DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Over the years, the boom of the free zone export plants, with their generous tax incentives and labor benefits, in the Dominican Republic has given the impression the country is a strong exporter. Nevertheless, economist Ellen Perez Ducy says exports of companies outside of the free zones have staggered. She finds there is a lot of myth to Dominican exports and urges the country focus more on becoming the power house of regional exports.

Perez Ducy writes in Diario Libre that the Dominican Republic’s goods exports doubled between 2014 and 2024, rising from US$6.8 billion to US$13.8 billion. Nevertheless, of these numbers, free zone exports were 60% of the total. Domestic exports, both agricultural and industrial sectors represented a modest increase of just US$1.22 billion over a decade and a half, while free zone exports grew by over US$4 billion.

Meanwhile...

Judge Samuel Arias Arzeno / Diario Libre

Santo Domingo will host the inaugural International Open Justice Conference on 27-28 August 2025, at the Hotel El Embajador. The Dominican Judicial Branch has organized the conference in line with national efforts to promote accessible and people-centered justice.

The conference serves as a vital platform for discussing and advancing initiatives that promote transparency within the justice system. With an emphasis on people-centered approaches, participants will engage in meaningful dialogues aimed at reforming and improving justice practices.

The conference will bring together national and international experts to showcase advancements in Latin America and the Caribbean while addressing ongoing challenges in the field of open justice.

This high-level regional event, organized by the Judicial Branch of the Dominican Republic...

Carlos Ruiz Massieu / X

Carlos G. Ruiz Massieu of Mexico is the United Nations new special representative for Haiti and head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). He succeeds María Isabel Salvador of Ecuador.

The appointment follows the extension of the BINUH mission in Haiti. The United Nations Security Council had decided on 14 July 2025 to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) until 31 January 2026 as Council members spotlighted the Office’s critical support to a country in the throes of multi-dimensional crisis.

In describing his background, the UN says that Ruiz Massieu brings to this position over 30 years of experience in public service and diplomacy, both in bilateral and multilateral contexts. As special representative of the Secretary-General in Colombia since 2019, he led the United Nations...

A rice transporting truck gave a lift to six undocumented Haitians as these made their way into the Dominican Republic. The truck was intercepted by the Army in Hatillo Palma, Montecristi province, on the northwestern border, Diario Libre reported.

The driver and assistant, the truck and the six Haitians were taken to the Fortaleza San Fernando and will be turned in to the Migration Agency for processing, deportation and legal actions.

Read more in Spanish Diario Libre

17 July 2025

National rescue services concluded the search for survivors of the capsizing of a small boat off the shores of Juanillo Beach in Punta Cana on Wednesday, 16 July 2025. Survivors say 40 to 50 men, women and children headed for Puerto Rico. Both Haitians and Dominicans were on the shipwrecked boat.

So far, the authorities say eight corpses have been found of people who were on the boat. A seven-year old child reportedly was onboard and drowned. He has not been identified.

As reported, the boat capsized because it was overloaded and impacted by the weather conditions.

Danilo Reynoso y Evelyna Rodríguez / Diario Libre

The groundbreaking SmartFilms festival, which champions the art of filmmaking using only mobile phones, has officially launched in the Dominican Republic. This marks the first time the innovative festival, born in Colombia, will be held in the Caribbean nation, Diario Libre reports.

Actress Evelyna Rodríguez and producer Danilo Reynoso are spearheading the festival’s arrival. “This is the world’s largest festival, and after three years of work, we can finally bring it to the Dominican Republic,” Rodríguez told reporters at a press conference.

Rodríguez emphasized the festival’s educational mission, stating that SmartFilms “has an academic agenda that will allow everyone to learn how to make films with limited resources and tell simple stories.” The festival targets a broad audience, including...

The Dominican Republic’s baseball players may get a shot at an Olympic gold medal now that baseball is included in the Los Angeles Olympic Games 2028. Baseball had not been included in three of the past four Olympic Games.

The Olympics’ baseball tournament would be played from 15 to 20 July 2028 at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The dates fall around the time the Major League Baseball holds its All Star festivities, a break time from the regular season. MLB says the All Star festivities would also be held.

The baseball Olympic tournament would be short. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is backing the tournament. This week, he told the Baseball Writers’ Association of America during a press conference: “I think it is an opportunity to market the game on a really global stage.”

“It is possible to play the All-Star Game in its normal spot, have a single...

The Dominican Republic team clinched the victory over Venezuela during the Serie del Caribe Kids 2025 played in La Guaira, Venezuela. The DR was the defending champion and won all its games. The tournament took place 7 to 13 July 2025.

The tournament is played by children 11 and 12 years from the DR, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Panama and Curacao.

The star of the evening for the Dominican team was Anyelo Feliz who said he was bothered he had struck out twice in the game. The DR was losing when Feliz slammed the pitch resulting in two runs and the win for the DR in the last inning.

Feliz delivered six home runs during the series. He was named the MVP of the Series.

The next Caribbean Series Kids will be held in 2026 in Curacao.

Magín Díaz / El Día

President Luis Abinader has named industrial engineer and economist Magin Diaz to replace Jose Manuel (Jochi) Vicente who had been his Minister of Hacienda since 16 August 2020. Reportedly, Vicente resigned from the position to return to his private affairs.

Diaz is entrusted with overseeing the reorganization of the Ministry of Hacienda and Economy, a merger between the ministries of Hacienda and Economy and Planning. The merger was planned by former ministers Jochi Vicente (Hacienda) and Pavel Isa (Economy & Planning). On Tuesday, 15 July 2025, the Chamber of Deputies approved the merger.

Magin Diaz was the director of the Tax Agency during the second term of President Danilo Medina, from 2016 to 2020. He had not worked in government since then.

An industrial engineer from the Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo (Intec), he also holds a Master’s degree in...

Labor Minister Eddy Olivares has exposed what he describes as “inhumane” working conditions in several Chinese-owned commercial establishments. In recent months, the Ministry of Labor has ordered several stores shut down for violations of labor laws. leading to their temporary closure. Olivares’ revelations come as inspectors continue to crack down on businesses found to be in violation of labor laws, as reported in El Nacional.

According to Olivares, the intervened businesses subjected employees to deplorable conditions, including temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in aluzinc-constructed warehouses lacking proper ventilation. Inspectors also found severely neglected restrooms, an absence of first-aid kits, and wages that fell below the minimum legal standard.

During the interview, Olivares said the Chinese complained that Dominicans do not want the...

With the financial backing of the Banco Popular Dominicano, the General National Archives announced the general public now has access to an extensive digital collection of historical documents related to Spain and the Dominican Republic. Over a million pages of historical records, spanning more than three and a half centuries of shared Dominican and Spanish history, are now publicly accessible. The effort was in collaboration with Spain’s State Archives.

Ignacio Sánchez de Lerín, Minister Counselor of the Spanish Embassy in the Dominican Republic, underscored the profound significance of the project. “This initiative holds enormous importance for historical research, providing access to thousands of documents that chronicle key moments in both Dominican and Spanish history,” he stated.

AGN Director General Roberto Cassá hailed the project as “an...

Rafael Suberví Bonilla / Diario Libre

President Luis Abinader decreed public mourning on Wednesday, 16 July 2025 for the passing away of former National District Mayor Rafael Suberví Bonilla. Suberví Bonilla was twice mayor of Santo Domingo — 1986-1990 and 1994-1998., during the terms of the late President Joaquin Balaguer.

He was also a former Minister of Tourism in the governments of Salvador Jorge Blanco (1982-1986) and that of Hipolito Mejia (2001-2004).

During his first term as Minister of Tourism he made the Calle El Conde a pedestrian street.

Architect Marcos Barinas credits Suberví with the passing of Resolution 94-98 that created the Poligono Central, today the most important residential and commercial area of the capital city.

Suberví was a high-ranking officer in the PRD, the precursor of the ruling PRM political party. His son, Felipe Antonio...

The National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) has officially certified that US citizen Ellen Frances Hulett, 24, died from heart failure as part of multi-organ failure. This finding rules out any signs of violence, according to a forensic report obtained by Diario Libre from a source within the Attorney General’s Office.

The Inacif report, delivered to the US Department of State on 11 July 2025, sheds light on the death of Hulett, who passed away on 23 June 2025 at the Haina Vacation Center while in the custody of the Migration Agency (DGM).

The forensic findings align with the death certificate issued by the US Embassy, which additionally cited pulmonary edema and acute liver failure as clinical causes of death.

Following her death, Hulett’s body was embalmed and transported to Florida.

Read...

Dahiana Ortíz / El Nacional

Dominican women weightlifters Dahiana Ortiz and Beatriz Pirón have made a resounding statement at the Pan American Senior Weightlifting Championship ongoing in Cali, Colombia, from 12 to 18 July 2025.

Competing in the 48-kilogram category, Dahiana Ortiz won three gold medals. She set a new record with a 85-kilogram snatch and a 105-kilogram clean and jerk, for a remarkable total of 190 kilograms, the Weightlifting Federation (Fedompesas) reports.

Ortiz’s dominant display saw her outclass Brazil’s Emily Rosa Figueiredo, who finished second with a 77-kg snatch and a 100-kg clean and jerk, totaling 177 kg. Venezuela’s Patricia Mercado secured third place, lifting 75 kg and 99 kg for a total of 174 kg.

Veteran lifter Beatriz Pirón once again demonstrated her formidable competitive spirit, earning two gold medals and one bronze in the 53-kilogram category...

Luis Abinader / CDN

President Luis Abinader said during his weekly press conference on 14 July 2025 that the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Public Works are working on a final opinion on the use of land of the Botanical Gardens for the expansion of the Avenida Republica de Colombia. The rumored project is contested by those who say the Botanical Gardens need to be protected given the consistent reduction of green areas in the capital city.

Legislator Tobias Crespo (of the opposition political party Fuerza del Pueblo) recalls that Miguel Ceara Hatton, who preceded Paino Henriquez as Minister of Environment, had sent a formal document to the Chamber of Deputies’ Environmental Committee with a copy to Vice President Raquel Peña where he stated the Botanical Gardens and its perimetral areas need to be preserved above all other situations. The opinion was based...

President Luis Abinader presented what he described as the widespread efforts of his government to crack down on administrative corruption. He said there are many challenges ahead. He urged the population to denounce the cases and exercise their right to transparency. He urges people place more complaints and stop seeing corruption as something normal.

He presented advances under the Government Ethics and Integrity Agency (under former Vice President Milagros Ortiz Bosch), the Anti-Fraud Unit (a division of the Comptroller General Office under director Leonidas Radhames Peña) and the Procurement Agency, the purchasing division of government under director Carlos Pimentel.

On the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, the leading global indicator of public sector corruption, the Dominican Republic has a score of 36 in 2024, with a change of 1 since 2023, ranking 104 out...

Minister Faride Raful / Hoy

Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful announced during her weekly Monday press conference on 14 July 2025 significant reductions in both homicides and robberies across the Dominican Republic. These positive trends are attributed to the collaborative efforts of the Security Task Force.

Minister Raful shared these updates following a meeting of the Citizen Security Plan follow-up committee, which was led by the Vice President Raquel Peña, at the National Police Headquarters.

Raful reported that the national homicide rate has fallen to 8.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, showing a consistent downward trend. This marks a notable improvement compared to previous years, where the rate was 12.29 in July 2023 and 9.96 in July 2024. The Minister emphasized that this continuous reduction is a direct result of enhanced preventative and operational measures implemented...

Source: Google Maps

The National Transit and Transport Agency (Intrant) announces that starting Sunday, 20 July 2025, left turns at five key intersections along Avenida Tiradentes in the capital city are banned. Intrant is implementing the second phase of its ambitious “RD se mueve” traffic initiative.

This comes as authorities prepare to begin ticketing violators on Avenida Lope de Vega next Monday, 21 July, now that commuters have already had two weeks to digest the earlier ban on left turns on that avenue where the traffic mobility plan was first rolled out earlier this month.

The new restrictions on Avenida Tiradentes will affect the intersections of Frank Félix Miranda, Roberto Pastoriza, Rafael Augusto Sánchez, Carlos Sánchez, and Salvador Sturla. A crucial point for motorists: no left turns will be permitted at the intersection of Tiradentes and...

Celso Marranzini, President of CUED / N Digital

While the Dominican Republic’s electricity system is showing initial signs of improvement, the Unified Council of Electricity Distribution Companies (CUED) asserts that fraud remains the primary adversary hindering its full recovery, N Digital reports. The CUED recently addressed concerns about losses within the distribution companies, highlighting concrete advancements while urging society and the media to join the resolute fight against electricity theft. The CUED is the head electricity entity.

Recent data indicates tangible progress in containing losses, particularly within Edenorte and Edeeste. According to official reports from the Ministry of Energy, Edenorte reduced its losses from 26.1% to 25% in the first four months of 2025. Over the same period, Edeeste saw a modest but significant decrease from 55% to 54.5%...

Leaders of the evangelical community in San Juan de la Maguana have rallied against the exploitation of gold in the province, Evangelical Focus reports.

Thousands of evangelicals marched against mining exploitation by the venture led by GoldQuest. On Sunday, 13 July 2025, they warned of the irreversible damage that a Canadian gold mine would cause, affecting five southern provinces. They appeal to President Luis Abinader to put a halt to the project.

Thousands of evangelicals from the southern municipality of San Juan de la Maguana marched against mining in the San Juan Valley, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Canadian company GoldQuest.

The environmental mobilisation covered three kilometres in the central area of San Juan de la Maguana, and was organised by the Confraternity of Evangelical Ministers and Churches of...

Throughout the years, Dominican egg exporters have been reducing their dependency on exporting to Haiti El Dia reports that egg producers have added growing markets in Cuba, The Bahamas and Aruba. As reported 30% of the eggs produced locally are for export.

Manuel Escaño, president of the Egg Producers Association (Asohuevo), says that around 350 producers in the DR produce around 340 million eggs a year, of which around 51 million are exported to Cuba and a similar amount to Haiti. Haiti exports are carried out in the Dominican Republic, where Haitian truckers pick up the loads to take to their markets. Haiti, nevertheless, because of the lower transportation cost, continues to be the market of preference for local producers.

Read more in Spanish:

• El Dia

Empresa Generadora de Electricidad (Ege Haina) is adding 60 MW of solar capacity with the installation of a new ground-mounted photovoltaic plant project in northwestern Valverde province.

The project is in partnership with LONGi an Elecnor Group. David Sanchez, general manager for LONGi Solar Europe called the collaboration the setting of a new benchmark for solar energy in the Caribbean.

Ricardo Estevez, senior director of development at EGE Haina explained that the integrating LONGis advanced Hi-MO 9 modules in their Esperanza Park operations will significantly boost the entity’s renewable energy capacity, reinforcing their role as a key player in Caribbean’s clean energy transition and contributing substantially to the country’s climate goals.

Upon completion, the solar power plant will contribute significantly to EGE Haina’s ambitious renewable energy...

The United Nations Security Council decided on 14 July 2025 to extend the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) until 31 January 2026 as Council members spotlighted the Office’s critical support to a country in the throes of multi-dimensional crisis.

Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 2785 (2025), the 15-member body also expressed its intention to immediately consider the recommendations made by the Secretary-General on 24 February 2025 regarding options for the possible role the UN could play to sustain security and stability in Haiti. Further, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to support a comprehensive solution, led and owned by Haitians, that addresses the root causes of the current multidimensional crises in that country.

After the adoption, the representative of the United States said that the reauthorization...

Tropical waves will be impacting the Dominican Republic, bringing rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 and 16 July 2025. The Weather Institute (Indomet) forecast is that the DR is in for more summer heat, Saharan dust and rain throughout the week.

Indomet explains that a combination of an upper-level trough, the persistent drag of winds, and a series of approaching tropical waves will bring varied weather conditions, from morning showers to afternoon thunderstorms.

Indomet explains the interaction of an upper-level trough and wind shear will produce rains on Tuesday. For Wednesday, the initial tropical wave will move away, but residual moisture will trigger scattered showers and occasional thunderstorms in areas such as La Altagracia (Punta Cana), La Romana, Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Peravia (Bani), San José de Ocoa, Azua, Barahona, Pedernales, Samaná, Duarte (San Francisco de...

29-year old Marileidy Paulino, the Dominican Republic’s only woman Olympic gold medallist, won the Monaco Diamond League 400m race, doing her usual last-minute burst and clocking in a time of 49.06 in the race at the Stade Louis II in Monaco on 11 July 2025. Paulino defeated Aaliya Butler of the United States whose 49.09 was a personal best for her. Jamaica’s national champion Nickisha Pryce was third, with a season’s best of 49.63.

Paulino’s personal best is the 48.17 she set for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. Her season’s best was set during the Diamond League held at the Stade Charlety of Paris, where she clocked 48.81.

Paulino is an Olympic gold medal winner (Paris 2024), two-times Olympic silver medal winner (Japan 2021), two-times world champion, three-times Diamond League Final winner, an 3 times Diamond League trophy winner.

Follow the...

Slow-moving storms have impacted travel to, from and within the United States with 5,000+ flight delays and 800+ cancellations only on Monday, 14 July 2025 across US airports, Aviation Today reports. Airlines serving the Dominican Republic, included American, United, Delta, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, have canceled or rebooked thousands of flights citing weather disruptions. The situation has impacted both international and domestic operations in the United States and is worsened because summer is the peak travel time of the year.

Weather forecasters say the storm activity is likely to impact flights through Wednesday, 16 July. Meteorologists have forecast continued storm activity along the USA’s East Coast and Midwest at least through Tuesday, 15 July, increasing the likelihood of further disruptions.

Passengers with travel plans this week need to...

The Dominican Republic is on track to shatter its tourism records this 2025, welcoming an unprecedented 6,145,008 visitors in the first half of 2025. Tourism Minister David Collado predicts a year-end total of 12 million arrivals.

The first-semester tally marks a 3% increase over the same period last year, representing an additional 185,166 visitors. Of the total, 4,514,093 tourists arrived by air, while 1,630,915 opted for sea travel. This tourism boom is projected to inject a staggering US$21.1 billion into the Dominican economy by the end of 2025.

The United States continues to be the leading source of visitors, accounting for 45% of arrivals, followed by Canada (18%), Argentina (6%), and Colombia (4%). Puerto Rico, France, England, Chile and Germany each contributed 2% of the tourist flow.

Air connectivity and the opening of new cruise ship terminals are...

President Luis Abinader has declared that the current business climate is the most favorable in the region for investing in the Dominican Republic, particularly in the tourism sector. Speaking during a presentation on the country’s half year tourism performance, Abinader emphasized the stability and profitability of the nation as a destination for investment.

“We don’t see another place in the region offering greater returns—politically, economically, and socially,” the President stated. He reiterated his administration’s continued support for the tourism industry, regardless of domestic or global challenges. “You have a government that will stand by your side, no matter the problems we face—international or national—we will solve them together,” he assured investors and industry stakeholders.

The President’s remarks in the presentation when Tourism Minister David...

WestJet has added new Dominican frequencies to its winter schedule, making it easier for Canadian tourists to enjoy the beaches in Puerto Plata, Samana and Punta Cana.

The new flights to be added for this winter season are:Calgary (YYC) to Puerto Plata (POP), a 1x weekly flight starting 14 December 2025 through 12 April 2026Montreal (YUL) to Samana (AZS), a 1x weekly flight starting 11 December 2025 through 12 April 2026Thunder Bay in Ontario (YQT) to Punta Cana (PUJ), a 1x weekly flight starting 16 December 2025 through 7 April 2026

The WestJet flights are part of the Canadian airline’s increase in flights to sun destinations.

This winter, WestJet will operate 305 total routes and serve 62 Latin American, Caribbean, and US sun destinations, delivering more affordable opportunities for Canadians to escape the cold and enjoy sun-filled getaways. The airline offers both...

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) sees tourism to the Dominican Republic as strong and consolidated. The WTTC projects the sector will contribute over US$21 billion to the Gross Domestic Product in 2025. Tourism has been growing consistently and by the end of 2025 is expected to represent 15.8% of the national economy. The projected annual growth rate for the sector is 3.3%.

The WTTC’s Economic Impact Research, conducted in collaboration with Oxford Economics, estimates that the tourism sector will employ nearly 893,000 workers in 2025. This employment figure would account for 17.9% of the national workforce.

WTTC expects international tourism spending in the Dominican Republic to reach US$11.4 billion by the end of 2025. Domestic tourism spending is projected to be US$4.1 billion. These figures highlight the importance of both international and domestic tourism markets.

In...

The Tax Agency (DGII) has announced robust tax collections for the first half of 2025, significantly exceeding its targets and demonstrating a healthy economic outlook for the nation.

As of the close of the first semester, the DGII reported accumulated collections of RD$472.17 billion, achieving 101.3% of its projected goal. This figure represents an increase of RD$40.23 billion compared to the same period last year, marking a 9.3% year-over-year growth.

The DGII attributes this strong performance to a consolidating economy, with clear signs of dynamism in key sectors, increased formalization of productive activities, and notable advancements in voluntary tax compliance among taxpayers.

Luis Valdez Veras, the director general of the DGII, emphasized the collaborative effort behind these positive results. “These results are evidence of the joint effort between the DGII...

The Central Bank (BCRD) has announced that remittances sent home by Dominican expatriates reached a total of US$5.83 billion during the first half of 2025. This figure represents an 11.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting the continued importance of these money transfers for the country’s economy.By year-end, remittances are expected to total approximately US$11.3 billion.

The remittances have contributed significantly to maintaining a health level of international reserves. The country’s international reserves now stand at US$14.79 billion, equivalent to 11.3% of GDP and covering 5.4 months of imports—well above the thresholds recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In particular, June 2025 saw remittance inflows of US$923.8 million, up 7.9% compared to June 2024. According to the BCRD, these funds from the Dominican diaspora play a...

In heated statements, President Luis Abinader lashed out at Amnesty International for criticizing the Dominican policy of repatriating illegal Haitian nationals.

Before a meeting with former President Hipolito Mejia, both Mejia and Abinader posed outside to greet the press. Upon being asked about the recent condemnation of the Dominican Republic by Amnesty International that has called for an immediate stop to the deportations of Haitians, Abinader noted quite heatedly, that Haiti had been abandoned by the international community.

President Abinader says that the “[DR] will continue to do what it has been doing, which is in accordance with its migration laws and protecting the Dominican Republic.”

Then, quite forcefully, the President recommended that Amnesty International “ go into Haiti and fight the gangs!” He went on to add: “Go into...

A new Colonial City parking garage opens on 1 August 2025. It is located at Arzobispo Meriño corner Avenida Mella, on the north side of the Colonial City in the National District. The parking building has 350 parking spots and spaces for motorcycles and bicycles.

The new facility has charging stations for EVs as well as a few mall businesses. It will operate 24/7/365. The cost for parking has been set at RD$100 per hour.

Intrant will operate an office on site for renewing driver licenses. There will also be a car wash, elevators, fire prevention equipment, and digital payment will be available.

The project was financed by the governmental Banreservas at a cost of US$16 million, and the installation will be managed by the TX company from Panama, reportedly with 40 years managing parking spaces in Latin America.

On the front row of the ribbon cutting was President...

Dominicans who renewed their passports as of 2020 during the Abinader administration may find themselves with passports where the front cover lettering is fading. Tenders for passport booklets at the Passport Office with the change of government had fallen under multiple complaints.

The present administrator of the Passport Office, Lorenzo David Ramirez has gone on record saying the situation does not affect passports issued during his term. He began in June 2024. Ramirez is the third choice to direct the office made by President Luis Abinader.

The previous administrations during the Abinader administration were Nestor Cruz Pichardo, appointed in 2020 and removed in January 2023. He was replaced by Digna Reynoso, the wife of the president of the Chamber of Deputies Alfredo Pacheco, appointed in January 2023. Her term was also seriously criticized for delays and...

The Minister of Environment Paino Henriquez has told Diario Libre that the Botanical Gardens will not be impacted by roadworks. But strong rumors are that the expansion to enable flow of more traffic from the Avenida de Colombia will chop off 11,000 from the National Botanical Gardens or at least the outside sidwalks. The rumors are fueled by the lack of clarification and denial of these from the Ministry of Public Works, responsible for overseeing the roadworks. The National Botanical Gardens has not issued a statement denying the rumors. City residents fear they will lose a part of the beloved city park.

The population in general understands that the bottlenecks are unbearable but the Botanical Gardens cannot be the one to pay the price. The Botanical Gardens is seen as a key national park at a time when city government for years has allowed the construction and opening of...

After a grinding five-hour session where each of the 413 articles contained in the legislative proposal were read out loud, the Senate gave a standing and unanimous approval to the reformed Penal Code last week. It is expected that on Tuesday, 15 July 2025 there will be a second reading and approval, and the proposal will be sent to the Chamber of Deputies for their approval.

Given the fact that a joint committee from both houses of Congress has issued a favorable opinion on the bill, passage is expected to be fairly routine. The senators argue the revised code strengthens combating corruption and other modern offenses. The senators say 72 new crimes were categorized, such as genocide, war crimes, terrorism, killing for hire, feminicide, and human trafficking.

The senators say now a criminal convicted of various crimes will accumulate a sentence of up to 60 years...

During his term, former Minister of Labor Miguel de Camps gave priority to hosting talks for the reform of the Labor Code. Labor, unions and government more or less reached an agreement on changes. This version was sent to Congress.

The business people says the version will impact small business and will continue to stimulate people to stay informal. The business sector has called for reductions in the severance cost arguing this impacts local competitiveness and encourages keeping the present growing informality in hiring. The business sector had advocated setting a ceiling to severance payment accumulation.

Furthermore, the business sector says that the version approved by the Senate is different with the one that had been harmonized.

Meanwhile, senator Rafael Baron Duluc (La Altagracia-PRM), who presided over the Labor Bill committee, said that the bill integrates new...

A broad coalition of social, educational, religious, and community groups has mobilized in strong opposition to a proposed mining project in San Juan de la Maguana, warning that the initiative poses a severe threat to the region’s natural resources and agricultural livelihood, N Digital reports. The protestors reject the installation of mining ventures in the Central Mountain Range.

Among the most prominent voices is environmental activist Fidelio Despradel, who denounced the project as “unacceptable” in a region considered vital to the country’s agricultural output.

“This is an agricultural area, one of the richest in the Dominican Republic,” said Despradel during a rally with local residents. “A mining operation won’t just pollute the water—it will disrupt the supply needed for the San Juan Valley to continue feeding the Dominican people.”

Also...

Although courts has asked that the media not use “nicknames” for the many different cases of corruption and graft currently winding their way through the courts, the latest case of bribery and corruption was baptized with the name of Operation Lobo. It involves millions of pesos that passed between military and civilian personnel.

As reported, the money was used to secure contracts for security companies that protected different government entities. For example, the three EDEs—Ede Norte, Ede Este, ad Ede Sur, as well as the offices of the National Health Service (SeNaSa) and the National Early Childhood Institute (Inaipi).

According to the charges filed by the Attorney General, the security companies that received the contracts from the state-affiliated entities, kicked back between 5% and 10% of each invoice to the officials involved in letting the contracts which were...

Nuria Piera interviewed Milton Morrison regarding his formal complaint against DeKolor SRL for irregularities in contracting and bribe attempts. Piera says the facts brought forward by the case presented by the current director of Intrant explains many questions on why this contractor had remained for years in government.

DeKolor executives had maneuvered for years to pass amendments to their original contract to enhance their profits. When the company sought to extend the contract through its expiration date in January 2025, they met with resistance from the current director who had ordered financial and legal audits to the contracting uncovering major irregularities.

The National Institute for Transport and Transit (Intrant) has presented a formal complaint acusing Dekolor SRL and PagoRD Xchange, SRL of operating a scheme to irregularly collect more than RD$730...

Roberto Santana, executive advisor on Security Policy and the Prison System to the Presidency, has once again issued a stark warning about the fractured control over Dominican prisons, revealing that neither the Attorney General’s Office nor the General Directorate of Prisons holds authority over 19 detention centers currently under the control of the National Police and the Army, as reported in El Nacional.

Speaking on the television program D’Agenda with journalist Héctor Herrera Cabral, Santana explained that 12 of the facilities are operated by the military and seven by the police — including La Victoria, a notorious facility he describes as a police-run detention center.

Santana stressed that the country’s prison system is effectively divided into three separate spheres of power: the Army, the Police, and the Attorney General’s Office. In the facilities run by the...

Teenage pregnancy is a normalized crime in the Dominican Republic. Despite clear laws criminalizing sexual abuse against minors, the Dominican Republic has yet to put a stop to the pervasive issue of the normalized reality of teenage pregnancy and births. Disturbingly, thousands of underage girls are victims of sexual abuse that most often go unreported to the authorities by the hospitals, when the children seek and receive medical help when reporting the situation.

Dominican law explicitly states that minors under 18 cannot legally consent to sexual relations. Therefore, any adult engaging in sexual activity with a minor is committing sexual abuse, a crime outlined in Article 331 of the Dominican Penal Code. Yet, a tacit complicity surrounds adolescent pregnancy in the country, reports Diario Libre.

The scale of the problem is significant. As reported in Diario...

The Attorney General Office announced it has carried out phase one of what it named Operation Atlantic to combat human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and migrant smuggling on the north coast. The law enforcement actions concentrated on the northern municipality of Sosua, Puerto Plata.

According to the Attorney General Office, as part of the operation’s first phase, authorities have established a new special prosecutor’s office in Sosúa to focus on crimes such as pimping, trafficking in persons, and illegal migration.

As part of Operation Atlantic, the authorities executed 29 search warrants and intervened in 12 lodging establishments—comprising over 250 rooms—as well as 17 alcohol-serving venues. During these raids, officials identified 174 women, including six minors, and 22 men, and seized weapons and other evidence linked to the alleged crimes.

“Operation...

Germany clinched its spot in the Volleyball Nations League Finals with its win over the Dominican Republic national women’s seior team (Reinas del Caribe) in Arlington, Texas, USA on Sunday, 13 July 2025. The game ended 3-1. With its losses to China (in five sets) and Germany, the DR was eliminated from moving to the finals. The game against Germany was 25-20, 25-13, 21-25, 25-21. The DR ended in 12th place.

The top finals teams for the VNL finals are now: Italy, Brazil, Japan, Poland, China, Turkey, Germany and USA. The DR finished the round in 12th place.

With all teams having completed their schedules, first-placed Italy will play eighth-placed the United States, second-placed Brazil will battle seventh-placed Germany, third-placed Japan will face sixth-placed Türkiye and fourth-placed Poland will duel with fifth-placed China in the first round of the...