DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

After a marathonic session of 14 hours on Wednesday, 30 July 2025, the Chamber of Deputies signed off to the Penal Code at around 3am with instructions to deposit it in the Senate first thing in the morning.

Listin Diario reports that the senators could make changes to the bill as received by the Chamber of Deputies that would then require it to be sent back to the Chamber of Deputies. Listin Diario reported that the president of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos said the senators could make new amendments to the bill that then would need to be approved again by the deputies.

Listin Diario reports that deputies voted 159 in favor and four against the bill.

At the request of the legislators, President Luis Abinader extended the legislature through 5 August, the deadline for both houses of Congress to pass the bill.

Media reports mention several of the amendments made to clauses of the Penal Code that dates back to 1884.

Amendments include clauses that penalize credit...

The Chamber of Deputies voted yes to the bill that calls for changes to the rentals legal scheme in the Dominican Republic. The bill was passed on 31 July 2025, after midnight, in the same marathonic round that sought to pass the Penal Code.

The bill now moves to the Senate for approval in the extraordinary legislature that runs through 5 August 2025.

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• Noticias SIN

Responding to demand, the Opret, the office managing the Santo Domingo Metro lines and the skylifts, announced new schedules for these mass transport services.

The Santo Domingo Metro will open half an hour earlier than previously announced as of 31 July 2025. The earlier 5:30am opening time comes as a blessing for commuters. Long queues form every morning. The service is offered through 10:30pm.

On Saturdays, the Santo Domingo Metro will close earlier at 10pm. And on Sundays, the schedule will be from 6am to 10pm.

The Santo Domingo Metro is also adding more cars to serve the hundreds of thousands that board Greater Santo Domingo’s mass transit service. For RD$20 you can cross the city. There is no better bargain. Prices have not been increased since the service started in 2009, at the start of the third term in government of former President Leonel Fernandez.

The Opret office announced that users of the Santo Domingo skylifts will be from Monday to Friday, from 5:30am...

In a significant move set to boost agricultural development and economic diversification, Guyana, the fastest-growing country in Latin America and the Caribbean, has officially partnered with the Dominican Republic, the region’s second-fastest-growing economy. On Tuesday, 29 July 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana, signed a landmark agreement with the Dominican Republic to launch large-scale cacao and coffee cultivation in Region One. This initiative will leverage the Dominican Republic’s extensive experience in these sectors.

Dominican Ambassador Ernesto Torres Pereyra signed the agreement for the Dominican Republic. The press release does not give details on who in the Dominican Republic will be the counterpart.

During the signing ceremony, Guyana’s Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, emphasized the government’s dedication to introducing high-value crops. “We’ve been working with IICA to develop this industry, and this agreement will bring tremendous...

Expert negotiator Nelson Espinal Baez writes in Diario Libre about how the DR, now that it is the leading tourism destination in the Caribbean, has soft power.

Soft power is described as the ability to co-opt rather than coerce (hard power). It involves shaping the preferences of others through appeal and attraction. Soft power uses culture, political values, and foreign policies to enact change. In 2012, Joseph Nye of Harvard University explained that with soft power, “the best propaganda is not propaganda”, further explaining that during the Information Age, “credibility is the scarcest resource.”

Espinal in an opinion piece in Diario Libre, explained:

“In 2024, the Dominican Republic welcomed over 11 million tourists and generated more than US$11 billion in foreign exchange earnings. But beyond the money, what truly flowed was an emotional, cultural, and human experience that positions the country as a leading destination in the Caribbean and the wider region.

This...

A recent investigative report by journalist Alicia Ortega follows up on complaints of two who had fallen prey to irregular practices of automobile dealers in Greater Santo Domingo. If you are planning on buying or selling a used vehicle, take the time to listen to the story.

To avoid being a victim, before handing over your hard-earned cash for a vehicle, ask to talk to the previous owner and find out what is the status of the vehicle with the Tax Agency (DGII). Read all the reviews on the dealer’s Facebook page.

Do not be trust. Do not share your registration with a dealer, or leave him your car for selling while your papers for the other vehicle are processed. Better still, make the transfer yourself to avoid still being liable for accidents when the car has been transacted to another person by the dealer.

Better still. Sell your car yourself straight to the buyer, bypassing the middle person. Make sure the car has the Car Fax certificate and a trusted mechanic takes a...

The Chinese-owned bargain-priced stores are back in the headlines, this time after the authorities seized thousands of goods that reportedly were fakes of a famous brand product.

Authorities in Santo Domingo have confiscated over 3,800 counterfeit school items from a commercial establishment on Duarte Avenue, a bustling commercial hub in the National District where dozens of Chinese merchants in recent years have opened their businesses. The raid targeted a store operated by foreign merchants found to be selling fake merchandise emblazoned with the logos of well-known brands.

The operation, spearheaded by the Public Ministry’s Intellectual Property Unit, uncovered 1,275 fake backpacks, 1,275 lunchboxes, and 1,275 pencil cases. The seizure is part of an ongoing investigation into violations of Law No. 20-00 on Industrial Property.

Jonathan Baró Gutiérrez, head of the Intellectual Property Unit, emphasized the consumer impact of such illicit sales. “Consumers see the logo...

Alfredo Pacheco / Camara de Diputados

Alfredo Pacheco, the long-standing president of the Chamber of Deputies, is optimistic the Penal Code will be passed in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, 30 July 2025.

At the request of the legislators, President Luis Abinader issued Decree 409-25 that has extended the legislature through 5 August 2025 that concluded on 26 July 2025. The next legislature sessions are scheduled for 16 August.

The Chamber of Deputies had created a short special committee of six deputies to present recommendations for amendments to the Penal Code bill as received from the Senate.

The Chamber of Deputies invited the participation of members of the Attorney General Office (Procuraduria General de la República), the National Police and the Public Defendor’s Office (Defensoría Pública). Pacheco said the committee has issued its concluding...

A comprehensive dialogue on the Haitian crisis, spearheaded by the Social and Economic Council (CES), is nearing its conclusion with the final recommendations set to be presented to President Luis Abinader and former Presidents Hipólito Mejía, Leonel Fernández, and Danilo Medina. This crucial step follows weeks of intensive discussions by various stakeholders on the multifaceted implications of the situation in Haiti for the Dominican Republic, according to a CES press release.

Just one week after the conclusion of thematic working groups, the General Coordination Committee for the “Dialogue on the Haitian Crisis and its Implications for the Dominican Republic” met on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, at the CES meeting hall. The meeting focused on reviewing the progress of the dialogue and updating the projected timeline for the final stages.

Attendees included...

The Dominican Republic is experiencing an unprecedented surge in investment in its energy sector, attracting substantial foreign and local capital, particularly in renewable energies. A staggering 24 new power generation plants or parks are currently under construction across the nation, representing a major investment of US$3.38 billion, Diario Libre reports.

From 2022 to 2024, the energy sector emerged as the second-largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Dominican economy, trailing only tourism. However, in the first quarter of 2025, the energy sector remarkably surpassed tourism, claiming the top spot as the primary generator of FDI for the country.

This influx of foreign investment has propelled the construction of these 24 new facilities, which boast a combined concessioned capacity of nearly 2,300 megawatts. While foreign capital accounts...

The director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC), Igor Rodríguez announced that the Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) doppler radar will be fully installed in the next two months, as reported in Diario Libre. This radar will complete the weather surveillance system of the country. At present, there are radars in the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) to the east and at the Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata on the north coast. The Las Americas Airport radar will cover the south and southwest of the country.

Rodriguez said that the Las Americas radar will have a certified reach of 250 km and a solid state reach of 400 km.

Rodriguez said that a primary-secondary radar will also soon be installed in Santiago to enhance the coverage of the northern region.

The weather radars enable more precise weather forecasts for the...

The Dominican Republic’s Puntos GOB initiative, designed to centralize and simplify access to government services, has proven to be a resounding success, serving over 550,000 Dominicans between January and mid-July 2025, El Dia reports. These convenient, one-stop centers have revolutionized how citizens interact with the state, saving them time, money, and stress.

The present Puntos GOB are located at:Greater Santo DomingoOccidental Mall (Av. Prolongacion 27 de Febrero)Sambill Mall (Av. John F. Kennedy)Megacentro (Av. San Vicente de Paul)GOB Expreso (Marginal Expreso Las Americas)

SantiagoAv. Salvador Estrella SadhalaColina Centro (Av. Jacobo Majluta)

San CristobalCalle Privada almost corner Carretera Sanchez

There are plans to open next in Puerto Plata and Punta Cana.

The Puntos GOB were created by the Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies (OGTIC)...

The controversial path of the Santiago monorail is heading for a crucial legal decision next month, as a judge is set to rule on a citizen-led lawsuit alleging the project has deviated from its original design, threatening neighborhoods and vital green spaces, as reported in El Caribe.

Judge Alicia Mabel Guzmán Bencosme, president of the Civil and Commercial Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Santiago, has scheduled Wednesday, 6 August 2025 as the date to announce her decision on a writ of amparo filed by local residents and community organizations. These groups contend that the altered route of the monorail infringes upon protected areas and violates initial permits.

At the heart of the legal challenge are concerns about the project’s impact on the Los Burgos stream, a natural area that locals fear will be significantly harmed by the new monorail structures. The...

Community and business leaders in San Juan de la Maguana province are calling on the government to ensure the environmental impact study for the proposed Romero mining project is overseen by national and international scientific and academic organizations. Their goal is to guarantee the study’s credibility and transparency, N Digital reports.

The public’s concern escalated after the Ministry of Environment recently approved the Terms of Reference (TDR) for the study, which will determine the environmental viability of the underground mine. The Romero project aims to extract a copper concentrate containing gold and silver.

Provincial representatives emphasized the critical need to include the Academy of Sciences, the Environmental Commission of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), international organizations, and the San Juan de la Maguana community...

Jean Andrés Pumarol / CDN

Contrary to claims made by the defense, 30-year old Jean Andrés Pumarol Fernández, accused of a violent attack on neighbors in the Naco sector of the National District, will not be housed in a psychiatric ward at the Anamuya prison in La Altagracia province, as reported in CDN. The General Penitentiary and Correctional Services Agency (DGSPC) has directly refuted assertions that the Anamuya facility possesses a specialized mental health unit. During the attack, a 70-year old woman was killed, and four other persons are injured, including his own father.

Richard Martínez, Pumarol’s lawyer, had stated his client was sent to Anamuya because, he alleged, it had a specialized unit for mentally ill patients. Martínez argued that this precautionary measure indirectly acknowledged the paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis his defense team presented for Pumarol...

The National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) revealed a relentless 12-hour pursuit took place across the high seas and culminated in the dramatic capture of a “Go Fast” vessel carrying over 1.5 tons of cocaine, leading to the arrest of three Dominicans and one Colombian national, as reported in Diario Libre. The bust, a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking, unfolded off the remote southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic.

As reported, the operation was set in motion when intelligence units detected a high-speed “Go Fast” boat, approximately 35 feet long and powered by two 250-horsepower outboard engines, heading towards Dominican territory. The vessel, lacking any visible identification, was observed maintaining a steady course near Cabo Falso, a notoriously remote and rugged point off the western coast of the Pedernales province.

As reported, with...

Wilfredo José Burgos Matos, a professor of Latin American and Latino Studies at Lehman College (CUNY), writes for The Conversation about how bachata has gone in just decades from being a grassroots underground dance in the Dominican Republic to becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

He mentions that even a Bee Gees song got a bachata spin when Prince Roy converted the 1977 hit “How Deep Is Your Love” and the single has topped the Latin music charts this summer. He said this “proves bachata is no longer chasing the mainstream but reimagining the pop canon.”

Burgos Matos tells the story of how bachata, with its distinctive guitar melodies and poignant lyrics, is captivating millions and solidifying its place as a truly global cultural export.

Read...

The Abinader administration is taking actions for the country to join the prestigious Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). 38 countries are members, including Chile, Mexico, Colombia and Costa Rica in Latin America. The country aims to leverage OECD collaboration to attract foreign investment, build a more robust, inclusive, and sustainable financial system, and promote sustainable development goals.

To advance its bid for membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Executive Branch recently issued executive decrees 407-25 and 408-25.

Decree 407-25 mandates the creation of an inter-institutional commission tasked with designing, developing, and implementing a comprehensive Public Integrity System. This vital body will be coordinated by the General Ethics and Government Integrity Directorate (DIGEIG), under the Presidency. Its...

President Luis Abinader acknowledged in his weekly press conference on Monday, 28 July 2025 that the Dominican economy has experienced a deceleration in its growth rate, a reality he stated the population is already feeling.

“We went from growing 5% to 2.7% or 3%, which is what we are accumulating… and I know the population is feeling it, the decrease in economic growth,” the President stated during his weekly press conference.

Despite this slowdown, Abinader affirmed that, amidst global uncertainty, the Dominican Republic’s economy remains “a beacon of international light.” He attributed the deceleration to external factors, specifically citing international circumstances influenced by new US government tariff policies, which contribute to global uncertainty.

He said efforts are focused on a targeted 3.5% growth rate for this year. Regardless the final outcome...

President Luis Abinader said that he would not promulgate Comprehensive Management and Processing of Solid Waste Bill 225-20 as recently approved in Congress. He stated that he agrees that observations from various sectors be instead incorporated into the bill. He said the bill has not yet formally reached his office.

However, he explained that once it reaches the Executive Branch, technical and sectoral recommendations will be considered for the amendments and the bill would be resubmitted to Congress. He noted: “There are many objections; even ProCompetencia has sent us reports pointing out errors that need to be corrected.”

Follow the story: La Semanal 28 July 2025

29 July 2025

With a promise of transparency and good governance, President Luis Abinader officially enacted the new Public Procurement Law 47-25 on Monday, 28 July 2025. President Abinader signed the bill into law at the headquarters of the General Public Procurement Agency (DGCP) in the presence of DGCP director Carlos Pimentel. The Presidency says this law marks a pivotal moment in how the Dominican state manages its resources, promising a significant transformation in public administration.

“Today is an important day for the Dominican Republic,” stated the President in the official press release. “A day where we reaffirm, with actions and not just words, this government’s unwavering commitment to transparency, efficiency, sustainability, and the strengthening of our institutions.”

The new Public Procurement Law 47-25 ensures significant improvements:•...

National District Mayor Carolina Mejía recently inspected progress on the Paseo Marítimo of Santo Domingo, a sprawling sports and recreation complex set to transform 1.7 kilometers of the city’s iconic waterfront. The project, a key component of the Integrated Plan for Santo Domingo, aims to create accessible and functional spaces for various sports and leisure activities.

Adding to its appeal, the Paseo Marítimo is planned as a bio-healthy zone facing the ocean, commercial, recreational and sports areas, all with scenic viewpoints. The project also thoughtfully integrates the Monument to the Heroes of May 30, a significant historical landmark.

In a video shared by the Mayor’s office, Mejía was seen reviewing plans and observing the redesign of the beach volleyball court, discussing projections for the expansive area. She was accompanied by Yolanda de la...

A nine-year-old boy with autism was safely reunited with his mother on Sunday, 27 July 2025, thanks to the swift actions of concerned citizens and officers from the National Police, Diario Libre reported. The boy had gone missing in the trails of Mirador Sur Park in the National District.

According to a video shared on the National Police’s social media, the child was initially brought to the Plan Piloto park outpost by parishioners from the Cristo Salvador church, located near the Honduras sector.

An officer explained that upon recognizing the boy’s special needs, all necessary protocols were activated to locate his family. “The boy has autism, and we’ve done everything we can, calling upon all resources to help his family find him,” the officer stated in the video.

The widely circulated images capture the moving moment when the mother...

2024 statistics paint a complex picture of relationships in the Dominican Republic, showcasing both the enduring appeal of marriage and the increasing reality of its dissolution.

The institution of marriage remains a cornerstone of Dominican society, with official figures revealing a robust 44,349 unions celebrated across the nation in 2024, El Dia reports. However, the latest data from the National Statistics Office (ONE) also highlights a significant number of marital dissolutions, with 26,210 divorces finalized within the same period.

Marriage, defined as the social, legal, and often religious union of two individuals for a shared life, grants couples a range of rights and duties, including inheritance, social security, and parental authority.

Of the total marriages recorded, the vast majority—39,661—were civil ceremonies. Additionally, 2,556 canonical marriages (unions...

New data reveals that Haitian migrants represented a substantial 10.53% of all deaths from homicides, suicides, and accidents in the Dominican Republic during 2024, as reported in Diario Libre. These figures offer a glimpse into the size of the Haitian population within the country and the challenging conditions many face.

According to the National Statistics Office (ONE) in its “2024 Yearbook of Accidental and Violent Deaths,” released on 25 July 2025, of the 4,187 individuals who died from these four causes, 441 were from Haiti. Another 261 were from other countries or their nationality was not recorded.

Haitian immigrants were particularly overrepresented in intentional homicide statistics, making up 16.62% of victims. Out of 1,041 intentional homicide deaths, 173 were Haitian, compared to 864 Dominicans. The remaining victims included two...

Dr. Roberto Franklin Abreu / El Día

Dr. Roberto Franklin Abreu, a neurosurgeon and former president of the Dominican Society of Spine Surgery, recently warned about a “silent crisis” in the national health system. Speaking at the 9th Congress of his scientific organization in Punta Cana, Dr. Abreu highlighted the alarming rate at which young Dominicans are becoming paraplegic due to traffic accidents, particularly those involving motorcycles. He specifically called attention to the prevalence of illegal motorcycle races on the Duarte Highway, especially on the Bonao-La Vega and La Vega-Santiago stretches, where riders risk their lives in clandestine competitions..According to Dr. Abreu, 30% of polytrauma and traffic accident victims suffer from spinal cord injuries, leading to permanent neurological deficits. These cases primarily affect young people between 18 and 40 years old...

Dominican authorities seized a substantial shipment of suspected illicit drugs south of Beata Island off the southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic on Monday, 28 July 2025 in the afternoon during a joint operation, sources close to the investigation confirmed, CDN reports.

Beata Island is a small islet on the Caribbean Sea located 7 km southwest from Cabo Beata, on the southwesternmost coast of the Dominican Republic, bordering with Haitian waters. A Navy outpost is located there.

While the exact quantity and type of narcotics remain unconfirmed, the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) transported the massive haul to Santo Domingo for analysis at the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif). The sheer volume of the alleged drugs necessitated the use of a truck for transport, highlighting the scale of the seizure...

In a significant blow to drug trafficking, the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD), in a joint operation with the Public Ministry (Attorney General Office), has confiscated a shipment of 1,303 pounds of suspected marijuana in Montecristi province, on the northwest coast of the country. The seizure is reportedly the result of extensive surveillance and intelligence work.

Acting on intelligence, operational units and prosecutors raided a residence on Dominicanos Residentes en Estados Unidos Street in the Buen Hombre sector of Villa Vásquez municipality of Montecristi. The property was believed to be a stash house for illicit substances.

Upon entering the home, authorities conducted a thorough inspection, discovering 24 white sacks containing 154 packages of a plant substance, believed to be marijuana, with an estimated weight of 1,303 pounds.

Authorities are...

A National District judge has ordered Jean Andrés Pumarol Fernández, accused in the killing of Ivonne Handal and the wounding of several others, to serve preventive detention at the Centro de Corrección y Rehabilitación Anamuya, the La Altagracia jail located 172 km from the capital city. The decision, handed down by Judge Rigoberto Sena of the National District Permanent Attention Court, has sparked debate regarding the accused’s mental health and the suitability of the correctional facility. The order is for three months custody at the jail as the case is heard in court.

According to Richard Martínez, Pumarol’s lawyer, the prosecution requested his client be sent to Anamuya, asserting the facility possesses a psychiatric ward. Martínez highlighted that this request implicitly acknowledges Pumarol’s mental health condition, stating: “In one way or another, it...

The largest get-together of civilian aircraft fans happens each year in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Known formally as the EAA AirVenture 2025, the show draws private flyers from around the world. People come to see unique and innovative aircraft and learn about where to travel to. This year, officials say more than 691,000 visitors from 80 different countries participated in the 21-27 July 2025 celebration of aviation.

The Dominican Airport Department and the Ministry of Tourism set up their booth at the show to promote arrivals to Dominican airports.

The participation seeks to promote fly-ins by private airplanes, as they are known, recognized as an important potential contributor to high-value tourism. Back in 2023, President Luis Abinader acknowledged private aviation as important to Dominican tourism when he signed Decree 259-23 that covers the arrival and departure...

Aerodom, a subsidiary of Vinci Airports, has launched a new online payment system for parking at Las Américas International Airport (SDQ).

The new system allows users to pay for short-term, long-term, or premium parking directly through the airport’s website using any smartphone and credit card. The goal is to speed up airport departures, reduce queues at physical payment machines, and offer a more secure, efficient, and contactless experience.

The new digital platform complements other recent improvements at Las Americas International, including expanded parking facilities, LED lighting installation, electric vehicle charging stations, and digital signage.

“This new digital payment system meets the expectations of our users and is another step in the technological transformation we are undertaking to make the airport experience more fluid and...

Tourism Minister David Collado officially was in Samana on Friday, 25 July 2025 for the inauguration of the newly repaired and illuminated Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó Street in Las Terrenas, Samaná. The road follows the beach-studded coastline all the way to Playa Las Ballenas, on the western side of Las Terrenas.

The renovation work focused on repairing the existing paving in deteriorated areas, stretching from Pueblo de los Pescadores to Golf Project Street. Additionally, 2.45 kilometers of Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó Street were illuminated with the installation of new lighting fixtures and aluminum poles designed to resist salt corrosion.

Minister Collado stated that this project is part of the Ministry of Tourism’s ongoing efforts to intervene in various tourist enclaves, thereby making a positive impact on local communities. “Interventions like this benefit visitors...

Viewing the Atlantic Ocean beach waters in front of Punta Cana beach will now be easier from your hotel room. There will be lots of rooms with ocean view for the taking at the Moon Palace The Grand, the country’s first high-rise resort soon to open in the area.

Moon Palace The Grand is preparing to open its first 1,000 rooms in spring 2026. The resort hotel is an investment of the Mexican Palace Company. The hotel is already taking bookings for lodgings starting next March 2026.

The hotel says it will have 20 dining options at the site.

At the present time, the hotel is working on hiring around 5,000 staff.

Read More:

• CDN
• Moon Palace

The Dominican Republic has a special place in Costa Line cruise marketing. In a recent interview for Travel Age West, Dario Rustico, Costa Line’s general manager for North and South America of Costa Cruise Line explained that in the Caribbean, a different itinerary from many of the major cruise lines is offered because ships sail out of the Dominican Republic, not Florida.

“So with the short flight to the Dominican Republic, we can sail deeper into the Caribbean over the seven-day itinerary,” he explained.

Costa Line cruise ships travel to multiple cruise ship ports in the Dominican Republic.

A Costa Pacifica cruise has an itinerary that goes around the island of Hispaniola with stops at the ports of La Romana, Cabo Rojo, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Plata, Samana and Isla Catalina.

Thus, Costa Line’s ships, Costa Fascinosa and Costa Pacifica operate routes...

President Luis Abinader at the request of legislators issued a decree that reconvened Congress to give more time for the passage of important legislation. On Saturday, 26 July 2025, Congress had finished its ordinary first session of the year, but neither the amendments to the Labor Code or the new Penal Code had managed to be passed by both houses. Neither passed in Congress were the bills on rentals, solid wastes or the National Intelligency Agency (DNI).

Legislators are ordered to return to their jobs through the extraordinary legislative session that will now close on 5 August. Congress will then open for its second legislative period of the year on 16 August.

Regarding the Penal Code, although it passed in the Senate and had received initial approval in the Chamber of Deputies, its progress has stalled. Technical errors, missing articles, disagreements with the...

First Lady Raquel Arbaje, along with her daughters Graciela, Esther, and Adriana, is among more than 1,000 individuals who have signed an open letter rejecting the current draft of the Dominican Republic’s proposed Penal Code reform. The letter, addressed directly to President Luis Abinader, warns that the legislation represents a “serious setback” for human rights in the country.

The document has garnered support from a wide cross-section of Dominican society, including activists, legal scholars, journalists, academics, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens. Signatories argue that the proposed code, in its current form, could have profound ethical and social consequences—particularly for women and girls.

Among the central concerns raised is the limited legal definition of femicide, which recognizes only three specific circumstances under which the...

President Luis Abinader announced on 23 July 2025 the Republic of Ideas initiative, a nationwide contest aimed at encouraging Dominicans both at home and abroad to submit creative, innovative, and feasible proposals to help drive inclusive and sustainable development. Government officials are joined by academic leaders, young changemakers, and civil society representatives at the unveiling.

“República de Ideas” is part of the government’s broader push to cultivate a culture of civic engagement, collective creativity, and forward-looking thinking. The initiative is aligned with the national strategy Meta RD 2036, which seeks to double the country’s Gross Domestic Product and build a more prosperous, equitable, and resilient Dominican Republic.

República de Ideas invites citizens to propose innovative solutions to drive the country’s future development. The contest...

South African Minister of Mines, Gwede Mantashe and Minister of Industry & Commerce, Victor (Ito) Bisonó / MICM

South Africa is looking for investors as it works out its problems in dealing with the high cost of extraction to exploit its Steenkampskraal mine known for deposits of rare earth elements and described as located “in the middle of nowhere.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry & Commerce Victor (Ito) Bisono met with South African Minister of Mines Gwede Mantashe to learn about the South African experience and find ways to collaborate.

The Dominican government has created a trust for the exploitation of rare earth elements in Pedernales on the southwestern border with Haiti. The exploitation of the rare earth elements is controversial because at the same time Pedernales is being developed as a major tourism...

Economist Ellen Perez Ducy writes a second part in her analysis for Diario Libre on DR-CAFTA now that the Trump Administration has levied a 10% tariff on the Dominican Republic, an outright change of the trading rules with the Caribbean and Central America.

In her analysis, “The Myth of Exports (Part II): The DR-CAFTA Paradox,” Perez Ducy makes the point that while free trade agreements may be hailed as a panacea for economic growth, it is up to each country to adapt export offerings to be able to capitalize on new market access. She stresses the importance of concentrating on the production of high value-added industrialized products without neglecting the strategic importance of agriculture exports.

She highlights it took the DR time to adapt its exports to DR-CAFTA, but eventually the country switched from being a major exporter of apparel to higher value-added exports prevailing for the free...

If conditions for living and working in Haiti would improve, Haitians would no longer need to migrate.

Meanwhile, to detain the mass flux of Haitians looking for what their country is not providing in security, jobs and social services, the Dominican government has poured over RD800 million (approximately US$13.6 million) into bolstering its deportation efforts over the past ten months. Yet a significant challenge persists: Haitian migrants repeatedly return, often just days after being sent back across the border, a recent report in Diario Libre points out.

The reality is bleak, nevertheless. Despite substantial investments in new buses, biometric readers, and modernizing immigration facilities, the revolving door of deportation and re-entry continues. What has increased is the cost of re-entering as more controls are in place.

At the Haina Migratory Processing Center...

Tensions are rising over the rice surplus. The opposition says the stockpiles are of imported rice. Agriculture Minister Limber Cruz during the 21 July 2025 press conference of President Luis Abinader had stated that this year the country had not imported rice, and that the rice inventories were of rice imported in 2024.

Moreover, Agriculture Minister Limber Cruz announced during the same press conference that the country is on track for another record-breaking rice harvest. His optimism has been met with sharp criticism from opposition figures who allege that the current rice surplus stems largely from last year’s imports — not domestic production.

Former senator Adriano Sánchez Roa, head of the Agricultural Secretariat of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), said on Thursday, 24 July, that the 2.7 million quintals of rice currently stored — which Minister Cruz attributes to local harvests...

It would be hard to find someone so dedicated to a cause as retired general Juan Manuel Mendez Garcia, the head of the Center for Emergency Operations (COE). Mendez Garcia was just honored for his 20 years as the head of the Dominican agency charged with handling all of the emergency situations that occur on an island that sees so many different natural and human disasters.

The Dominican Republic has 14 major seismic fault lines, and at any time one of these might shake the nation. The Dominican Republic is also in the path of many of the worst hurricanes imaginable, and there is nowhere to go in order to avoid one of these. And then there are the Dominican holidays. These events, Christmas-New Years and Holy Weeks, ware nationwide event that see millions of people going from one place to another, full of rum and beer, and a devil-may-care attitude.

These are the...

Senior citizens in the Dominican Republic remember studying with the books of their elder brothers and sisters. Textbooks were passed on in the families, with considerable savings for the parents. The work assignments were in separate notebooks.

But then, publishing companies invented the textbooks that incorporated workbooks. And the Ministry of Education approved these. This meant that every year, parents now have to buy new books for each child.

El Dia reports on how this business has resulted in a bonanza for school book publishers while the cost of sending a child to school has escalated. El Dia reports that the books for a grade school student are at around RD$14,000. The amount is enormous, given that the average two-income middle class household has a joint income of under RD$40,000.

Read more in...

The government seems to be saying “tough luck” to the Botanical Gardens neighbors. Now, while an official announcement has been made that the Botanical Gardens grounds inside their fence will be sparred from the impact of the announced major Av. Republica de Colombia roadworks, the neighboring communities and those who benefit from the greenery on the perimeter of the city park are concerned they will be impacted by the road expansion.

The roadworks will remove the trees and then the noise of traffic will be right next to the Botanical Gardens and the dwellings of people who live nearby. Those who used the extensive sidewalks on the outside for their green walks may now need to pay admission to walk under trees inside the Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens has a low-cost membership fee.

Neighbors are concerned their actual property will be...

What is quite logically the nation’s biggest private sector single employer, much like Walmart in the United States, the Grupo Ramos has announced in Santiago de los Caballeros that it intends to expand its current 84 stores to more than 200 stores by 2030. Such entities as Sirena Market (former Pola), Multicentro La Sirena, Multiplaza and Aprezio are all part of the retail portfolio.

As explained by Ivan Mejia, the executive president of the company, the idea is to place one of their stores within 30 minutes of every Dominican living in a city. In the north of the DR, Grupo Ramos currently has 19 stores, with nine of these in Santiago de los Caballeros, the country’s second largest city.

Mejia noted that within a relatively short period, cities like Mao, Jarabacoa, Salcedo and San Francisco de Macoris would have stores and that there would be two new stores serving...

Jean Andrés Pumarol / CDN

32-year old Jean Andres Pumarol Fernandez is now at the Palacio de Justicia temporary jail as he awaits charges. He is held responsible for the injuries and the death of 70-year old Yolanda (Ivonne) Handal Abugabir and four other persons, including his father and the household maid of stab wounds. The tragedy occurred at the Dorado Naco IV apartment building in Naco on Wednesday, 23 July 2025 in the afternoon. His arraignment hearing is scheduled for Monday, 28 July 2025.

His defense lawyer has said the young man is mentally ill and was not aware of what he was doing.

As reported in Hoy, the father, Guillermo Ramon Pumarol Castellanos (Willy), said: “My son has suffered from paranoid schizophrenia for ten years and has been under monitored treatment the entire time. This is the first time he’s ever acted this way.”

The terrifying event unfolded...

The named Michael Williams, a 38-year-old citizen of the United States, is facing Dominican justice, and thousands of people are hoping for the worst punishment possible under the law. Williams was arrested after witnesses saw him throw a poor dog out of an 11th floor apartment in one of the wealthier sectors of Santo Domingo. Another mistreated animal was found in his apartment.

Arrested under Animal Protection Law 248-12, the individual was placed under a travel ban, forced to put up a RD$200,000 bail bond and is required to report to the judge while his case is heard in court.

The mofongo is a dish popular in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Most people will eat it in a restaurant.

This traditional dish is made primarily with fried green plantains that are mashed with garlic, olive oil, and pork cracklings or bacon, and often formed into a ball or mound. It’s commonly served with a savory broth or alongside meat, seafood, or vegetables.

Now the people of Santiago have set a new culinary record. The Guinness World Record for the largest green plantain ball was achieved on Saturday, 26 July 2025, with the creation of a colossal 560-kilogram (1,234-pound) mofongo, prepared in Santiago de los Caballeros’ central park.

Hundreds gathered to witness the historic event, with official verification provided by Susana Reyes, international adjudicator for Guinness World Records...

Descendants of the first Japanese colony, people who formed a community in La Vigía, Dajabón with the support of then dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, recently celebrated the 69th anniversary of their ancestors’ arrival in the Dominican Republic with the inaugural Dajapón Fest, the first Japanese Cultural and Gastronomical Festival.

The all-day event was held on Saturday, 26 July and Sunday, 27 July 2025 at the “Colonia Japonesa” park in Dajabón, and showcased the enduring presence and vibrant culture of the Japanese community in the region. Japanese art and crafts were exhibited, several original descendants were honored and the stories of the first migrants were told.

Listin Diario interviewed Omar Mukai, president of the Association of Descendants of the First Japanese Colony, who expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming public support. He emphasized...

Luciana Souza / Hoy

The NYO Jazz Orchestra from Carnegie Hall has included performances in Santo Domingo and Santiago in its first-ever Latin American tour.

Led by artistic director and trumpeter Sean Jones, and featuring Grammy-winning Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza, this youth jazz ensemble will showcase the rich heritage and future of American jazz, ranging from big-band swing to contemporary innovation.

Their performances in the Dominican Republic are scheduled for:• Tuesday, 5 August 2025, at 8:30pm at the Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito in Santo Domingo.• Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at 8pm at the Centro León in Santiago.

The program is expected to include works by renowned composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Count Basie, Dafnis Prieto, and Iván Lins. These concerts are produced by the Sinfonía Foundation.

Tickets for the Santo Domingo performance are available through...