DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Dominicans are the largest Latino nationality in the New York Metropolitan Area, surpassing Puerto Ricans, according to a report from the City University of New York (CUNY). The Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies (CLACLS) at the CUNY Graduate Center released a definitive population study in March 2026 detailing this milestone.

According to the latest reports from the City University of New York (CUNY), the Dominican population in the New York metropolitan area has surpassed 1.2 million.

While the population within New York City proper has seen a recent decline due to out-migration, the broader metropolitan region continues to see growth, particularly in the suburbs.

Latest demographic data (2024–2026 reports)• New York Metropolitan Area: 1,216,258 Dominicans. This marks a massive increase from the 544,795 recorded in 2000, officially making Dominicans the...

Senator Félix Bautista (Fuerza del Pueblo – San Juan de la Maguana) has voiced a definitive rejection of proposed mining exploitation in the Cordillera Central, warning that mining is an existential threat to the region’s water supply and the integrity of the Sabaneta Dam. He is an advocate of turning San Juan de Maguana into a mecca for water storage ventures.

The senator’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the province, following a 12-hour general strike that paralyzed the area as residents protested potential gold extraction. Bautista cautioned that mining operations would necessitate diverting the San Juan River, a move he claims would lead to water contamination and jeopardize the primary tributary feeding the Sabaneta Dam.

Environmental and legal risksDuring a press conference, Bautista emphasized the strategic importance of the Cordillera...

The long-standing conflict over the Romero gold mining project in the San Juan Valley reached a boiling point on 27 April 2026 as local communities initiated a 24-hour general strike, paralyzing commerce, transport, and education. Protesters, united under the slogan “Agua sí, oro no” (Water yes, gold no), are demanding the definitive rejection of the project proposed by the Canadian multinational GoldQuest.

The same project had been rejected during past administrations for the same reasons.

The tension underscores a deep-seated lack of trust in the mining industry’s promises of economic prosperity. Critics argue that the history of extractive industries in the Dominican Republic is marked by legal irregularities and environmental degradation, leaving local communities with little more than depleted resources.

A legacy of mistrustJose Manuel Mateo...

The bad reputation mining has in the Dominican Republic led the population to reject Loma Miranda, the expansion of the Falconbridge project in Monseñor Nouel. Today, Falconbridge foreign operators are gone, and the Dominican government has been left with the high cost of remediating the damages to the environment.

Another unfortunate situation has occurred in Sanchez Ramirez province. Gold mining remediation has not kept up with the pace of environmental damage caused by gold mining operations. These are leaving a heavy burden for future generations to deal with contamination and remediation.

Now, Goldquest, a Canadian company that cannot own up to any mine exploitation, is intent on getting the permits for the gold in the hills of San Juan de la Maguana, promising a modern underground mining operation.

Nelson Bautista, who has made a name for himself as spokesperson for the Sociedad...

Mnisters Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez and Faride Raful / Noticias SIN

In a strategic move to bolster citizen security and dismantle transnational criminal networks, the Dominican Republic and Spain have signed a comprehensive treaty focused on the prevention and detection of organized crime.

The treaty was signed by Dominican Minister of Interior and Police, Faride Raful, and the Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez. The pact establishes a formal bilateral framework to address crimes that transcend national borders, emphasizing a unified front against increasingly sophisticated global illicit activities.

The treaty outlines a broad mandate for cooperation, targeting a wide spectrum of criminal activities including:• Organized crime & narcotics: Combating drug trafficking and the dismantling of structured criminal...

Abundance of permits for high rises has turned the National District into a concrete jungle. Santo Domingo East is following closely, with a boom in high rises, too.

The capital city is now a concrete jungle, or a high-density area of large, modern buildings with a perceived lack of greenery or “soul.”

N Digital reports that the National District (DN) continues to dominate the construction landscape in the Greater Santo Domingo area, accounting for a significant 2,859,389.3 square meters of active projects. In total, 6,601,066 square meters are currently under development across Greater Santo Domingo.

According to the second 2025 edition of the Building Supply Registry (ROE) from the National Statistics Office (ONE), this figure represents 43.3% of the total construction activity in the metropolitan region.

Following the DN, Santo Domingo East reports 1,780,977.0...

After more than two decades in the elite ranks, Dominican gymnastics icon Yamilet Peña is preparing for a final curtain call. The 34-year-old athlete, who first fell in love with the sport while watching the 2003 Pan American Games from the stands in Santo Domingo, now aims to retire following the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled to begin on 24 July 2026.

Peña’s journey has come full circle. While she rose to global prominence by finishing sixth in the vault final at the London 2012 Olympics, her heart remains tied to the local pavilion where her dreams began. After a three-year hiatus from competitive platforms, during which she focused on motherhood and her Olympic Gymnastic Academy (OGA), she returned to training last September under the guidance of Amauris Holguín.

In Yamilet Peña’s case, her career was built on the Produnova, a vault so dangerous it is...

The Dominican Republic U18 men’s beach volleyball duo qualified to play in the World Cup. The DR only lost to Team USA.

The home pair of Francisco De Jesús and Franklin Segura advanced over Nicaragua and Puerto Rico in this round of the U18 WQT competition that took place on the sand courts of Juan Dolio Beach in San Pedro de Macoris.

The 2026 U18 Beach Volleyball World Championship is scheduled for July 8–12 in The Hague, Netherlands.

The Samaná Bay Spring Regatta returns to Marina Puerto Bahía from 1 to 3 May 2026, marking a milestone decade as a premier gathering for domestic and international sailors. Endorsed by the Dominican Sailing Federation, the event features competitions in both the cruiser and dinghy (vela ligera) categories, solidifying Samaná’s reputation as a top-tier nautical tourism destination.

Samaná Bay is renowned in the sailing community for providing a tactical challenge, characterized by consistent winds and protected waters that require precise navigation. “The event has consolidated itself as a meeting point for sailors, featuring exciting races and a festive atmosphere,” noted Ana Bancalari, marketing director of Marina Puerto Bahía.

Lifestyle and on-shore programmingThe 2026 edition introduces several new elements to enhance the experience for non-sailors and guests:Regatta...

The province of El Seibo officially begins its traditional bullfights this Friday, 1 May 2026, marking the start of one of the most culturally significant events in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic. Deeply rooted in local identity, the annual spectacle draws hundreds of visitors attracted by a unique blend of historical legacy, religious fervor, and popular entertainment, Diario Libre reports.

The festivities are held in honor of the Santísima Cruz (Holy Cross), the central figure of the province’s patron saint celebrations. The inaugural events commence at 2pm with a ceremony to officially unveil the name of the Plaza de Toros y Multiuso Eduardo Lima. Following cultural presentations, the bullfights (locally known as corridas) begins at 4pm.

Luis Graverley, a member of the Hermandad de Fervorosos (the organization coordinating the patronal festivities), told...

Minister of Environment Armando Paino Henríquez stated that it is time for the Dominican Republic to decide once and for all whether it wants to continue as a mining nation or pivot to a different economic model. Speaking with El Día and the “Hoy Mismo” program, Henríquez clarified that the government is currently awaiting a formal Environmental Impact Study (EIS) from GoldQuest to evaluate the Los Romeros gold project in San Juan de la Maguana. He emphasized that the project has not been approved and the final decision is pending on that evaluation’s results.

The Minister explained that his role is that of an evaluator, not an automatic granter of permits. After years of stagnation of the Romero Project, in 2024, the Ministry of Environment formally activated the technical process by defining the “Terms of Reference” that the company’s study must satisfy. Henríquez...

Apolinar Veloz / Hoy

With government and private business seemingly aligned for the green light of the exploitation permit for Goldquest operations in a mountain area of San Juan de la Maguana, economists of the state university are raising the red flags that what is going on in Sanchez Ramirez province could be repeated in San Juan de la Maguana. The main issue is that the government does not have the oversight capacity to control the mining companies.

As gold prices remain high on the international market, economists Apolinar Veloz and Maritza Ruiz from the Dominican Public Policy Observatory of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) are urging the Dominican government to review its mining contract with Barrick Pueblo Viejo, as reported in Hoy. They argue the agreement contains excessive provisions that are financially and environmentally detrimental to the Dominican Republic...

Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez and his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares, reaffirmed their nations’ commitments to bilateral cooperation, trade, and investment during an official diplomatic visit this week. The high-level meeting emphasized the reciprocal support for their respective diaspora communities and the deep-seated cultural links between the two countries.

In a joint press conference, the diplomats underscored the socio-economic impact of the migration corridors between the Caribbean nation and the Iberian Peninsula.

Migration and community integrationMinister Álvarez highlighted the scale of the Dominican diaspora in Spain, noting that it represents the second-largest Dominican community abroad. “More than 200,000 of our compatriots reside in Spain,” stated the Dominican Foreign Minister. “We sincerely appreciate the welcome extended to our people, who today actively...

A newly released report by the Atlantic Council, published on 30 March 2026, systematically diagnoses the Dominican Republic’s most pressing national debates through a 30-year macroeconomic lens as judicial independence, fiscal reform, informal labor and nearshoring. Authored by Marino Auffant for the Freedom and Prosperity Center’s 2026 Atlas, the document evaluates the nation’s political, economic, and legal evolution, outlining structural successes while targeting the deferred reforms holding the country back.

Marino Auffant is a Dominican-born international historian and geopolitical strategist who serves as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. He holds a PhD in International History from Harvard University and leads the boutique advisory firm Auffant Global. Domestically, he has served as an advisor to the National...

The Ministry of Housing and Edifications (Mivhed) has commenced demolition activities on 9th Street in the Los Praditos slum neighborhood of Santo Domingo. This initiative is part of a broader urban and road integration project designed to enhance traffic mobility and reclaim public spaces within the capital city. The interventions seek to benefit east-west traffic and north-south traffic in the capital city and quality of life in the Los Praditos area.

According to Mivhed, the project offers a structural solution to the increasing congestion and disorganized urban growth that has historically impacted the area’s layout. Housing Minister Victor (Ito) Bisonó reported that the works are projected to last 18 months with a total investment of RD$150 million.

“We are reclaiming spaces for the people and ensuring that essential services, such as ambulances or emergency units...

Visitors to the Dominican Republic will notice vehicles stopped at a red light waiting for the change. They will also notice how regularly from out of no where a motorcyclist will zoom forward and openly violate the red light stop sign. There may even be a Digesett officer on the corner or directing traffic, but the traffic agent most likely will ignore any violation by the motorcyclist. There is an unwritten law in effect that states that traffic laws are not for motorcyclists.

A story in El Nacional looks into this new normal in traffic in the Dominican Republic. The feature recalls that motorcyclists are involved in 80% of all traffic accidents. The matter gets worse. If the case gets to court, the judges regularly act in favor of the motorcyclist, regardless of whether the person had blatantly violated the law causing the accident.

After an incident when a...

Antonio Espaillat and Edith Febles / Edith Febles Youtube Channel

Lawyer Laura Acosta in her role as victim defense lawyer in the JetSet Club roof collapse on 8 April 2026 that killed 236 and injured 180, presented new evidence in court on Monday, 27 April 2026, urging judge Raymundo Mejia to include four companies also in the nightclub owner’s name in the case deliberations yet to start.

Edith Febles, the journalist who was responsible for the only interview offered by Jet Set Club owner Antonio Espaillat, a pre-taped interview, aired the testimony of Laura Acosta for TeleAmerica Radio. She explained to her viewers that the matter presented is key to the future unfolding of the case. In her testimony, Acosta identified four companies calling for these to be included in the deliberations. She said in all of these companies, Antonio Espaillat is...

Key Jet Set Club roof collapse witness Gregory Adames, a long-time employee and righthand to the owners of the club (eight years on the job until the collapse) gave his testimony as a victim in court on 27 April 2026.

The case is looking into the collapse of the roof that caused the death of 236 persons and 180 persons injured on 8 April 2025. A technical report points to negligence on behalf of the owners-managers, Antonio Espaillat and his sister Maribel Espaillat.

Judge Raymundo Mejía of the First Instruction Court of the National District is conducting the preliminary phase. In a previous preliminary phase hearing, the judge had said Adames would have to wait for the case to formally open deliberations for him to testify as a key witness.

In an interesting turn of events, on 27 April 2026, Gregory Adames, the chief waiter and right hand of the management, who had not...

Meteorologist Jean Suriel warns of more rains for Greater Santo Domingo on Wednesday, 29 April and Thursday, 30 April 2026. Rains are also expected for the east, northeast, north, Central Mountain Range and northwest as a front system moves through. Rains will be moderate mostly from 2 to 9pm. Occasional gusty winds may accompany the rains when the passing trough interacts with the very hot air in the Caribbean Sea.

Jean Suriel alerts says that in some areas, the trough could bring hail and wind gusts as has occurred in the past.

After being alerted to unusual movement near the shores of the eastern El Seibo province, agents of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and personnel from the Dominican Republic Navy (ARD), seized 19 bales of hashish during an inspection operation on the coast of Miches, El Seibo. They acted in coordination with the state prosecution arm of the Attorney General Office.

Miches is currently experiencing a massive boom in luxury hotel development and tourism infrastructure, making rigorous maritime security in this eastern coastal area a priority for national law enforcement.

Acting on intelligence gathering, operational teams were alerted to suspicious activity at Las Pasas beach. Upon arriving at the location, authorities initiated extensive search and tracking efforts throughout the zone, ultimately locating a sack containing the suspected narcotics...

Will San Juan de la Maguana become the new Sanchez Ramirez province? Will the Abinader administration authorize exploitation that could be a first step for the gold rich province to turn into a hub for other mining projects to take advantage of the strategic assets under the mountains of the Dominican Republic?

The debate on the proposed “Romero Project,” a gold and multi-resource extraction initiative spearheaded by the Canadian-based firm GoldQuest, continues as the community voices its environmental and historical concerns. It is about the contrast between the historical stance that the area is the country’s primary water source and whether proposed modern mining can enable the proponents and the country to enjoy the short term profits of gold while the long term liabilities to the environment, population and country’s finances are reduced...

New Minister of Housing Victor (Ito) Bisono says works are advancing towards putting into effect new initiatives that will make obtaining construction permits more agile. Builders constantly complain the delays in issuing of the permits increase the cost of construction. The new systems seek to digitize and automate the procedures, simplifying the steps for all to gain. He said the country has a 1.2 million deficit in housing, when explaining the plan during an interview with the El Caribe media group.

Likewise, he announced that the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Edifications (Mivhed) has issued Resolution #007-2026 making effective the new Construction Code of the Dominican Republic, the technical framework for design, construction and supervision of edifications nationwide.

Read more in...

Following his arrival from Puerto Rico as part of a regional tour that will also include Mexico, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares began his official visit on Monday, 27 April 2026 by meeting with Spanish business leaders. Albares will meet with his counterpart, Roberto Alvarez on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

The diplomatic mission is conducted in reciprocity to the meeting held by both ministers in Madrid in May 2025, serving to follow up on the work commitments agreed upon on that occasion.

The Ministry of Foreign Relations explains that both foreign ministers will hold a high-level working meeting to review preparatory works for the Ibero-American Summit in Madrid, scheduled for 4 and 5 November 2026, under the theme “Ibero-America. Together we build our community. Together we project it towards the future...

The Presidency announced it will cover medical costs for the person injured when a speeding advance security SUV imprudently took a curve wrong and rammed into a vehicle that was stationary on the road. The driver in the vehicle is hospitalized at the Centro Medico Bournigal clinic in Puerto Plata, and the staff in the other vehicle is hospitalized in Cedimat in Santo Domingo, Major General Jimmy Arias, chief of the Presidential Security Corps (Cusep) told El Dia.

The security staff were making their way to Sosua to prepare for the Presidential visit to inaugurate the renovations in that beach town.

A video from Diario Libre shares the precise moment when a vehicle was impacted on the Maimon-Puerto Plata road which such force that both vehicles slid down the hill.

Read more in...

Judge Raymundo Mejia of the First Instruction Court of the National District rejected that former JetSet employee and the club’s roof collapse survivor Gregory Adames present evidence that could serve to elevate the responsibility of the nightclub owners in the collapse.

During yesterday’s session on 27 April 2026, Judge Mejía ratified his decision to prohibit the testimony of Gregory Adames during this preliminary phase, ruling that such testimony belongs in a potential trial on the merits rather than the evidence-evaluation stage.

Nevertheless, Adames gave insights into what he said the owners knew about the vulnerabilities of the roof and actions that could have been taken in time to prevent the 236 deaths and 180 injured on 8 April 2025.

Adames spoke as a survivor. He said that both Antonio and Maribel Espaillat on several times had been notified of the issues. Even on the...

A judge in the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services in Santiago has ordered three months of preventive detention for seven men linked to the killing of garbage truck driver Deivy Carlos Abreu Quezada. The prosecutor department of the Attorney General Office, the Public Ministry has categorized the incident as a coordinated assault executed by a “criminal mob.”

Judge José Rafael de Asís Burgos issued the ruling for preventive custody after reviewing evidence presented by the Santiago Prosecutor’s Office. The defendants face charges of criminal association and murder, in violation of several articles of the Dominican Penal Code.

Details of the detentionThe court individuals to serve their pretrial detention in the Rafey (Santiago), La Isleta (Moca), and El Pinito (La Vega) correctional facilities are Adony Antonio Ureña Ventura, Andrés...

Not much is new in Haiti. The ongoing violent control of gangs continues.

It was revealed that a Belgian Air Force A400M military transport aircraft was fired upon during a flight conducted as part of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Haiti. The incident once again highlights the security risks on Hispaniola island.?The military transport aircraft was carrying approximately 80 soldiers from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince and was found to have bullet marks on its tail once it landed in Port-au-Prince. It is assessed that the aircraft was targeted before landing, and no crew injuries were reported. The incident was confirmed by the Belgian Ministry of Defense.

According to reports in the Belgian press, bullet marks were detected during a post-mission inspection on the aircraft, which flew from Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic...

Dominican national basketball team member, Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT), currently playing for the New York Knicks, has put up historic numbers during the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks.

The playoffs are currently in the first round with the Knicks-Hawks series tied at 2-2. In the 114-98 game on 25 April 2026, Towns became only the fourth player in New York Knicks history to record a playoff triple-double.

Series statistics & impactThrough the first four games against Atlanta, Towns has been the Knicks’ most consistent offensive threat:• Averages: 21.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.• Efficiency: He is shooting an impressive 61% from two-point range and 50% from beyond the arc.• Highlights: He also had a standout 25-point performance in the Knicks’ Game 1 victory.

What’s next?The series returns to New York on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, for...

President Luis Abinader and Tourism Minister David Collado inaugurated the renovated Sosúa beachfront and a new commercial plaza for local vendors on 27 April 2026. The Puerto Plata projects are a significant effort to reorganize one of the North Coast’s most iconic tourism destinations. The plaza replaces informal structures with modern facilities designed to enhance the beach visitor experience.

The new plaza for vendors was executed with an investment exceeding RD$600 million by the Executing Committee of Infrastructure in Tourist Zones (Ceiztur), a division of the Ministry of Tourism. The initiative also focused on environmental recovery and the installation of essential services, such as modern lighting and drainage systems. Access roads, parking areas, and security measures were improved.

During the ceremony, representatives from the local vendors’ association presented President...

Tourism Minister David Collado officially inaugurated the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) 2026 held at the Bavaro Convention Center in Punta Cana on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, declaring that the Dominican Republic’s tourism sector has reached an unprecedented peak. Despite a volatile international landscape, Collado reported that all primary source markets are currently in “the black,” reflecting sustained statistical growth across the board.

“This edition of DATE finds the Dominican Republic in its best moment for tourism,” Collado stated, emphasizing the country’s readiness to scale operations further. “This is the time to continue betting on Dominican tourism.”

A strategic business hubDATE 2026 serves as the nation’s premier commercial platform for the industry. This year’s event featured around 200 companies representing 20 source markets, alongside 300 international buyers and 120...

Generous tax incentives, superb air connections, and available beach land is the formula that has resulted in the boom in hotel accommodations and second homes in the Punta Cana area in the east of the Dominican Republic. Nevertheless, during the DATE travel B2B event, several key participants warned success has come too fast. Some say, Punta Cana is now drowning in its own success.

Legendary Frank Rainieri, the man who turned a little beach cabana business into the largest destination in all the Caribbean, now complains of urban chaos and sprawl in Punta Cana. The tax incentives are the motivation that has led the drive for more and more hotel rooms and residential developments. Punta Cana is on its way to having 70,000 hotel rooms.

Roads for reasonable commutes or implementing land plan guidelines determining what should go where, seemingly have not been anyone’s priority and...

Living in Jarabacoa, the central agriculture area that is now all about residential mountain tourism, is easier with the opening of two leading supermarket chains this April 2026.

La Sirena and Nacional both opened their Jarabacoa branches last week. La Sirena opened at Av. Pedregal, sector Domingo Savio, Tel 809 472-4444 and El Nacional at Federico Basilis, Tel 809 241-7089

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The Metropolitan Bus Services Operator (OMSA) inaugurated on Sunday, 26 April 2026 the start of a new mass transit bus system in the country. While key routes in the past were allocated to privatized transport associations, in its second term the Abinader administration is investing heavily in a modernized system that starts with the comprehensive renovation of the 27 de Febrero Avenue corridor. During the launch, it was announced that the route would be expanded to reach Los Alcarrizos in northern Santo Domingo and will extend to connect all of Greater Santo Domingo.

To encourage adoption of the modernized system, OMSA is offering a 15-day grace period during which passengers can transfer between Santo Domingo Metro routes free of charge. Afterwards, the fares will be RD$35, the same as charged by the transport associations on their routes. But the OMSA routes are integrated with...

President Luis Abinader kicked off a series of ribbon-cutting ceremonies that included sports facilities and highways over the weekend. The first was the inauguration of the Malecon Deportivo in Santo Domingo, a 1.7 km-long RD$310 million investment designed for recreation along the western part of the George Washington Boulevard, the area known as the Malecon that skirts the Caribbean Sea. The President was accompanied by National District Mayor Carolina Mejia.

The President cited the need to maintain the facility because it had been built with “the people’s money” and therefore, it has to be well-kept. The Dominican leader spoke of the upcoming Paseo 30 de Mayo, another nearby sports and recreational facility that would be opened for use in the upcoming 25th Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled for this summer.

On Friday and Saturday, President Abinader...

In March 2026, according to the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, Gross Domestic Product grew at a year-on-year increase of 5.1%. This good news was supported by sectors such as construction, free zones, tourism. Within tourism, Hotels, Bars and Restaurants sector grew 11%, making it the leading service sub-sector.

According to the Central Bank, this is the highest number in the past eleven months. Construction saw a year-over-year increase of 8%, followed by free zone manufacturing at 7.1%, finances and insurance at 7.0%, and the service sector at 5.9%.

The government entity noted that the Dominican Republic received over 2.6 million tourist air arrivals in the first three months of the year, which is a 12.2% increase over 2025. The Central Bank cites 3.2 million total visitors (air arrivals and cruise visitors) for first quarter 2026 as a milestone.

In...

“Not all money is good money,” says the old saying. Yet, with gold prices at record highs, many are insisting this is the time to exploit gold in the mountain valleys of the Dominican Republic.

Mountain valley inhabitants, environmentalists, academia and priests have been protesting the government authorizations that could lead to the green light for gold mining operations in an area in San Juan de la Maguana where communities fear it will impact water sources.

The Dominican Academy of Science experts say that the project would affect water resources because the proposed mining site would be located 900 to 1,000 meters above sea level and above the confluence of the San Juan and La Guama rivers that discharge their waters into the Sabaneta Dam. The Academy of Sciences opposes any mining operation at 500 meters above sea level.

The venture...

Violent thunder and lightning roared across much of the North Coast and parts of the Cibao Valley late last week, and the Center for Emergency Operations (COE) issued all types of warnings for these provinces. Puerto Plata and Espaillat got most of the rains. Towns such as Guananico, Imbert, Altamira and others, reported falling trees and local flooding. There was important urban flooding in Santiago de los Caballeros.

Personnel from the Transportation Safety Agency (Digesett) reported failing roadways caused by rain runoff and flooding. In Gaspar Hernandez (Espaillat province), heavy, violent rains caused local flooding and small landslides In the northwestern corner of the Cibao region, parts of Valverde province, such as Jaibon and Laguna Salada, suffered heavy crop losses (plantains and bananas), as well as housing damage, due to the high winds.

Government assistance is expected to...

Just 112 days into 2026, and there have been 651 traffic fatalities. According to the Permanent Road Safety Watch of the National Institute of Transportation and Movement, in 2025 there were 2,205 traffic fatalities.

The legacy print media of the Dominican Republic does not report all of these tragic events. For example, according to the report in the Listin Diario, there were just 10 fatalities reported between February and April. And this included an accident on Tuesday, 21 April 2026 on the highway to San Cristobal (6 of November) that took three lives.

In addition, there were two accidents involving buses, that did not result in deaths, but certainly served as a cautionary tale. One such incident was a bus from the Viva Miches Hotel that went off the road at the famous Maria la Blanca curve, and the other occurred at the toll plaza at Guaraguao on the Northeast...

The Estrellas Orientales have officially named MLB legend Albert Pujols as their new president of Baseball Operations. The announcement, made via a press release from the San Pedro de Macoris-based club, confirms that Pujols has already assumed his new executive responsibilities.

Albert Pujols retired in 2022 following a 22-season MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Angels. His stats reveal 703 career home runs (4th all time), 2,218 RBIs, second all-time. He is a 11-time All Star MLB player.

While the Estrellas originally announced Pujols’ arrival in December, his specific role remained undisclosed until now. This appointment marks a significant transition into the front office for the future Hall of Famer, adding a new dimension to his post-playing career as he seemingly prepares for the eventual goal of managing a Major League Baseball (MLB) club.

A...