medal went to Mexico’s Yeray Vidaurruzaga and María Ramírez, who defeated Corine Quiggle and Megan Rice from the United States 2-1 (18-21, 21-19, 15-12).

The...

Vice President Raquel Peña traveled to Rome, Italy to represent the Dominican people in the inaugural events of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, 18 May 2025 in the Vatican See.

The Presidency reported that following her arrival at the Vatican, Peña expressed her hopes for the new pontificate on social media, stating: “May this new era bring more hope, unity, and peace to all humanity.”

Peña joined over 150 delegations and thousands of Catholic faithful at the ceremony in St. Peter’s Square that began Sunday, 18 May at 10am in Italy.

Notable attendees included Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, US Vice President James David Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Italian head of state Sergio Mattarella.

Other Latin American leaders present were Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Honduran...

All last week long, the Dominican press, television, and radio news programs were occupied by the coverage of the Wednesday, 14 May 2025 meeting of the four Presidents — three former Presidents, Leonel Fernandez, Hipolito Mejia, Danilo Medina and current president, Luis Abinader. The topic was simple: Haiti.

Previous to the meeting itself, President Abinader had said that the former Presidents would be informed as to current policies, issues, and possible future actions regarding Haiti. He said that there would be no policy discussions at the meeting.

Everyone has speculated President Luis Abinader had something important to share with the former Presidents. What this would have been has not been shared with the general public.

What is known is that after the two-hour meetings that also included a sit-down with the Minister of Defense and Minister...

The Dominican Republic’s economy generated a net increase of 176,581 employed individuals over the 12 months ending in March 2025, according to preliminary findings from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic’s (BCRD) Continuous National Workforce Survey (ENCFT).

The report, released by the BCRD as part of its commitment to transparency, highlights a positive trend in the nation’s labor market. Key indicators show record-high levels of employment and a decrease in joblessness. Notably, the informal employment rate reached its lowest point in the ENCFT series, registering at 53.4% of the employed population during the January-March 2025 period.

The unemployment rate also saw a slight decrease, settling at 4.9% in the first quarter of 2025, a 0.2 percentage point reduction compared to the same period last year.

The total number of employed...

In 2011, Harvard’s Center for International Development delivered the results of a study of Dominican public educations as contracted by the administration of Leonel Fernandez.

The report stated, in part, that “the reason for increasing the expenditures on education by itself does not guarantee significant improvements in the quality of the same, and this is because while more will be spent on paying teachers, purchasing books, and building schools), in the literature there have been very few [cases] where increased expenses have had a great effect on student performance, and in many cases they have ended up being insignificant.”

What Harvard was saying was that more money would not help unless serious reforms were put into place.

Today, after 14 years of public education receiving 4% of the yearly budget, a total of over RD$2 trillion or more than US$40...

A young teenager, just 13 years old, was walking home on Thursday, 15 May 2025 at 4pm in the Lavapie sector of San Cristobal during a torrential downpour. Because of the flooded streets, she decided to take a less-known route home. It was a near-tragic decision. She was swept away by the torrential runoff and sucked into a open sewage drain. She was rescued and hospitalized and is now recovering.

For her it was a nightmare that will accompany her for life. For hours and hours, Sheilyn Vizcaíno was trapped underneath the streets of Lavapie barely surviving. To many, her survival is a miracle. According to the girl’s recounting of the events, she managed to find a high spot inside the drainage tunnel, and there she remained until her rescue around 8 hours later, after midnight by two community members.

Civil Defense, the Fire Department, members of the...

After years of planning, the Banco de Desarrollo y Exportaciones (Bandex) has secured the green light from the National District City Council to develop a real estate complex on the land surrounding the iconic Quisqueya Stadium in Santo Domingo.

Diario Libre reports that the project has been backed by three consecutive governments since 2009 and encompasses the entire block around the stadium and includes plans for an apartment tower, a hotel, and a museum. Bandex already holds the property titles to the land, transferred by presidential decrees in 2009 and 2014.

The Council’s decision, through Ordinance 1/2025, reclassified the area as a Special Use Zone, removing it from a list of 12 environmental zones protected from residential development. This change, driven by Bandex and the Dominican government, allows for the construction to proceed despite opposition...

The Presidency has declared public use for the lands where the abandoned Hotel Santo Domingo stands, an iconic structure in the capital that has been closed since 2013. The structure between the Malecon and Av. Independencia avenues is reportedly set for demolition in the coming weeks due to its advanced state of deterioration.

The measure was formalized through Decree 214-24, which stipulates that the area will be allocated for the construction of the new Santo Domingo Convention Center — a project deemed critical for boosting business tourism and events in the capital city.

Located at the intersection of George Washington (Malecon) and Abraham Lincoln avenues, the property belongs to Costasur Dominicana, a subsidiary of Central Romana Corporation. Spanning a total of 67,000 square meters, the government plans to utilize approximately 34,000 square meters, according...

The Listin Diario, the oldest of print newspapers, has made the regular plight of media to remove online links, a national crusade. A US company, Network Solutions, has demanded the removal of the link or the media will face serious consequences. The Listin Diario says the link carries correct information. The mentioned party denies they have contracted the service to secure the removal of the link.

In a joint operation, the Specialized Border Security Corps (Cesfront) and the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD), coordinated by the Public Ministry, seized a suspected marijuana shipment weighing 4,836 pounds, along with eleven additional packages of what is believed to be cocaine. The marijuana is suspected to have been smuggled from Jamaica to Haiti and then into the Dominican Republic.

The seizure represents the largest quantity of suspected marijuana ever confiscated at the Dominican-Haitian border and took place after the surveillance and monitoring in Pedernales province on the southern land border with Haiti has been stepped up given the chaos in Port-au-Prince area across the border.

Cesfront and DNCD personnel, as part of enhanced interdiction efforts, intercepted a propane gas tanker truck on the highway between Pedernales and Oviedo, near the...

Investigative journalist Nuria Piera looks into the legal loopholes that have allowed double functions of several businesses, with the focus again on barber shops and beauty salons that are also bars and hidden nightclubs.

Read more in Spanish:

• N Digital

Edickson Herrera Silvestre, a capital city councilor from the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), has turned himself in to face charges of international cocaine trafficking in a federal court in South Florida. He faces three counts that carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Herrera Silvestre, also known as “El Regidor” (The Councilor), was accused by the South Florida court on 5 March 2025, along with alleged accomplices José Eduviges Aponte Torres (aliases: Buby or Meano) and William Durán Jerez (alias: El General). The charges involve three federal counts related to conspiring to distribute, import, and traffic over five kilograms of cocaine into the United States.

The city councilor had been on the run since 9 April 2025 and had failed to appear for a scheduled testimony in the US court on 19 April. The Florida state indictment alleges that...

There are 31 provinces in the Dominican Republic, and some of them have names that are easy to understand, such as Duarte, for one of the Founding Fathers, Juan Pablo Duarte, or Valverde, or Espaillat, the names of former Presidents back in the 19th Century. Maria Trinidad Sanchez (Nagua) was a political martyr in 1845, and Azua was the name of a Taino chief.

Historically speaking, Santo Domingo was the name of the capital ever since Bartolome Colón founded it way back in 1498, to honor the founder of the Dominican religious order. In the 1930s, 40s, and 50s it was called Trujillo City, for obvious reasons.

The religious theme is also present in the province of La Altagracia, named in honor of the Patroness of the Nation, Our Lady of High Grace. It was formerly a part of El Seibo province.

Barahona was named after a Spanish colonial official...

The heavy rains that have been falling, as troughs make their way through the Caribbean, have caused billions in damages to homes, agriculture and infrastructure in the Dominican Republic. And this is all before the start of the hurricane season.

The director of the Dominican Weather Institute (Indomet), Gloria Ceballos calls for preparation as she expects this to be a year of intense hurricanes. The Atlantic season hurricane season opens in June.

Read more in Spanish:

• Listin Diario
• Listin Diario

New York Knicks regrouped and turned the semi-final series around to win 119-81 in game 6 for the right to play in the East Conference finals on Friday, 16 May 2025. The team won the playoff spot in what was a 4-2 semi-final.

Jalen Brunson led and scored 26 points, while Dominican national basketball team member Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Their efforts were key in the game against the NBA defending champion Boston Celtics, with Al Horford, another former Dominican national basketball player, included. Boston was hurting after star player Jayson Tatum was out of play due to a recent Achilles injury.

It was a night when Dominicans watching the game were glued in to follow the two Dominican national team member players – Al Horford, playing for the Boston Celtics, and Karl Anthony Towns, playing for the New York Knicks.

For Towns, it was only his first year playing for the New York Knicks. Towns was born and raised in New Jersey. He had...

In an unprecedented display of national unity, former Presidents Leonel Fernández, Hipólito Mejía, and Danilo Medina met on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 with President Luis Abinader to address the escalating crisis in Haiti and its profound impact on the Dominican Republic’s security, economy, and stability. President Abinader and former Presidents Fernández, Mejía, and Medina emphasized that this meeting marks a milestone in political maturity and national unity.

Leonel Fernandez was President for Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) for the terms 1996-2000, 2004-2008 and 2012. Hipólito Mejía was President from 2000-2004 for the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD). And Danilo Medina was President from 2012-2016 and 2016-2020.

The Presidency reported that the two-hour meeting held at the Ministry of Defense, fostered a candid, patriotic, and constructive...

Haitian matters experts writing for Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Atlantic Council of the United States warn the violence and gang control is moving beyond the capital city in Haiti. They say that the escalating of the control of the gangs in Haiti would result in the elimination of the Transitional Presidential Council and the complete takeover by the gangs. The DR, as the land border with Haiti, is the country that has the most to lose, but the experts say the destabilization in the Caribbean would have a major impact also on the United States.

For decades, the US and other regional countries have left the Haitian crisis situation up to the Dominican Republic to bear. The DR has been spending billions on education and health services for the Haitian population and is where most of the destitute Haitian migrants have found work now not...

The Dominican government’s Banco de Desarrollo y Exportaciones (Bandex) has already made available RD$2.8 billion in loans, benefiting 46 companies that sought to mechanize farms and construction operations, El Dia reports. The bank’s general manager, Juan Alberto Mustafá, announced plans to double the program that seeks to modernize the agricultural and construction sectors, reduce dependence on foreign labor, and enhance productivity through technological advancements.

To facilitate the transition to mechanization, Bandex has created a catalog of equipment for both sectors and established a financing line with a preferential annual interest rate of 9.5%, compared to 12-13% available in private banking. The financing terms include a repayment period of up to seven years and, in some cases, a grace period during the initial months of the project.

Mustafá emphasized that...

Dominican Republic and Haiti border officials and the “Frontera Caribe” project emphasize the need to view the shared border region as a space for life and prosperity. The “Frontera Caribe” project, led by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, aims to improve education, research, and journalism related to the Dominican-Haitian border.

Following a tour of development projects showcasing government and private sector interest, representatives, including Erick Dorrejo from the Ministry of Economy and Spanish journalists Santiago Tejedor, David Jiménez, and Álvaro Laforet, highlighted the area’s potential for economic growth through trade, tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture.

The group visited key sites like the Manzanillo port, energy plants, the border fence, the Dajabón market, and ITESIL. Tejedor stressed the importance of new narratives...

Customs Agency director Eduardo Sanz Lovaton encouraged UASD students to engage in a career in logistics. He told UASD Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences students that the Abinader administration will be making available scholarships for post-graduate studies in logistics-related fields. In his talk with the students of the state university, the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, Eduardo Sanz Lovaton said logistics is already the top foreign currency earner for the Dominican economy when factoring in exports from free trade zones and national industries.

Sanz Lovaton described logistics as “the Dominican oil”, with an enormous growth potential. He emphasized the country’s potential as a regional logistics hub, citing advancements in air connectivity and technology implemented in ports and airports to streamline customs and commercial operations.

“Many people...

The Dominican Republic is significantly advancing its energy transformation with 20 renewable energy projects currently in development. These will add 1,006 megawatts (MW) to the national energy grid.

This announcement was made by Energy and Mines Minister Joel Santos during his address at the business breakfast organized by the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic (Camacoesrd), titled “Government Perspective on the Growth and Integration of Renewable Energies in the Dominican Republic’s Generation Sector.”

Minister Santos detailed the nation’s progress in expanding its energy supply, diversifying its energy sources, and strengthening its transmission system, while also highlighting the improvements in efficiency. He underscored the critical role of international cooperation in the development of the Dominican Republic’s energy sector...

Samuel Pereyra / Diario Libre

The government bank, Banreservas has organized a second Real Estate Fair to back projects in the Dominican Republic and promote their sale to Dominicans who reside in the United States. The real estate promotional event is taking place in New York City and Lawrence, Massachusetts.

The Banreservas is lending to buyers at 10% fixed rate for seven years. This compares to the best rate for mortgages offered by Banreservas in the DR that is at 14% and 15 years. Samuel Pereyra, executive president of the government bank, says the financing is up to 90% of the value of the property and for up to 20 years.

In a press release, the government bank says that the loans are available for a wide portfolio of pre-selected projects. As reported in the press release, more than 80% of the properties covered by the Banreservas loans have trusts ensuring the...

The Ministry of Culture confirmed that the 27th Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD 2025) will take place from 25 September to 5 October 2025 at the Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza. The event, announced by Culture Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo during a press conference on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, will honor renowned historian Frank Moya Pons for his significant contributions to Dominican history and cultural identity.

Moya Pons, author of the history textbook “Manual de Historia Dominicana” (Dominican History Manual), is widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost contemporary historians. This year’s fair will focus on children’s literature, positioning it as a platform to explore international trends, approaches, and perspectives in this genre.

FILSD 2025 will feature the Latin American Network of Literary Fairs and Festivals...

The Dominican Republic and Spain have formalized a bilateral cooperation agreement, setting the stage for sustainable development initiatives over the period 2025-2029. The pact, signed on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 in Santo Domingo by Dominican Republic’s Minister of Foreign Relations, Roberto Álvarez, and the Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation Eva Granados Galiano, outlines a framework supported by an estimated EUR110 million investment.

Key areas of focus include bolstering the rule of law, safeguarding human rights, enhancing working conditions, and fostering inclusive technical-professional education with a strong emphasis on gender equality. The agreement also prioritizes the sustainable management of territory, addressing critical aspects such as water, sanitation, and climate resilience.

The Ministry of Economy’s Vice...

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the executive director of the Dominican Republic’s Civil Defense, Juan Salas, held a high-level meeting at the NYC City Hall on Monday, 12 May 2025 to finalize details of an upcoming memorandum of understanding (MOU) on disaster risk management.

The meeting, witnessed and facilitated by the DR’s consul general, Jesús Vásquez Martínez, strengthens the bonds between the two communities. New York City is regarded as the second largest city in number of Dominican origin population.

The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in strategic areas such as risk management, disaster preparedness, and emergency response. It also facilitates the exchange of best practices and technological advancements aimed at saving lives and mitigating risks.

This initiative follows Mayor Adams’ commitment during his 13 April 2025 visit to...

The legal fallout continues following the tragic collapse of the Jet Set nightclub on 8 April 2025 that resulted in 235 deaths, including merengue singer Rubby Pérez, and over 180 injuries. The number of legal actions against the club’s owners has now reached 41 placed in the Dominican Republic and in the United States.

Among the latest to file legal action is Massiel Javier Almonte, the wife of former Major League Baseball player Octavio Dotel. Her complaint was placed with the National District Prosecutor’s Office that is investigating the case and has yet to release the expert opinion on what caused the collapse of the roof.

The legal actions target Antonio Espaillat López, his mother Ana Grecia López, and their company, Inversiones E y L.

Families of the deceased and injured are seeking millions in compensation and are urging prosecutors to seek...

The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) announced the seizure of 20 containers disguised as shampoo and hair treatment products, filled with liquid cocaine, at the Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo.

In an initial intervention operation, authorities located a box in one of the airport’s storage areas after a canine unit detected controlled substances within the package. Following instructions from the prosecutor, officials opened the box, discovering 12 containers of hair products, all filled with liquid cocaine. The box would have been shipped to France.

Likewise, in another drug capture, the DNCD reports the seizing of four scented candles filled with cocaine destined for London that were being shipped via the Dominican Postal Institute (Inposdom).

While inspecting shipments at Inposdom’s warehouse in the Centro de los Heroes, a K-9 unit had...

Ossygeno Models, the leading local modeling talent agency, reported on its Instagram of its pride in the graduation of Tamila Naser, a Ukranian woman who had made a career through the agency since when she was 15 years. She had arrived here from Ukraine with her parents when she was four years old. Through Ossygeno Models, she debuted in modeling with Prada in Milan, and worked in fashion runs in Paris, London, Milan and New York

Eventually, Naser decided to return to the DR to study medicine and chose Intec, in Santo Domingo. This 26 April 2025 she graduated as a medical doctor.

With the game at Santiago’s Gran Arena del Cibao Dr. Oscar Gobaira, Vice President Raquel Peña officially launched the 2025 season of the Dominican Republic’s National Basketball League (LNB) on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. She spoke of the government’s commitment to supporting sports. Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz, other government officials, and sporting personalities were present for the Santiago game.

Peña, who has actively backed recent major basketball events including the Santiago Superior Basketball League closure and the start of the 2025 National Women’s Basketball League (LNBF), led the ceremonial tip-off at the Gran Arena del Cibao. The first games matched the Metros de Santiago with the Cañeros del Este.

On the same evening, the Titanes del Sur, the defending champions matched the Reales de la Vega at the Polideportivo in San Cristobal.

The regular national...

New York Mets’ Juan Soto has reaffirmed his commitment to be on the national team to the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The WBC 2026 tournament will take place across four cities — San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; and Tokyo, Japan from 5-17 March 2026.

The announcement was made this Monday, 12 May 2025 during a press conference in New York City, where he was also officially presented as a brand ambassador for Banco de Reservas (Banreservas).

“I am 100% available for the World Classic. As long as I am healthy and the team allows it, I will be there giving my all for my country,” Soto assured.

The New York Mets slugger noted that he has been in constant communication with the Dominican Baseball Federation and with Albert Pujols, who is the team manager.

Soto, 26, signed a historic contract with the New York Mets before the start of this season...

Minister of Education Luis Miguel de Camps announced plans to double the number of high schools offering arts programs within the next three years.

Speaking on 13 May 2025 at the opening ceremony of the 12th National Arts Gala at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, De Camps said the Ministry of Education aims to reach a 15% coverage rate in the country’s technical high schools by 2028.

“From the Ministry of Education, we are committed to achieving this goal, convinced that the talent of our people cannot be left without a stage, workshop, or classroom,” he stated.

Currently, around 14,000 students in 86 centers across the country’s 18 educational regions receive artistic training in fields such as music, dance, theater, film, photography, multimedia, visual arts, and crafts.

De Camps emphasized that the artistic expressions showcased at the gala are a result of public...

President Luis Abinader and Minister of Public Health Victor Atallah held a virtual ground-breaking event from the InterContinental Hotel on Av. Winston Churchill to mark the beginning of construction on a state-of-the-art private medical facility, the new Clínica Abreu CDD, El Caribe reports. The Clinica Abreu has been a leader in medical emergency services and other medical services from its location in Gascue, where decades ago most of medical centers were located.

Now, Clinica Abreu owners announce an association with Grupo CDD and GE HealthCare International for the expansion to a new facility on 27,000 square meters at a location on Av. Winston Churchill and Av. Romulo Betancourt in the capital city. The facility will have 20 above-ground floors and eight underground levels.

Dr. Servio de Peña, president of Clínica Abreu’s board of directors; Dr. Wilson Mourad, CEO and...

President Luis Abinader hosted a courtesy visit from Musalia Mudavadi, the Foreign Minister and First Secretary of the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya, at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, 13 May 2025.

The Presidency reported the meeting began at 3pm and lasted about 45 minutes. It provided an opportunity to discuss the Haitian situation and bilateral matters of mutual interest, as well as explore ways to enhance diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two nations.

The Presidency said the encounter underscored the shared desire to establish robust bridges between the Caribbean and East Africa, laying the groundwork for future joint initiatives that will benefit both peoples. President Abinader was joined by Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez and other government officials during the meeting.

Kenya has deployed 617 soldiers...

Hon. Frederick A. Mitchell / Commonwealth of the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex) announced that Frederick Mitchell, the Foreign Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, will pay an official visit from 14 to 17 May 2025.

According to a statement released by Mirex, Mitchell’s official itinerary begins on Thursday, 15 May when he will be received by his Dominican counterpart, Roberto Alvarez, at the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santo Domingo. The ministers are expected to discuss bilateral issues and explore potential areas of economic cooperation during their meeting.

The Bahamian foreign minister’s presence is seen as an opportunity to strengthen economic ties. The focus will be on sectors where both nations can complement each other, fostering dialogue to identify trade opportunities, promote...

The Senate approved four international loans totaling US$275 million on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 despite opposition from opposition lawmakers. The ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) has the majority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

The loan requests were previously submitted by the Executive Branch and endorsed by the Finance Committee chaired by Senator Guillermo Lama (PRM-Bahoruco).

During the session, the committee’s reports were presented and subsequently approved, following standard legislative procedure. These loans had already been ratified by the Chamber of Deputies last April, enabling the Executive Branch to formalize agreements with financial institutions.

Details of the four approved loans:• The first loan, signed with the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), amounts to US$75 million. It aims to strengthen the national electrical...

On several occasions in past years, a road project that would shorten distances and open up the mountain areas to mining projects comes to the forefront. Once again, environmentalists are explaining that this would be catastrophic for the country’s main water sources, key for the food security and health of the population.

A report in Noticias SIN tells of the findings of a technical report jointly produced by the Environmental Commission of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) and the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic (ACRD) on the proposed “Sabaneta to Sabaneta” mountain road project. The road would link San Juan de la Maguana and Santiago Rodríguez provinces through the Central Mountain Range. Once again the environmental experts say the project should be permanently shelved due to its severe environmental impact, economic unfeasibility, and...

With the participation of 23 member countries and under the motto “Justice on Time to Guarantee the Dignity of People,” the XXII Ibero-American Judicial Summit is taking place from Wednesday, 14 May through Friday, 16 May 2025 at the Eduardo Brito National Theater in Santo Domingo.

The gathering brings together legal experts from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The objective is to strengthen judicial ties between member countries and generate common strategies for a more modern, accessible, and humane justice system.

President Luis Abinader will officially declare the summit open. Accompanying him will be Henry Molina, president of the Supreme Court of Justice and temporary secretary of the summit; Elena Martínez Rosso, minister of the Supreme Court of Uruguay and permanent secretary of the CJI; and Andrés Allamand, Ibero-American Secretary...

In an editorial on 13 May 2025, Diario Libre executive editor Anibal de Castro focuses on the reality that the DR is a mixed race and ancestry country.

The editorialist writes:

“The election of Leo XIV as Supreme Pontiff has brought about more than just a name change at the Vatican summit. It has brought to the surface a history that many would prefer to ignore: the multiple, complex, and in this case, mestizo origins of the new leader of the Catholic Church.

The fact that the Pope has Dominican blood and Afro-descendant Creole heritage and that one of his grandfathers was classified as “black” in 19th-century America, should not cause much surprise.

But it does: unfortunately, we continue to drag along a cultural discomfort —a visceral resistance— to accept that the Dominican, the Catholic, and the universal can simultaneously be black, mestizo, Creole, and proudly...

Weather forecasters are recommending people to be prepared for major hurricanes in the Caribbean. Colorado State University early forecast expects 17 named hurricanes, compared to the past (1991-2000) average of 14 named storms.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June through 30 November.

In the early seasonal forecast, the Colorado State University meteorologists are predicting 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

AccuWeather is predicting the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season could bring 13 to 18 named storms, 7 to 10 hurricanes, 3 to 5 major hurricanes and 3-6 direct US impacts.

The US National Hurricane Center will be issuing its Atlantic Season forecasts starting 15 May. This year, the NHC says it will be giving people 72-hour early advance advisories, instead of 48-hour warnings before the anticipated...

The Dominican Weather Office (Indomet) says a current trough and another on the way to Hispaniola island will bring scattered showers for most of the country. Hot temperatures are forecast for most of the day, with the temperature cooling down in the evening.

Read more in Spanish:

• Indomet