DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez / El Caribe

For the 16th time, the Dominican Republic has raised its voice at the United Nations Security Council, warning of the deepening crisis in neighboring Haiti, Diario Libre reports. Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez described the situation as an “accelerated human, institutional, and security collapse” that threatens not only Haiti but the stability of the entire region.

In a stark address before Security Council members, Álvarez once again painted the grim picture of the deteriorating conditions in Haiti, where armed gangs have seized control of much of the capital, state institutions are in disarray, and mounting migration pressures are straining the Dominican Republic.

“The situation in Haiti leaves no room for ambiguity,” Álvarez stated. “This is my 16th appearance before this Council to address the Haitian...

The announcement in April 2025 that Haitian women giving birth here could continue to do so but would be deported once they recovered has resulted in a considerable decline in births in Dominican public hospitals.

The director of the National Health Service (SNS) that coordinates public hospitals confirmed that the new migratory protocol being implemented has led to a dramatic decrease in births by Haitian women. He shared the statistics during an interview for the Weekly Lunch of the Corripio Communications Group.

Lama said that the new protocol for attending to foreign patients is aimed at making hospitals more sustainable and curbing what officials describe as a “mafia” facilitating these births.

Previously, some hospitals, like the Hospital General de Verón, serving the Punta Cana area, reported that 90% of births there were to Haitian women before the new measures took effect.

“In Verón, over 90% of births were to foreign Haitian women,” Lama stated, highlighting...

Rulings in effect have resulted in a windfall in profits for banks. When a person dies unexpectingly, rulings order the person’s bank assets to remain frozen until the heirs comply with the legal and bureaucratic obstacles that prevent them from accessing the money.

The process of accessing these funds may be delayed not only due to missing documentation from family members, but also because of situations such as disputes among heirs or ongoing legal cases.

The media is reporting that a recent ruling has further cemented this situation, allowing financial institutions to continue profiting from funds that many times sit idle for years while heirs struggle to navigate complex inheritance procedures.

Instead of swiftly transferring these assets to rightful heirs, red tape and burdensome legal requirements slow the process, effectively...

Dozens of high rises have been built in the capital city, after the president of the City Council signed off on a ruling to allow this.

Actually, single-family homes are now the exceptions in many central city neighborhoods in the Poligono Central and surrounding areas. This was until Mayor Carolina Mejia and the City Council overturned a resolution that had restricted apartment construction in the area since 2009.

Once the new ordinance was in effect with the backing of Mayor Carolina Mejia, real estate developers rushed to build apartments on the plots with single homes, disregarding there was no area for parking, streets were narrow, water services and sewage services not built for high densities. Dozens of properties have gone up with developers promising buyers they would pay for themselves by rentals to services such as Airbnb. Thousands of trees...

Broadening its clean energy portfolio in the Caribbean, TotalEnergies announced it has purchased 50% of AES Dominicana’s renewable energy assets, marking a strategic shift from liquefied natural gas (LNG) to a diversified multi-energy approach.

A company press release reveals that the acquisition was announced Tuesday, 2 July 2025 and builds on the French energy giant’s 2024 purchase of a 30% interest in AES’s Puerto Rican solar and battery projects, further cementing TotalEnergies’ position in the region’s energy transformation.

The newly combined portfolio now exceeds 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable and battery storage capacity, capable of generating approximately 2.5 terawatt-hours annually—enough to power hundreds of thousands of Caribbean homes.

The assets span solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) across the Dominican Republic...

TV host Mariasela Alvarez appealed to Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso to reconsider the removal of Cristo Rey prosecutor Gerinaldo Contreras. His constituency, including community activists, from the president of the Public Schools Teachers Association, to the legendary Dr. Felix Antonio Cruz Jiminian of the Clinica Cruz Jiminian, and the members of the board of the Isabel Villas residential community showed up to defend Contreras.

Community activists also showed up for the talk show to defend their prosecutor, saying Cristo Rey wants him back.

Alvarez also urged the attention of Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful in the case of Isabel Villas that disputes interests that seek to irregularly use green area for real estate developments.

With an around 20-year career behind him, Contreras says he will be appealing through regular channels, but accepted to...

At least 23 luxury beachfront luxury villas in the Caleton Villas section of the hotel and residential area of Cap Cana, Caleton Villas, were destroyed by a significant blaze on Wednesday, 3 July 2024, Diario Libre reported. There were no injuries nor deaths, but the damages are in the millions as the fire spread to several villas before it was contained.

Preliminary media reports point to an exploding gas tank.

The Caleton Villas residential area was the first to be developed and was known for its wooden buildings and thatched roofs.

Cap Cana is the southernmost development in the Punta Cana area. It is located about 10 km from the Punta Cana International Airport.

The Dominican Republic’s former Miss Universe (2003), Amelia Vega, and Boston Celtics’ legendary player Al Horford announce they are awaiting their sixth child. The parents said they are expecting this December 2025.

The news was announced in an emotional video shared by Vega on her social media, where her five children parade with balloons representing their ages and “December” appears at the end.

“Now it is! God blesses us once more: Our family grows and our heart expands. Baby Horford Vega December 2025 #Baby6,” shares the family.

The family did not confirm if the second boy would be forthcoming. The Horford Vega family has a first son, and four daughters have followed — Ean, Alia, Ava, Nova, and Mila.

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The starters for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game have been unveiled. The American League and National League will play the Midsummer Classic on 15 July 2025 at Atlanta’s Truist Park.

Four Dominicans are included. MLB lists these as:

American League:First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue JaysMere months after signing a franchise-altering 14-year, $500 million extension, Guerrero has produced in a big way yet again with a .380 OBP, .828 OPS and 12 home runs in 84 games. This is Vlad Jr.’s second straight selection as an All-Star Game starter and his fourth in the last five years, as he chases his father’s total of six career fan vote victories.

Third base: José Ramírez, GuardiansAnother year, another excellent season for Cleveland’s star third baseman. With 13 home runs and 21 steals in 80 games, Ramírez is on pace for his fifth straight 20-20 season and...

Billions of pesos are being invested in both new and existing sports venues in preparation for the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games. Scheduled for 24 July to 8 August 2026, the Games will take place in Santo Domingo, with additional venues in the central provinces of Santiago and Monseñor Nouel, the northern province of Puerto Plata, and the eastern provinces of La Romana and La Altagracia (Punta Cana).

According to the Diario Libre, the Abinader administration is allocating over RD$3.79 billion to modernize and construct sports facilities throughout Santo Domingo. The opening ceremony will be held at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in the capital city. Most of the 40 sports included in the Games will be hosted at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center and Parque del Este, both located in Greater Santo Domingo.

In addition to upgrades in the capital...

Commuters in Santo Domingo will soon benefit from earlier public transport access, as the Office for the Reordering of Transport (OPRET) announced that the Metro and Line 1 of the Santo Domingo Cable Car will begin operations at 5:30am on weekdays, starting 31 July 2025.

The expanded schedule, which will see services run until 10:30pm Monday through Friday and 5:30am to 10pm on Saturdays, is part of the Dominican government’s “RD se Mueve” (DR Moves) plan. This initiative aims to enhance urban mobility and provide greater convenience for residents needing to travel earlier for work, university, or other activities. Opret, the government agency that operates the Santo Domingo Metro and Cable Car stated that the new hours will be monitored and evaluated for potential optimization.

In a press release, Opret highlighted the extensive efforts behind the scenes that...

Discussions are advancing in the National Congress with the support of Alfredo Pacheco, president of the Chamber of Deputies, for the vote on a new rental law. The intention is to stimulate more rentals with new measures that would make it easier for the owners to enforce contractual clauses.

Esta Noche con Mariasela revealed several of the key issues that are in the bill and others that should be changed or included.

Follow the story: Esta Noche con Mariasela

2 July 2025

There is concern regarding would-be wasteful spending in advertising by the Abinader administration. Participacion Ciudadana reports that the Abinader administration dramatically ramped up its advertising spending in 2024, an election year, increasing it six-fold compared to the previous year. There has only been a slight reduction in 2025, keeping the propaganda levels still higher than the already increased 2023.

This surge, highlighted by a new report from Participación Ciudadana, the Dominican chapter of Transparency International, has ignited concerns about the use of public funds as thinly veiled political patronage.

Participación Ciudadana’s analysis reveals that government advertising spending reached historic figures, jumping from RD$491 million in the first four months of 2023 to a staggering RD$3.12 billion in the same period of 2024. While the figure saw a decrease...

Digesett agents were instructing vehicle drivers to remove their vehicles that are parked in areas with No Parking signage. Over the years, with the lenience of the authorities, it has been customary to park wherever, even if it meant leaving only a single lane for vehicles to drive through on two-way streets.

For the next two weeks, and as part of the new RD Moves campaign of Intrant and Digesett, those who circulate in the commercial and residential hub of the capital city known as the Poligono Central, are being asked to comply with the law.

Read more in Spanish:

• Diario Libre

Santo Domingo’s ambitious Colonial City revitalization program, backed by an approximately US$90 million investment, is on track for completion in September 2026, a report in Listin Diario reveals. The initiative aims to transform the historic city center, enhancing livability for residents, merchants, and visitors alike.

Launched formally in 2020 and actively underway since 2023, the program has already seen over half of its projects finished. Architect Amín Abel Santos, general coordinator of the comprehensive program (known as “Tu Ciudad Colonial”), confirmed the target deadline to Listin Diario.

“We absolutely have to finish by September 2026. We are committed to the timeline to complete all the streets in 2026. We are already at a 70% completion rate,” Santos told Listin Diario.

The revitalization effort extends beyond street improvements, encompassing the restoration of long-neglected museums, temples, chapels, sanctuaries, and historical monuments.

During a...

Santo Domingo’s seafront boulevard, the Malecón, is quickly becoming a beacon of romance with the new “Marry Me” photo-shooting stage at Plaza Santo Domingo. Since its inauguration in April 2025, the plaza has become a popular spot for marriage proposals and wedding celebrations, offering a picturesque backdrop of the Caribbean Sea, Diario Libre reports.

The Santo Domingo City Hall confirmed the plaza’s romantic appeal, citing two recent events: a heartfelt marriage proposal and an intimate wedding ceremony, both held under the plaza’s versatile pergola last weekend.

Couples wishing to stage their own special moments at Plaza Santo Domingo must secure prior approval from the City Hall. With the necessary permits in hand, individuals can personalize their events, as seen in the recent celebrations that featured elegant lighting, tables, and floral arrangements, all...

The Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed the recent court decision that allowed for RD$50 million bail and impediment to leave the country for Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, key figures in the high-profile Jet Set case. In parallel, lawyers of the victims have appealed the pre-trial ruling.

The case involves the collapse of the roof of the JetSet Club during a full house for the last Rubby Perez merengue concert. More than 236 persons died from concussions and another 180 were seriously injured.

The judge hearing the case accepted the prosecution’s accusations against Antonio and Maribel Espaillat for involuntary homicide, which would carry a charge of at most two years in jail.

Previous to the hearing, the preliminary official technical report indicated the probable cause of the collapse of the roof was overload.

The legal motion by the prosecution challenges the ruling...

Lucrecia Perez from Spain is Celia Cruz, her daughter’s godmother, in the gala tribute to the legendary Cuban singer and performer at the National Theater set for Saturday, 5 July at 8:30pm.

Then as the weekend of Friday, 18 July and Saturday, 19 July, Cecilia Garcia as Dolly Levi and Carlos Fatule as Horacio Vandergelder star in the Dominican version of the Broadway musical, Hello Dolly.

The National Theater has booked several outstanding drama presentations, including The Great Depression with Elvira Taveras and Larry Lizardo from 4 to 13 July with performances at 8:30pm and 6:30pm (Sundays).

The tribute to the late merengue legend Rubby Perez and in the memory of the victims of the collapse of the roof of JetSet Club is booked for Friday, 11 July 2025.

This July, the National Theater also presents the Dominican version of the novel by Oscar Wilde, The Portrait of...

Travel from Chile and Argentina to the Dominican Republic is on the rise as the South Americans discover the comfort and style of the Dominican beach resorts. Dominicans are also booking excursions to discover the fjords and cultural attractions of the two South American countries. The enhanced non stop flights are making travel easy.

Minister of Tourism David Collado says the expectation is for travel from Chile to reach 200,000 visitors this 2025.

Chile now ranks among the fastest-growing outbound markets to the DR. In 2024, almost 150,000 Chileans visited. Of these, 145,005 were Chilean tourists, with the remainder being Dominican residents in Chile. Some 52,661 visitors have come from Chile in the first four months of 2025.

Improved air connections are the main factor spurring the flow of tourists, with competition from the DR-based airline Arajet making a difference.

In 2024, airlines —including Arajet— transported the 150,412 travelers between Santiago (Chile)...

Aeromexico has officially launched a new daily direct flight between Mexico City and Punta Cana, a strategic move aimed at bolstering tourism and strengthening the ties between Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The inaugural flight touched down on Thursday, 26 June 2025, marking a significant expansion for the airline in the Caribbean.

The new route, which will operate throughout the summer, offers seamless connections from 40 destinations across Mexico, making it easier for travelers from various Mexican cities to reach Punta Cana. The flights will be serviced by Boeing 737 aircraft, featuring both premier and tourist cabins.

This adds approximately 10,000 monthly seats to Aeromexico’s offerings, doubling the airline’s current capacity to the Dominican Republic, which already includes 10,000 seats on the Mexico City-Santo Domingo route. Aeromexico offers daily flights from Las...

Island Princess cruise ship, operated by Princess Cruises, is set to make its highly anticipated return to the Dominican Republic on 8 July 2025, marking its first visit in over 15 years. The vessel will dock at the Amber Cove terminal in Puerto Plata, a significant inclusion in the country’s busy summer cruise schedule

The mid-size cruise ship has capacity for 2,200 guests and 900 crew. It is known for its abundance of outdoor space, compared to other Princess ships of smilar size. Island Princess feels larger and quieter due to ample outdoor areas on the top and promenade decks. This provides guests with more space to relax outdoors and enjoy scenic views.

The Dominican Port Authority (Apordom) announced the news, highlighting the return of the Island Princess as a strong indicator of renewed confidence from cruise lines in the nation’s port infrastructure.Jean Luis...

Listening to jazz at the Casa de Teatro cultural venue on Arz. Meriño Street in the Colonial City in July is a plus for locals and foreigners alike.

On the program for Thursdays in July are these presentations:3 July: Thelonious Garcia (Dominican Republic / France)10 July: Eliezer Paniagua Trio (Dominican Republic)17 July: Negra Candela (Spain)24 July: Andres Barrios (Spain – Jazz & Flamenco)31 July: Rafael Mirabal y Sistema Temperado and Niccole Meza (Dominican Republic)

Read more in Spanish:

• Casa de Teatro

The Dominican Republic has emerged as a powerhouse in the Caribbean egg export market, and now offers the lowest egg prices across the entire continent. This impressive performance is detailed in the “Datos Productivos Latam 2024” report, compiled by the Latin American Egg Institute (ILH) of the Latin American Poultry Association (ALA), as reported in N Digital.

The report highlights that the Dominican Republic exports a remarkable 20.73% of its total egg production, amounting to 820 million units. This makes the nation the top proportional exporter in the Caribbean. Pavel Concepción, president of the Dominican Poultry Association (ADA), emphasized that the country accounts for 45.77% of all eggs exported from the Caribbean region. He attributes this leadership to a modern, highly technical, and efficient production infrastructure that has allowed the Dominican Republic...

Accessing credit continues to be a costly challenge for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or Mipymes in the Dominican Republic. Borrowing for a small business is much more costly than financing a new vehicle — despite a generally stable monetary environment. Car financing rates of 9.75% are available, up from around 8% in past years.

Yet, at the close of the first quarter of 2025, the average interest rate for small business loans stood at a low of 14.3% and an average interest rate of 16.7% as of March 2025, according to figures from the Superintendence of Banks, El Dia reports.

This disparity persists even though the Central Bank has held its policy rate steady throughout 2025, following a cumulative reduction of 125 basis points in the second half of 2024. These moves were expected to ease borrowing costs, but the data shows little relief for small business...

After severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of the People’s Republic of China on 18 May 2018, trade between China and the Dominican Republic has indeed expanded—but with minimal benefits for the Caribbean nation.

Diario Libre reports that from 2020 to 2024, bilateral trade exceeded US$22.4 billion, citing statistics from the Dominican Export and Investment Center (ProDominicana). Yet, the bulk of that figure stems from Chinese exports flooding the Dominican market. The resulting trade deficit has ballooned to nearly US$20 billion over that period, exposing a relationship that many now see as one-sided.

Imports from China soared by almost 78% in four years, reaching US$5.2 billion in 2024, up from US$2.9 billion in 2020. These imports include a wide range of products—over 5,000 in total—led by laptops and tablets (US$616.9 million), smartphones (US$607.7 million), and...

A recent crackdown by the Dominican Ministry of Labor has unearthed over 300 labor violations across 13 businesses on Duarte Avenue in Santo Domingo, with Labor Minister Eddy Olivares Ortega specifically calling out foreign, particularly Chinese, employers for their “contempt” for workers’ rights and local labor laws.

The extensive operation, led by the Ministry’s Inspection Department, revealed 207 violations of the Labor Code and 123 breaches of Regulation 522-06 on Occupational Health and Safety. Olivares Ortega showcased the official warnings and photographic evidence, highlighting the severe risks posed to employees.

“All these violations run contrary to the employers’ obligation to guarantee an adequate and safe work environment as stipulated in our Constitution, Article 62.8; Article 436 of the Labor Code; Article 13 of Convention 81 of the International Labor...

Serious allegations over potential elimination of the gorgeous forestry outside the National Botanical Garden land have been making headlines in the press and social media.

The Environmental Commission of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) has made a grave allegation concerning the possible encroachment and fragmentation of protected lands belonging to the Dr. Rafael L. Moscoso National Botanical Garden.

The complaint, backed by prominent environmentalist and political leader Domingo Contreras, along with Nelson Bautista, director of the Green Action Foundation (Fundación Acción Verde), raises alarms over reported topographic surveys being conducted by personnel from the Ministry of Public Works.

These activities, allegedly linked to the planned extension of the Jacobo Majluta Avenue, have fueled fears of an imminent threat to one of the capital’s most...

A Canadian citizen was reported dead from accidental drowning after midnight. Media reports are that Canadian Dorian Christian MacDonald had traveled to Puerto Plata on a solo vacation. What is known is that he was last seen walking on the beach at around 2am on 20 June 2025 and then was reported missing.

His family has set up a Go Fund Me to gather funds to bring him home to Nova Scotia. The process is long, slow and expensive for bringing the body home. It includes flights, international paperwork, funeral coordination and preparation of the body.

Reports are that the corpse was found in the water on the Maimon Bay beach outside Senator Hotel where he was staying. First responders were rushed to the scene after receiving a call around 3am, and the body was located about an hour later when it washed ashore.

The family would have received the official autopsy report...

Weather forecaster Jean Suriel says the Dominican Republic is still under the impact of Saharan dust. The dust is good for agriculture, but it impacts those who are allergic and leaves the country under grey skies.

Suriel says this is the sixth wave of African dust. On the positive side it reduces the impact of the frequent rains that have affected the country this year, and the likelihood of hurricanes, but it also enhances the summer weather.

Suriel forecasts the Saharan dust will continue through Wednesday, 2 July 2025.

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• Jean Suriel
• N Digital
• Saharan Dust

Dominican national basketball team players Andrés Feliz, playing for Real Madrid, and Jean Montero, playing for Valencia Basket, had standout seasons in the recently concluded Spanish basketball year, which ended with Real Madrid winning the Liga Endesa.

27-year old Feliz, who plays the position of guard in the Dominican national basketball team, was instrumental in Real Madrid’s success, especially shining in the finals against Valencia. In one key final game, he scored 18 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out three assists, helping Madrid secure the first point in the final series.

Feliz became only the second Dominican to be on a Spanish championship winning team. The first was Chicho Sibilio, who was on five championship teams.

21-year old Jean Montero had an outstanding performance for Valencia Basket, the Endesa runner up team. Montero was included in the Best...

The Central Electoral Board (Junta Central Electoral – JCE) announced that, beginning Tuesday, 1 July 2025, Resolution No. 09-2025 will take effect. This resolution introduces a standardized format for all civil registry certificates and adjusts the fees for various services offered by the institution, both in the Dominican Republic and abroad.

Key changes include the consolidation of certain service fees, streamlining of procedures, and a reduction in processing steps to improve public access and efficiency.

The JCE emphasized that civil registry certificates—whether extracts or full versions—that were issued before 1 July 2025, and contain a QR code will remain valid.

As of 1 July 2025, the civil registry certificates for birth, acknowledgment, marriage, divorce, and death will be issued in a single, unified format. The categories of “extract” and “full...

Indotel is giving telecoms 30 days to disconnect SIM cards that are not tied to a verified identity –a cedula (ID card), passport or residency card with the photo of the individual.

Cell phone activation on prepaid plans has been allowed without these requirements in the past, enabling thousands who do not have IDs to have smart phones in use.

The Dominican Telecommunications Institute (Indotel) has mandated mobile service providers to verify the identities of all prepaid users within 30 days. The move, formalized through Resolution No. 064-2025, aims to combat the illegal use of phone lines, enhance user protection, and assist law enforcement in criminal investigations.

The resolution was announced during a press conference held at the Indotel Cultural Center, amid rising concerns over the widespread activation of phone lines without proper identification — a loophole that...

Top diplomatic and government officials from the Caribbean were here for the Ministry of Foreign Relations’ tribute to the English-speaking intra-Caribbean migration, the “Cocolo heritage” in the Dominican Republic. The industrious migrants from the English-speaking islands brought with them significant cultural, economic and social contributions.

For the occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Relations inaugurated on 28 June 2025 the Monument to the Cocolos in San Pedro de Macoris. The monument is a permanent tribute to the migrants’ crucial role in the development of the Dominican sugar industry.

The events continued with the launch on 29 June of the book “Contributions of the Cocolos to Dominican National Identity.” The book delves into the wide-ranging influence of these immigrants across the nation’s economy, culture, sports, and academic and literary spheres.

Beyond...

The Dominican Republic has 24 industrial manufacturing free zones, most in the interior provinces, and the industrial district located in West Santo Domingo. These areas play an important part in the economic development of each region.

This information was released by the Center for Industrial Development and Competitiveness, known as Proindustria, as part of the celebrations associated with the Day of Micro-, Small, and Mid-sized Enterprises (Mipymes).

The agency noted that towns such as Villa Altagracia, Cotui, Barahona, and Salcedo still have plenty of space for installing new industries under the umbrella of the free zone laws. There is also land available in El Seibo and Higüey.

The fact is that Proindustria promotes both local and foreign investments in these industrial parks and provided the buildings according to the specific...

During the 55th General Assembly of the Organization of American States, celebrated in Antigua and Barbuda this past week, the delegates, at the behest of the United States, passed a resolution to support the multi-national security mission currently in Haiti. The resolution, almost an afterthought, was passed with urgings from the US and Haiti, during the very last session of the assembly.

The resolution urges members of the OAS to give support, according to their means, to the mission currently in Haiti and headed by Kenya. The resolution suggests that member states could assist the mission through contributions to the UN Trust Fund, as well as direct assistance to the Haitian police. All of these efforts, according to the document, are guided towards the celebrations of general elections in Haiti.

The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on 30 June in New York to discuss continued...

In a frank interview with Listín Diario, Spanish colonel and geopolitical analyst Pedro Baños weighed in on the deepening crisis in Haiti, the role of foreign intervention, and the global balance of power, including US foreign policy, the Middle East conflict, and the influence of global powers.

On 25 June 2024, the first convoy of an international security force arrived in Haiti with one goal: to restore public order — at any cost. A year later, the Multinational Security Support Mission, led by Kenya and backed by the United Nations, has failed to stabilize the country, says Baños.

“It is very difficult to stabilize a country with foreign forces. Stabilization must come from within — with external assistance, yes — but from within,” said Baños, 64, during the Desayuno de Listín Diario interview.

According to the retired Spanish colonel, what Haiti urgently needs is not...

The Dominican Republic must play a proactive role in promoting peace, investment, and job creation in neighboring Haiti, argues economist Humberto Cristian, a member of the Haiti Studies Unit at the P. Alemán Center of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), as reported in Listin Diario.

In a recent opinion piece titled “Emotion-Driven Migration Policies and Their Impact on National Life,” Cristian emphasizes that current immigration measures alone are not enough to prevent future crises. He points to Haiti’s significantly higher birth rate and warns that, without political and economic stability, the situation could deteriorate further in the next decade.

“If we don’t eliminate the power of gangs and restore political order, in 10 to 15 years, we may face an even more severe crisis than today,” Cristian cautions.

The ongoing instability in Haiti, Cristian...

Growth forecasts for 2025, initially pegged at a robust 4-5%, have been significantly downgraded. The Ministry of Economy and Central Bank reports for May 2025, are tempered outlooks for the nation’s economic performance in the current year.

This development comes as a key point of discussion among financial analysts and policymakers, who are now scrutinizing the factors contributing to this altered projection. The initial optimism, which suggested a dynamic expansion, appears to be giving way to a more cautious assessment. Further details on the revised growth expectations and the underlying reasons are anticipated to shed more light on the Dominican Republic’s economic trajectory for 2025.

While the Dominican Republic has historically been one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America and the Caribbean, outpacing the regional average with a 5% average GDP...

The National Institute for Ground Traffic and Transportation (Intrant) warns new anti-congestion and safety measures are ready to go into effect on 1 July 2025. Drivers whose vehicles are towed away because they were illegally, poorly, or dangerously parked, will be responsible for the towing costs as well as the parking fees at the Intrant yard. And the Intrant says Digesett is serious about penalizing for left turns on restricted intersections.

All this is part of the new “RD Is Moving” program set up by the Intrant and other agencies as a way to reduce traffic jams throughout the city of Santo Domingo as well as the National District.

Interestingly enough, this information was provided not by an officer of Intrant, but rather by a spokesperson for the Banreservas Trust, Shyam David Fernandez, noted those parking where they shouldn’t face a fine of RD$1,000 in...

Jakaira Veras García, of the Collegiate Court of the Judicial District of Puerto Plata, and fellow judges Venecia Rojas and José Juan Jiménez, issued their verdict on the high-profile case of MLB leading slugger Wander Franco accused of child sexual abuse.

The Puerto Plata court found Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, guilty of sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor in the Dominican Republic. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but the sentence was suspended on the condition that he must not approach or have contact with minors for sexual purposes. Franco was fined approximately US$3,650.

The court recognized that Franco had been pressured and blackmailed by the minor’s mother, who sought financial gain.

Meanwhile, the mother of the minor, Martha Vanessa Chevalier, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined around US$11,050 for her role in the sexual...

Will Koby Brea follow in the footsteps of Karl Anthony Towns, a fellow University of Kentucky player today regarded as one of the leading basketball players in the NBA?

Dominican national basketball team player Koby Brea was recently drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft with the 41st overall pick. He was initially selected by the Golden State Warriors but his draft rights were immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns. Koby Brea is expected to make the Suns’ roster next season, initially as a bench player with the opportunity to grow into a more significant role due to his shooting skills.

Brea is known for his elite 3-point shooting, having made 43.5% of his three-pointers in his final college season at the University of Kentucky. He is projected to be a second-round pick who will likely start his NBA career as a reserve.

Sports analysts see him with the potential to develop into a starter...