DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic
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The Senate is scheduled to vote to choose the five new members of the Chamber of Accounts this Thursday, 3 April 2025.
Guillermo Lama, the president of the committee that is evaluating the three groups of five members submitted by the Chamber of Deputies, will submit a report with its recommendations in time for a vote on the shortlist on Thursday.
The procedure is for the Chamber of Deputies to prepare the shortlist for the Senate to take the final decision.
75-year old Emma Polanco, the former state university (UASD) rector, is regarded by the media as a frontrunner to be chosen for the government auditing body. Emma Polanco is a graduate in accounting from the UASD. She has a doctorate in applied economics from the Universidad del Pais Vasco in Spain, and postgraduate studies in cost accounting and tax accounting. She worked for several years as an accounting...
The Hydrobots team from Profesora Felicia Javier Suárez Public High School in Samaná has won their First Lego League 2025 national finals, securing the coveted Champion’s Award. Their victory marks a significant achievement for public education in the Dominican Republic, as they outperformed over 60 teams from both public and private schools nationwide. This is the first time a public high school wins the competition.
The competition, a showcase of innovation and technical skill, recognized 12 teams across various categories, including robot performance, innovation project and core values. However, it was the Hydrobots’ exceptional performance in robotics and innovation that earned them the top prize.
“This win sets a precedent for future generations of public school students,” stated a press release from the event organizers.
The First Lego League...
The Superior Electoral Tribunal has ruled in favor of Costa Verde residents, ordering the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to ensure their right to vote in the National District’s Circumscription 1. This decision, outlined in ruling 0004/2025, acknowledges Costa Verde as part of the National District, settling a dispute that had placed it within the municipality of Santo Domingo West, Diario Libre reports.
The ruling reaffirms a 2023 Constitutional Court decision (0172/23), mandating the JCE to include Costa Verde residents in existing National District polling stations or create new ones within the urbanization.
Costa Verde’s legal representative, Aquiles Machuca, expressed gratitude for the court’s adherence to the law. He cited Law 163-01 and the Constitutional Court’s ruling as clear indicators of Costa Verde’s status within the National District.
The decision...
Luis Rafael Lee Ballester and Milton Morrison / INTRANT
Milton Morrison, executive director of the National Institute of Transit and Land Transport (Intrant), presented a report to Migration Agency director, Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, detailing the moto-taxi and “concho” taxi stops in the Greater Santo Domingo area where foreign nationals (Haitians, Colombians and Venezuelan with irregular migratory status) would be operating illegally.
The initiative aims to strengthen mechanisms for verifying and identifying individuals with irregular migration status in the country, thus supporting efforts to ensure order and legality in urban mobility.
During the handover of the statistical report, Morrison emphasized that the initiative is not aimed at opposing the moto-taxi sector but rather addressing illegal activities that violate Intrant Law 63-17...
At a time when sectors say the Dominican government is being lax and allowing thousands of undocumented Haitians to enter and work, the Migration Agency (DGM) says that since the Abinader administration stepped up deportations in October 2024, some 180,000 have been sent back to Haiti.
In October 2024, the government had announced deportations of up to 10,000 per week would be carried out to contain Haitian migration. Hoy reports this would have added up to 240,000 deportations for the six-month period.
The breakdown for deportations over the past six months (October 2024 to 31 March 2025) is:• Total Repatriations (October 2024 – March 31, 2025): 180,417• October 2024: 40,223• November 2024: 28,703• December 2024: 25,085• January 2025: 31,213• February 2025: 26,659• March 2025: 28,534
The DGM emphasized that this historical six-month repatriation figure includes the...
Public health statistics reveal that in the first months of 2024, the Dominican Republic’s five border provinces recorded a total of 4,222 births, with a significant majority – 2,728 – attributed to Haitian mothers, according to data from the National Health Service (SNS). Dominican mothers accounted for the remaining 1,494 births.
The region also saw 42 births to girls under the age of 15. Of those, 24 were Haitian and 18 were Dominican. The province of Pedernales reported the highest number of these cases, with 19 total pregnancies.
The provincial breakdown in 2024 was:• Pedernales: 19 births to girls under 15 (10 Haitian, 9 Dominican)• Dajabón: 6 births to girls under 15 (3 Haitian, 3 Dominican)• Independencia: Fewer births to Haitian girls under 15 compared to Dominican girls.• Montecristi, Elías Piña: Higher incidence of births to Haitian mothers.
In the...
With Easter Week coming up (11 to 20 April 2025), the local equivalent of spring break, media is alerting of the dangers that motorcyclists and motorcyclist racing represent for the general public. N Digital and El Dia have looked into the issue, raising all the red flags.
N Digital reports that Aníbal Germoso, of the entity Accidente RD, points out that clandestine motorcycle races are not only a high-risk activity, but the activity has grown to such an extent that there is now an Association of Motorcyclist Racers (Asociacion de Corredeores). While the group operates informally, he says it has codes, rules and agreements for the races.
N Digital also reports that in 2025, the Ground Transit Agency (Digesett) has seized 173 motorcycles used in the clandestine races nationwide.
N Digital mentions that the bets in the clandestine motorcycle competitions are of...
The Price Stabilization Institute (Inespre) has extended its farmer’s market open at the Ciudad Ganadera on the western side of the Malecon until 13 April 2025. The market had opened for the nine-day Feria Ganadera in a pavilion on the northeast side of the location where a farmer’s market sells meats, fruits and vegetables all year round. The Inespre produce is sold for much less.
The market, located in pavilion number 2 of the Ministry of Agriculture at the Ciudad Ganadera, is open from 10am to 6pm. It offers a variety of products at reduced prices, allowing consumers to buy directly from producers.
The fresh produce prices are significantly lower with plantains, for instance being offered for RD$4 when they are regularly sold for RD$20+ elsewhere, even at the fresh produce market of the Ciudad Ganadera.
Read more in...
Alicia Ortega, Nuria Piera and Persio Maldonado receiving the recognition from Senator Luis Sepúlveda / N Digital
New York State Senator Luis Sepúlveda announced the New York State Senate has recognized the journalism careers of Nuria Piera, Alicia Ortega and Persio Maldonado in the Resolution of Independence in Commemoration of the 181st Anniversary of the Dominican Independence on the occasion of Dominican Heritage Month in New York.
A press release from Sepúlveda’s senatorial office stated that Piera, Ortega, and Maldonado “have left a deep mark over the years” in journalism. “Their dedication and commitment to truth, objectivity, and informative quality have made them fundamental references within the profession, earning the respect and admiration of both their colleagues and the general public,” the statement said.
Sepúlveda...
Roldany Calderón / Listín Diario
The National Police and rescue forces are engaged in the search for Roldanis Calderón, a three-year-old boy reported missing since Sunday, 30 March 2025. The search is centered in the El Tablón community of Manabao, Jarabacoa, located in the La Vega province. El Tablón is the mountain town where hikers headed for the Pico Duarte climb, the highest in the Caribbean, camp out before beginning the climb. The child went missing when playing outdoors with other children.
Authorities said the search would be expanded on Wednesday, 2 April with the arrival of new rescue crews. “On Wednesday, search and tracking operations will continue throughout the entire area, under the coordination of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents. Various police, military, and rescue agencies are participating,” stated the...
The National District Prosecutor’s Office has requested preventive custody for two Colombian men and two Colombian women accused of committing robberies in the Naco and Los Praditos neighborhoods of Santo Domingo, Diario Libre reports.
The accused, identified as María Fernanda Jurado Martínez, Laura Valentina Mosquea Hernández, Nicolás Giraldo Murillo, and Joseph Stiven Rodríguez Pérez, allegedly used an unidentified substance to render their victims unconscious before stealing cash, valuables, and personal documents, according to the request for coercive measures presented by prosecutor Johnny Arroyo.
The alleged victims include four men: Ernest Miguel Soto Luna, Eloy Núñez Peña, Augusto César Cabral, and Anderson de la Cruz on two separate occasions.
The Public Ministry’s request for coercive measures details the two separate incidents. The first occurred on 24...
Get an overview of what the country is doing to grow with sustainability. The Expo Sostenible, a collection of local institutions that promote sustainable development, opens today at the Hotel Embajador on 2 and 3 April 2025. The event features all day of talks in addition to a large exhibition hall. Admission is free.
Read more in Spanish:
Shakira has again canceled a concert of the “Women Don’t Cry Anymore” tour, this time the concert scheduled for Santo Domingo’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, 2 April 2025. The reason cited is operational problems beyond the artist’s control. The concert is postponed for a yet to be announced date in September 2025.
Shakira has been touring South and North America since mid-February with her album “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” (“The Women Don’t Cry Anymore”).
There had already been cancellations of tour dates in Peru (Lima), after the artist reported suffering severe abdominal pains. Concerts were also canceled in Colombia (Medellin) and Chile. In Chile, two performances were cancelled reportedly due to technical problems.
Read more in Spanish:
President Luis Abinader presented his administration’s new efforts for persons with special needs. He used the first half hour of his weekly Monday press conference on 31 March 2025 to explain what his government is doing to reach out to disabled persons and comply with the Law 43-23 on sign language, Law 34-23 on autism and ruling 05-24 on inclusive education, all passed during the first Abinader term to help impaired persons.
The President explained that 19,712 disability certificates have been issued. The certificates facilitate the granting of privileges to those with disabilities. These privileges include tax exemptions, pensions and support equipment, among other benefits. He said the budget for disabilities has increased from RD$87 million to RD$141 million.
Furthermore, during the presentation the point was made that while in the past the National...
The minimum wage increases approved in February 2025 go into effect this Tuesday, 1 April 2025.
The National Wage Committee (CNS) had approved a 20% increase to minimum wages for the non-sectorized private employees. The increment is being applied in two stages: 12% in April and 8% in February 2026.
Approximately two million workers are benefiting from this wage boost.
Breakdown of 2025 increment by company size:• Large enterprises: A 20% increase would raise the minimum wage from RD$24,990 to RD$29,988 monthly.• Medium-sized enterprises: Employees would see their minimum wage rise from RD$22,908 to RD$27,489.6 monthly.• Small enterprises: The minimum wage would increase from RD$15,351 to RD$16,886 monthly.• Micro enterprises: A 20% increment would lift the minimum wage from RD$14,161 to RD$16,993 monthly.
Additional adjustments:• Private security guards...
The Trump administration’s US Trade Representative office has released its 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program. The document provides a country-by-country analysis of the complaints by business and government officials on actions in each country the United States has trade with. The United States is the Dominican Republic’s leading trading partner.
The areas touched upon are US rice and rebar exports, the import licensing procedure at the Ministry of Agriculture, the Customs Agency handling of US used-vehicle imports, delays in passing a new Procurement Law, among others.
The report looks into actions taken by the Dominican government to protect its rice production. It mentions that as per Tariffs Under the CAFTA–DR, as of 1 January 2015, US...
President Luis Abinader said that the Dominican government would not open the Dominican air space to flights from any airport in Haiti. At present, regular international flights are happening from Haiti’s two international airports outside its capital city, Port-au-Prince. Recently, Fritz Alphone Jean, the president of Haiti’s transitional Presidential Council (CPT), has called for opening of skies and the resuming of the bilateral talks with the Dominican Republic and issuing of visas by the Dominican government for Haitian nationals.
During the weekly press conference, President Abinader said that on the contrary, given the continued escalating of violence in Haiti, the government would be implementing additional security measures. So far, two Kenyan officers have been killed in clashes with the Haitian gangs. Recently news reports tell about an outbreak of 500...
Luis Abinader was firm during his weekly press conference on Monday, 1 April 2025, when he stated that while the government allows peaceful protest marches, it will not allow chaos or violence. The government recently had cleared a peaceful march for the Hoyo de Friusa area in Punta Cana, but towards the end, persons described as march infiltrators sought to take the protestors off the agreed-upon route. This led to confrontations with the Police that urged water trucks and tear gas to disperse the masked participants. The Police subsequently arrested 32 persons as reported.
Speaking during the weekly Monday press conference, President Abinader was emphatic: “Peaceful protests yes, but the government will not allow disorder.”
President Abinader said that his government has funded the construction of a border fence, has increased deportations, is constantly detaining...
The Dominican Weather Institute (Indomet) forecasts rains for Tuesday, 1 April 2025 and most of the following Wednesday. Indomet explains that a passing trough will bring scattered showers to the coastal areas, including San Pedro de Macorís, San Cristóbal, Barahona, and parts of Greater Santo Domingo. After midday, a trough over the region, combined with afternoon heating, will cause increased cloud cover and scattered showers, with isolated thunderstorms expected in provinces such as Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez (Cotui), La Vega, Monseñor Nouel (Bonao), Santiago, Azua, San Juan de la Maguana, and Dajabón. These conditions will ease by nightfall, leaving behind a partly cloudy sky with minimal rainfall in most areas.
On Wednesday, the trough will move away from the region, bringing a sunny morning with few showers. In the afternoon, moisture carried by the...
Late last week the Joint Task Force of the Dominican Armed Forces issued a notification that bans large parties, whether public or private, on the beaches and swimming areas of the country during Easter Week or Holy Week 2025.
This year, the traditional spring vacation times falls from 11 April through 20 April 2025. It is the local spring break time when school and university students are off. For resorts, hotels and vacation rentals in general around the country, it is the peak time for domestic bookings.
The banning of beach parties is to guarantee peace and quiet, to the extent possible, when hundreds of thousands head to these recreational areas with families and friends for a goodly period of relaxation. This number also includes thousands who travel to visit their families.
Most of the travel is outbound from cities, but a large number of people in recent years take advantage of the less traffic in the cities to come for medical procedures, shopping, or just to...
The Dominican Republic Aquatic Sports Federation (FEDDA) announces the 10th Dominican Republic International Swim Open & 2025 National Championship is taking place this year from 11 to 13 April at the Santiago Swimming Pool Complex on the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra University Campus in Santiago de los Caballeros, about an hour and a half hour drive from the capital city of Santo Domingo. Most visitors, nevertheless, will be arriving via Santiago’s Cibao International Airport.
The international competition will serve as a qualifying event for the 21st FINA World Championships in Singapore 2025, the Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay 2025, the 2025 Junior World Swimming Championships, and the Pan American Swimming Championships in Medellín 2025.
Nearly 500 swimmers from 13 countries have registered for the meet. Swimmers are coming...
American Airlines is promoting its Saturday-only flights to the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) starting 6 December 2025.
The nonstop flights are from Indiana’s Indianapolis International Airport (IND), Tennessee’s Nashville International Airport (BNA), Pittsburgh’s International Airport (PIT), and North Carolina’s Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
Tickets are for sale for these new winter flights.
All these areas have large populations that are potential new travelers to fly into Punta Cana for a short beach vacation.
In regards to the North Carolina flight, American Airlines will now compete with Avelo Airlines which offers seasonal service to Punta Cana. Avelo Airlines had launched its seasonal flights in February with twice-weekly flights to Punta Cana from Raleigh-Durham.
The Research Triangle, often dubbed “The Triangle,” is a thriving...
After US hotel chains took the plunge and converted to Dominican Republic-style all-inclusive resort vacations, each hotel brand that opens a resort in the Punta Cana area seems to be trying to outdo itself.
The new W Punta Cana at Uvero Alto, in the north stretch of the 50km Punta Cana beachfront, opens this 15 April 2025 offering attractions conceived for the adult market.
Marriott is calling the resort their “beachfront treasure” in the Dominican Republic. The usual pools, spas, bars and restaurants have been designed to stand out as what the chain is calling “an elevated adult all-inclusive experience.”
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The Governor of Puerto Rico Jenniffer Gonzalez and Tourism Minister David Collado announced last week the signing of a collaborative agreement, backed by a US$2 million investment, to jointly promote tourism in both island destinations. As reported in El Nuevo Dia of Puerto Rico, the idea for the partnership originated when Gonzalez and Collado met at this year’s International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain.
The initiative, branded “The Caribbean is Us,” aims to create multi-destination travel packages and campaigns, targeting markets in the United States and Europe. The joint promotion is set to launch in May 2025 with support from airlines such as Frontier and newcomer Arajet, the Santo Domingo and Punta Cana-based low-cost airline. JetBlue, American, Delta, Copa and Sky High also fly to Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic.
As reported in El Nuevo...
President Luis Abinader, accompanied by Vice President Raquel Peña and First Lady Raquel Arbaje, presented acclaimed actress Zoe Saldaña with the Heraldic Order of Christopher Columbus in the Grade of Commander on Wednesday, 26 March 2025, a day after she had won the Gran Soberano during the Soberano Awards. The Soberano Awards are the annual entertainment industry awards.
The presidential honor recognizes Saldaña’s remarkable achievements in the film industry and her significant role in elevating Dominican culture on the global stage.
The ceremony was held at the Presidential Palace’s Hall of the Caryatids. She was accompanied by her husband Marco Perego, her mother, Asalia Nazario, and her stepfather, Dagoberto Galán.
President Abinader, who conferred the award via Decree No. 165-25, expressed immense national pride in Saldaña’s accomplishments. “Zoe is a shining example of what Dominicans can achieve,” President Abinader declared. “Dear Zoe, you have reached...
General Pascual Cruz Méndez / Listín Diario
General Pascual Cruz Mendez is the new head of the Traffic Safety and Land Transportation Agency (Digesett). General Cruz Méndez has experience in security, criminal investigation, and human rights. He was appointed by Decree 172-25. He was sworn in by the director of the National Police, Major General Ramon Antonio Guzman.
General Pascual Cruz Méndez had served as deputy director of Digesett when Major General Ramon Antonio Guzman was director of Digesett during the first term of President Luis Abinader (from August 2020 to November 2023).
In this new position, General Cruz Méndez will be responsible for strengthening road safety and traffic regulation in the country, ensuring compliance with regulations, and modernizing land transportation management.
He replaces General Francisco Osoria de la Cruz, who had been...
After three years of hard work, the LASO Foundation, which works to provide shelter for dogs and cats, received the good news that President Luis Abinader had approved the cession of lands that belonged to the State Sugar Council (CEA) for the construction of what is called the Ciudad de Angeles.
The City of Angels is promoted by LASO Foundation and described as a megaproject designed to support the care, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of vulnerable animals. The project also includes educational, tourism, and production areas, creating a multifaceted space for both conservation and community development.
The news was delivered, personally, by the head of the CEA and National Assets, Rafael Burgos Gomez during the celebration of the 2025 Agricultural Fair at the Ciudad Ganadera in Santo Domingo.
The first phase of the concession consists of 100...
Emma Polanco Melo / Hoy
Emma Polanco Melo, former rector of the UASD, who had won that position with the strong backing of the backing of the PRM party, is the most known of the candidates in three groups of five chosen by the Chamber of Deputies for the five seats of the Chamber of Accounts. Several of the candidates heed from the current dysfunctional Chamber of Accounts or have ties to the Chamber of Deputies itself and others are relatively unknown.
The Chamber of Deputies, under the same presidency of Alfredo Pacheco (National District -PRM) had led the procedures to select the past members of the Chamber of Accounts, a mélange so conflictive that the important entity was never able to accomplish its role of ensuring government accountability.
The PRM-majority Chamber of Deputies has sent the three groups of five candidates for the PRM-majority Senate to choose the five members...
The Dominican Telecommunications Institute will be moving this August 2025 to a 10-story corporate building in its final phases of construction on Av. 27 de Febrero, about 1 km west of Av. Winston Churchill. The building has four stories of underground parking.
The building would be purchased for RD$1.77 billion, Diario Libre reports. The building Corporativo 323 is designed by leading architects Ricardo Martinez and Sarah Hernandez of MyHarquitectos.
The president of the Indotel, Guido Gomez Mazara says that the purchase of the building will represent considerable savings over the medium term. Indotel at present pays RD$52 million a month in rent for its offices in Torre Osiris on Av. Abraham Lincoln.
Read more in...
Several government institutions are paying with checks and some folks are upset. However, this “old-style” way of paying employees has been used before. Back in 2021 it was reinstated as a means to ensure that the person collecting the salary was who was actually doing the work.
The Listin Diario newspaper inquired about this practice and was told when new bosses are appointed, they often use this tactic to make sure that the persons on the payroll are on the job. To pay in checks, the agency head must request a permit from the National Treasury.
The Ministry of Public Administration did not provide an answer to the inquiry by Listin Diario newspaper.
Of the agencies that have undergone such a procedure are the Civil Aviation Institute and the National Institute for Price Stabilization (Inespre). Back in 2022, the head of the Pension and Retirement Agency announced a “proof of life” audit using checks. At one point a person who had been deceased for seven years was still...
The Superintendence for Labor Health and Risks (Sisalril), somewhat like OSHA in the United States, has authorized a major increase in coverage for traffic accident victims. The government and taxpayers will be picking up more of the tab for imprudence on the road, the result of inefficiencies in getting drivers to comply with traffic laws.
The government now authorizes RD$1,300,488 for injuries sustained in a traffic accident. This is about a RD$150,000 increase in coverage.
According to Circular 69-2025, the coverage is 100% guaranteed to all affiliates, both those in the payroll deductions regime or those covered under the subsidized regime. The new limit goes into effect on 1 April 2025, and imposes a limit of RD$21,674 on co-payments.
The new regulation also increases the monetary reserves needed to function as a Dominican HMO, going from RD$77 million to RD$88.7 million. The Sisalril also instructs all health services providers that do not have the required RD$88...
Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea, Inkyo Cheong held talks with Dominican ambassador Federico Cuello on 27 March 2025 in Seoul to exchange views on the global trade landscape and discuss measures for stronger bilateral economic cooperation.
In a report from the Korean government, Trade Minister Cheong noted the rising need for economic cooperation between Korea and Latin America amid the rapidly changing global trade environment and requested Ambassador Cuello’s active role in this respect as the Dean of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC).
In view of the Dominican Republic being Korea’s major economic partner in the Latin American and Caribbean region, Trade Minister Cheong proposed that the two countries widen their trade and industry cooperation based on the bilateral Trade and Investment Promotion...
The Dominican Republic has secured a significant economic boost for its agricultural sector. Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, representing the Dominican government, signed a diplomatic exchange of notes with Japan, unlocking a cooperation package worth up to US$70 million during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santo Domingo.
The funds, provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be used to implement the “Agricultural Financing Improvement for Food Value Chain Strengthening” project.
Minister Álvarez highlighted the project’s focus on providing accessible financing to small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises and cooperatives through the Agricultural Bank of the Dominican Republic. He emphasized that the initiative will not only bolster agricultural production and food security but also strengthen the Agricultural...
Guyana’s economy is undergoing a dramatic transformation, primarily driven by the discovery and exploitation of significant offshore oil reserves. Dominican businesses are seeking to be part of the new prosperity and are investing in large businesses and increasing exports.
During a recent meeting, the Guyanese Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic (GuyanaCham) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade ties between the two nations during the business meeting “Guyana and the Dominican Republic: Strengthening Ties to Promote Sustained Growth.”
The event, attended by Vice President Raquel Peña, along with prominent ministers, ambassadors, business leaders, and GuyanaCham members, focused on investment opportunities in key sectors such as energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism, aligning with agreements signed by both nations in 2023.
Vice...
Very recent decisions announced by the current government in Haiti received headlines that were alarming for many Dominican merchants. Diario Libre reports that the announcement that Haiti would no longer receive shipments of goods from overseas by way of the Dominican/Haitian frontier was not aimed at Dominican products, but rather, at shipments from overseas that were off-loaded in Dominican ports for trans-shipment across the border.
Diario Libre sources revealed that the idea behind this decree is the intention to force ships carrying goods to Haiti to dock at Haitian ports. This was seen as a measure to close off the supply of contraband arms and munitions that is currently reaching the outlaw gangs that control a large part of the neighboring country. The flow of merchandise at the various bi-national markets is not expected to be affected by this...
Very recent decisions announced by the current government in Haiti received headlines that were alarming for many Dominican merchants. Diario Libre reports that the announcement that Haiti would no longer receive shipments of goods from overseas by way of the Dominican/Haitian frontier was not aimed at Dominican products, but rather, at shipments from overseas that were off-loaded in Dominican ports for trans-shipment across the border.
Diario Libre sources revealed that the idea behind this decree was the intention to force ships carrying goods to Haiti to dock at Haitian ports. This was seen as a measure to close off the supply of contraband arms and munitions that is currently reaching the outlaw gangs that control a large part of the neighboring country. The flow of merchandise at the various bi-national markets is not expected to be affected by this measure.
Read more in...
The government was patrolling the Hoyo de Friusa since early last week, seeking to ensure the safety of those called to the protest nationalistic walk by the Antigua Orden Dominicana that demanded the authorities comply with migration and labor laws. El Dia reports that “hundreds” showed up for the march. Friusa was chosen because it is the township said to be the largest where undocumented Haitians live. All the attention is that Friusa is a mostly-Haitian settlement in the Punta Cana area, the largest tourism destination in the Caribbean.
The Antigua Orden Dominicana’s peaceful walk called for Sunday, 30 March 2025 was impacted when supposed infiltrators sought to detour the protestors from the area authorized by the Ministry of Interior & Police. The march had been called from 2 to 6pm on Sunday in the area of Friusa, the commercial area that is adjacent to a slum...
Over the past five years, more than 7,800 criminal cases were closed due to the extinction of criminal action. Listin Diario has published a compilation of the thousands of criminal cases where the accused were acquitted after defense counsel was able to extend these cases beyond the term authorized by the Penal Code. The measure of submitting recourses that delay the cases, such as calls for changes in the judge or medical excuses, has proven to be effective for those seeking to evade justice.
The extinction of criminal action refers to the termination of a judicial process when it has not been addressed within the maximum four-year period set by the Dominican Criminal Procedure Code. Notable cases such as Super Tucano, Bahía de Las Águilas, and Los Tres Brazos come to mind when discussing the extinction of criminal action, reports the Listin Diario.
In the past...
The Court of Instruction in La Vega has convicted Julio Ramos Lora of environmental crimes affecting the watershed of the Cerrazo arroyo in the community of Las Animas. The conviction carries a suspended sentence of one year, along with a fine of RD$300,000 for violating the restricted area of 30 meters on each side of the waterway. The complaint was filed by the Specialized Prosecutor for Environmental and Natural Resource Defense in Jarabacoa.
As part of the plea deal, Ramos Lora is obliged to reforest the affected area with 2,000 seedlings and desist from any further construction projects in the area.
The sentence is important as environmental crimes usually go without any penalty. This is a victory for the Ministry of the Environment and sets a precedent for further actions to preserve the country’s watersheds.
Read more in...
Fernando Tatis and Vladimir Guerrero / Listín Diario
When the 2025 Major League Baseball season opened on Friday, 28 March 2025, there were 89 Dominicans on the rosters. MLB reports 265 foreign players from 18 countries are on the rosters of the 30 teams. Foreign players make up around 25% of all MLB players.
All the major stars were present, including Vlad Guerrero Jr, Juan Soto, the US$700 million man, and Rafael Devers, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Manny Machado. Four Dominican pitchers threw their team’s first pitch.
In addition to the 89 on the active rosters, there are at least two dozen more Dominican players who are on the inactive list because of injuries and a few more who are hustling to make one of the last spots on the roster of their big-league team.
Read more in...
President Luis Abinader was the keynote speaker at the American Chamber of Commerce luncheon on 25 March 2025 and addressed the challenges and opportunities of trade and investment with the United States.
President Luis Abinader stated that the Dominican Republic is stronger, more prosperous, and better prepared for the future than ever before. In his remarks, the President urged Dominicans to be confident, celebrate the country’s achievements, and continue working passionately for a better future. “We know that future development will not come on its own. Development is built, and we have already started,” he emphasized.
“Today, I invite you to see our reality with new eyes. If the economy is growing, investment is expanding, and there are more jobs and opportunities, why do many Dominicans still believe the opposite? It’s time to shake off pessimism and recognize...
President Luis Abinader declared on Wednesday, 26 March 2025 that the Dominican Republic has become the “ideal” partner for the United States. Speaking at the Latin American Cities Conference hosted by the Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS-COA), Abinader highlighted two key factors that support this claim: the country’s “enviable” geostrategic location and its “outstanding” connectivity, making it an attractive destination for companies looking to relocate through nearshoring.
“The Dominican Republic’s location in the heart of the Caribbean, just two hours by air and two days by sea from the United States, opens a wealth of advantages for US businesses that need to meet tight consumer deadlines and seek cost-effective delivery options,” Abinader emphasized.
The President also underscored the country’s robust logistics infrastructure, noting that it provides access...
Francesca Rainieri / Diario Libre
Francesca Rainieri, a prominent figure in the Dominican Republic’s business sector and chief financial officer at the Puntacana Group, has made history by becoming the first woman elected to preside the board of the American Chamber of Commerce. This appointment follows in the footsteps of her father, Frank Rainieri, who held the same position from 1986 to 1988.
She had held the number two position at the board under outgoing Edwin de los Santos, whose tenure concludes on 2 April 2025. He has served two terms.
Rainieri began working with the Puntacana Group in 2001 as a strategic planning manager and progressed to director of Hospitality in 2004. Currently, she is the chief financial officer at the Puntacana Group. Her career at Puntacana Group includes significant contributions to the organization’s various business units and the...
On 17 March 2025, the Second Collegiate Court of the National District rejected a request by Alexis Medina Sánchez, Magaly Medina Sánchez, and 11 other defendants in the Anti-Pulpo case, seeking to dismiss criminal charges against them. The Anti-Pulpo case looks into corruption charges for the brother and sister of former President Danilo Medina taking advantage of their relation with the President to secure multiple government contracts and carry out activities in violation with the law.
Francisco Álvarez Valdez (Pancho) of the civic movement, Participacion Ciudadana commented on the positivity of the decision by the court, saying it is fully justified, especially when considering the procedural conduct of the accused.
Álvarez Valdez presented the fourth report of the Observatorio de Casos de Corrupción Administrativa by Participación Ciudadana.
The civic movement Participación Ciudadana (PC) praised the recent trend in the Dominican Republic’s judicial system, where...
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) continues to socialize its plans to issue a new ID card. The president of the JCE Roman Andres Jaquez Liranzo met with the Conference of the Dominican Episcopate (CED), the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. He presented the overview of the plans to and importane of the new ID and the importance of the project that includes a widespread audit to the civil registry. The JCE has already detected possible irregularities around three million of the ID cards issued by the organization. The new IDs calls for a purge of those who cannot sustain their identity. The purge is expected to bring major resistance by those who have irregularly acquired their identity cards.
During the meeting with the episcopate, Monsignor Hector Rafael Rodriguez, metropolitan bishop of Santiago, who presides the CED, recommended that the JCE plenary...
Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, announced on Wednesday, 26 March 2025 that security in the Bavaro area known as El Hoyo de Friusa has been strengthened with the deployment of over 100 personnel from the Armed Forces and the National Police, who are now patrolling the area as part of a permanent operation, as reported in Noticias SIN.
Fernández Onofre emphasized: “We will ensure that the march scheduled for Sunday, 30 March 2025, takes place peacefully and without incidents. Everything is coordinated to prevent any problems.”
He further stated: “All security units in the area have been reinforced, including Sutran, Comipol, and Politur, as well as ongoing support for the Migration Agency.” He added: “The security presence in Friusa has been increased with over 100 additional Armed Forces and Police personnel, and this increase will...
Coinciding with the militarizing of the El Hoyo de Friusa in Bavaro, the Haitian government has announced a ban on the entry of foreign goods through the Dominican Republic, a measure set to take effect along the entire border starting Monday, 7 April 2025, as reported in El Dia.
According to an official circular from Haiti’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, signed by Minister Alfred Fils Metellus, foreign goods will only be allowed to enter Haiti by sea, under the control of national customs authorities.
This decision directly impacts the traditional overland trade flow at major border points between the two countries, such as Dajabón, Elías Piña, Jimaní, and Pedernales. Going forward, Haitian customs offices at these points will no longer be authorized to receive foreign goods coming from the Dominican side, until further notice.
The...
The Dominican Republic’s largest international food, tobacco, and beverage fair, Agroalimentaria 2025, will be held from 28 to 31 May 2025 at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel & Casino in Santo Domingo.
Organized by the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center (ProDominicana) and the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), the event is a key meeting point for professionals and consumers in the food, tobacco, and beverage sectors.
Over 200 exhibitors will showcase a diverse array of products, including fresh produce, processed foods, cigars, and beverages.
In announcing the event, Pro Dominicana director Biviana Riveiro highlighted the agricultural sector’s significant contribution to the Dominican Republic’s economy, with over US$3,275.5 million in exports in 2024, representing a 17.7% year-over-year growth.
Dominican agricultural products reach 150...
Pandora magazine of El Caribe newspaper, shares its list of the best dressed in the Tuesday, 25 March 2025 Soberano Awards, the grand gala of show business in the Dominican Republic. The leading newspapers have been publishing their selections of the best dressed during the leading entertainment business awards ceremony.
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