DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Abinader administration is investing in the Santo Domingo Metro to better serve the 350,000 to 400,000 commuters that use the mass transport service every day. Rafael Santos Pérez, director of the Metro Office (Opret), told Diario Libre that expansion works are advanced.

To reduce the long lines and congestion the Opret is expanding five of the stations of Metro Line 1. The underground stations have capacity for six cars.

Two new tunnels are under construction. One will connect Line 2 to Line 1 in the direction to Santo Domingo North. Another will connect Line 1 in the direction to the Centro de los Heroes in southern Santo Domingo with Line 2. Eight new electric stairs have been installed.

Transfer time between the two lines is expected to drop from 20 minutes to 10 minutes starting in August. More cars have been purchased and will be operating in August 2025...

April closed with positive numbers in farm, manufacturing and tourism sectors in the Dominican Republic. Commerce experienced a decline.

Farm produce

The Ministry of Economy’s Panorama report for April reveals that farm exports from January to April were up 11.7% compared to the first third of the year in 2023.

Farm produce exports were up 59.5% in April, reaching US$111.3 million. Exports through April 2024 were US$290.9 million, up 11.7%. The increase is attributed to the rising export value of tobacco exported to China and Nicaragua and raw cacao exports to the United States as well as new exports of eggs to Cuba and the United States. Loans to the farm production were up 8.6%.

Manufacturing

Likewise, free zone exports for the same period were up 11.7%, with local manufacturing exports up 2.7%. Overall, the demand for manufactured products grew 12.9% in April...

The visit by a group of experts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July 2024 has a lot of people worrying about just what they will have to say about the proposed tax reform legislation that the Abinader administration has declared as a priority for this year.

The IMF mission will look at such things as tax incentives given to businesses established in the industrial free zones, the special treatment given to couriers that bring in packages from overseas, as well as public spending by the government.

Tax evasion is also a topic at the top of the IMF agenda. Certainly the value added tax, called the ITBIS, will be inspected and recommendations made. The Itbis is the largest contributor to the government coffers, however, with upwards of 30% of the tax revenues. Nevertheless, recent closures of dozens of businesses for evading payment of this tax...

President Luis Abinader has sent a modification that he feels is necessary to the People Trafficking Law 137-03. The amendment to Article 3 simply says “to strengthen the ability of the state to protect, boys, girls and adolescents that are victims of this degrading practice.”

Article 3 refers to the exploitation of persons subjected to human trafficking. The penalties for this crime are prison sentences of between 15 and 20 years and fines of up to 175 minimum wages.

The President’s modification to this article goes on to say that any consent given by a victim of human trafficking will not constitute a cause for exoneration for this crime. The suggested modification goes on to explain that when the human trafficking involves children or adolescents, none of the usual methods of coercion or payments are valid in any way.

The President simply stated in his preface to...

The new Senate that begins its four-year term on 16 August 2024 will have the task of voting to choose new members or confirm the present members of the Central Electoral Board. The current members of the JCE were chosen in the Senate vote on 4 November 2020.

With the declaration of the winners of the presidential and congressional elections last May, the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and its plenary members have completed the task of organizing the 2024 presidential, legislative and municipal elections.

Overall, the perception is that the JCE rose to the challenges and were successful in the organization of the elections in 2024.

The current JCE plenary is made up by presiding member Román Jáquez Liranzo and the other members Rafael Armando Vallejo Santelises, Dolores Altagracia Fernández, Patricia Lorenzo and Sami Rafael Chami Isa could be confirmed for...

Regarded as one of the most respected and hardworking legislators during the 2020-2024 term of Congress, young lawyer Jose Horacio Rodriguez was beaten by the system and left out. He failed to make the cut under the D’Hondt vote allocation method that leaves little room for minority parties. Jose Horacio Rodriguez ran for the Opción Democrática party. His sister, Virginia Antares Rodriguez was the party’s presidential candidate.

Into the 2024 legislator election, Jose Horacio Rodriguez backed the candidates of the Rescate RD alliance that called for joint candidacies amongst the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) and the Fuerza del Pueblo (FP). Rodriguez said he backed the alliance to avoid what eventually happened that the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) dominate in the 2024-2028 Congress. But Rodriguez’s backing of the alliance did not deliver votes for him...

Dominican Republic-raised, Éléonore Caroit is an experienced French politician with deep ties to Latin America and the Caribbean who is seeking re-election as a deputy representing French citizens in that region in the newly called 2024 French legislative election this 29 June (first round). She was born in Paris but came with her family to live in Santo Domingo when she was one year old.

She represents the centrist alliance of the French President Emmanuel Macron.

Caroit was first elected to represent the 2nd constituency for French citizens abroad in the 2022 legislative election, receiving 57.42% of the vote in the second round. She ran again in 2023, winning with 62.44%.

Caroit is the vice-president of the Foreign Affairs Commission in the French National Assembly, representing the 2nd constituency for French citizens living in Latin America and the...

The term “cesantia” is, in the context of Dominican labor laws, one of the thorniest issues on the table every time that new talks regarding wage increases are undertaken. The word literally translates to “end to employment” but in the Dominican context, it is much more. In reality, it means a payment to a worker who is being fired, dismissed, or even retired. It consists, in the simplest of terms, of one month’s salary for every year or part of a year of employment.

A five-year worker would receive five months of his salary, plus two weeks of salary, upon dismissal.

Of course, management wants to get rid of this sort of compensation, but the Dominican Republic has no unemployment insurance as yet. The payment also compensates for the ridiculously low pension plan retirement levels in place in the Dominican Republic. For many, the severance payments are their real retirement...

The heavy rains that have fallen so far this year have produced an outbreak of leptospirosis, a treatable disease caused by infected urine from rodents and other animals that is carried by flood waters or food contaminated with the toxic urine. Any open wound can be infected as it comes into contact with the dirty water and the infection can lead to meningitis and even death.

So far this year, 24 persons have died in the Dominican Republic from infections resulting from leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is not contagious from person to person. This year’s rains have produced a 41% increase in leptospirosis cases compared to 2023.

Dengue, spread by mosquitos, has also been deadly in the country with eight deaths reported so far this year. There have been nearly 7,800 cases of dengue, but only 276 cases of leptospirosis, so the mortality rate for the latter is much higher.

Worldwide...

Working with Rehabilitacion, the leading Dominican rehab center, the Humanitarian Medical Mission, IMAhelps will be in the Dominican Republic to to perform operations to connect 10 functional prothesis with robotic technology to children.

The candidates are children up to 18 years that have suffered amputations of arms under the elbow. The physicians will be available nationwide at 35 centers to assess the possible candidates for the prosthesis through 5 July 2024. For more information, call 809 685-7151, ext 1155.

The IMAHelps medical mission team will perform medical examinations and provide treatment for impoverished patients, including life-changing surgeries. The effort involves the University of California at Irvine and student robotics team ambassadors from the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio who are designing and fabricating mechanical arms...

Ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) deputy Rosa Amalia Pilarte was recently sentenced to five years in jail and the confiscation of several properties after the Supreme Court of Justice judges determined she could not show the legitimate source of these and several bank accounts with large balances in her name.

In her case, the Supreme Court of Justice judges determined she had strong ties to the drug trafficking activities of other members of her family, including her husband, sons and sister, whose cases are being held in the ordinary court jurisdiction.

Yet, the reality is that if the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) does not act to remove her from her duties at the Chamber of Deputies, she will continue to hold her parliamentary immunity until her term expires on 16 August 2024, and stay out of jail, as reported in Noticias SIN.

Rosa Amalia Pilarte...

The Dominican Republic’s Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team will face Ecuador, New Zealand, Nigeria in Group A at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup that will take place at two stadiums in the Dominican Republic from 16 October to 3 November 2024. The final draw took place at the Fray Anton de Montesinos Monument in Santo Domingo on 22 June 2024. Vice President Raquel Peña and capital city mayor Carolina Mejia were present.

Santo Domingo will host several of the games and the finals of the event in the Felix Sanchez Stadium of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. Other games will be played at the Cibao FC stadium in Santiago, less than two hours north from the capital city.

This will be the Dominican Republic’s first appearance at a FIFA women’s world cup, and it comes at a time when the national football scene is on a high. The nation was represented at the FIFA U-20 World...

The present National Meteorological Office (Onamet) is upgraded in government status and now will be the independent Meteorological Institute (Indomet). Onamet had operated as a Ministry of Public Works department. The bill that just recently passed in the Senate now returns to the Executive Branch for the signature of President Luis Abinader and its publishing.

On 19 June 2024, the Senate voted yes to the bill received from the Chamber of Deputies that will create the Dominican Meteorological Institute (Indomet). The agency now will be part of the Ministry of Environment and will replace Onamet.

The bill was approved with 19 votes in favor and five against. It had already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies and will now go to the Executive Branch for promulgation by President Luis Abinader.

The present budget allocated to Onamet will be strengthened for the new Indomet...

Good news. Remittances received in the Dominican Republic continue at record highs. Remittances are practically donations that stimulate the economy. The BCRD highlights the importance of these remittances, which have a multiplier effect on consumption, investment, and financing for the most vulnerable sectors of the economy.

The Central Bank (BCRD) reports that from January to May 2024, remittances reached US$4.38 billion, a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This growth trend continues the pattern observed throughout 2023. In May alone, remittances were US$887.1 million, surpassing the same month in 2023 by 0.7%.

The Central Banks says the US economic performance is the key factor driving remittance growth. 87.3% of formal remittances in May originated from the United States, or US$713.8 million. The US unemployment rate has remained at a low 4% in May, despite a slight increase...

The Dominican Airport Department (DA) reports that the El Granero del Sur Domestic Airport in San Juan de la Maguana province is progressing according to schedule. DA director Víctor Pichardo explains the airport is vital for the economic development of the entire southwestern region.

During a recent inspection tour, Pichardo observed the progress of work on the airfield, including the runway, aircraft parking apron, taxiway, and runway safety areas, as well as the area where the terminal building and the Dominican Republic Air Force barracks will be built.

In addition, he verified the actions being carried out by the Dominican Hydraulic Resources Institute (INDHRI) to relocate existing irrigation canals that are located within the airport grounds.

“Progress has been made as planned,” Pichardo explained. “We can see that in this first stage of the...

National District prosecutors Minerva Batista and Carmen Espinal Geo have deposited a recourse that accuses 27-year old Venezuelan Scarlet Valentina Mujica Zapata of involuntary murder of 33-year old Julio César de la Rosa Peralta on the western side of the Malecon due to fearless or careless driving. She is also accused of evading her responsibility as a driver in the case of an accident. The hearing is set for Thursday, 20 June 2024.

The prosecutors are requesting preventive custody arguing the woman is a foreigner and could flee the country to avoid prosecution.

The woman is under arrest at the Casa del Conductor.

Mujica Zapata does not have legal status in the Dominican Republic and her Venezuelan passport has been expired for two years, as reported. She has a Venezuelan driver’s license. She did not report the accident to the authorities at...

The Caribbean Baseball Season brings together the best of the winter baseball leagues playing in the Caribbean. Now for the 2025 Caribbean Series, the tournament that ends with a playoff series among the best teams, Japan will be sending a representation. Baseball is a popular sport in Japan. The 2025 Caribbean Series is scheduled to take place in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

Japan is not any invited team. Japan has won the World Baseball Classic (WBC) three times in 2006, 2009 and 2023. The WBC is the main international baseball championship.

Now in what is described as an effort to promote growth and innovation, the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CBPC) has announced the inclusion of Japan’s Japan Breeze team as an invited participant in the upcoming 2025 Caribbean Series, set for the Nido de Aguilas Stadium in Mexicali, Mexico...

The Dominican Republic joins France to celebrate the annual Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day. This is the 20th anniversary of Fete de la Musique and events are happening from 19 to 28 June 2024.

Kicking off the festivities in the capital city, the Fête de la Musique Infantil y Juvenil (Children’s and Youth’s Music Festival) will take center stage on 22 June at the Plaza de la Cultura from 10am onwards. This special event is designed to ignite a passion for music among the younger generation, with musical storytelling, rap writing workshops, live concerts, film screenings, interactive instrument exploration, dance performances, and much more.

As the day progresses, the grand Fête de la Musique will commence at 5pm, marked by a captivating Flash Mob inspired by “La Danse des Jeux,” a choreography created by renowned choreographer Mourad Merzouki...

In a move to drive economic growth and development, President Luis Abinader issued Decree No. 337-24 on Monday, 17 June 2024. The decree establishes the “Meta RD 2036” Presidential Committee as a task force assigned to identify the necessary actions and reforms to double the real GDP of the Dominican Republic by the year 2036.

President Luis Abinader has set the bar high for Dominicans. He sees the DR could achieve full development by 2036 if the right steps are taken.

President Luis Abinader had announced during his Monday, 17 June 2024 press conference that he was setting the high goal of the country reaching developed country status in 12 years.

The Meta RD 2036 committee is chaired by the Ministry of the Presidency and includes the National Competitiveness Council as the secretary, as well as the Ministry of Economy.

The key goals include reducing...

In a significant move to bolster financial sector knowledge and expertise among the general public in the Dominican Republic, the Superintendency of Banks (SB) unveiled its Escuela SB (SB School) on Monday, 17 June 2024. The initiative is open to professionals, government officials and practically anyone with an interest in the covered topics.

The Superintendence of Banks invited representatives from 10 countries and other Dominican government institutions, including the Central Bank and the superintendences of Pensions, Securities, and Insurance to the launch of the new facilities. Free of charge classes are available in person and online. Terry Bennett Muckleroy, in charge of international training and technical assistance in the supervision and regulation division of the US Federal Reserve, came for the launch.

Superintendent of Banks...

The Attorney General National District’s Permanent Attention Services Office issued a three-month pre-trial detention order at Najayo jail as a coercive measure against Jorge Luis Estrella Arias and Eddy Enmanuel Segura Arias in response to the request from the prosecutors.

Defendant Alberto Ezequiel Estrella Arias was granted a bail bond of RD$500,000 under contract and a ban on leaving the country as a coercive measure.

Jorge Luis Estrella Arias, Eddy Enmanuel Segura Arias, and Alberto Ezequiel Estrella Arias are accused of the robbery of the Banco Popular Dominicano branch located on Avenida Luperón, corner Olof Palme.

According to the files presented by the Department of Investigation of Crimes and Property Crimes (Theft), the defendants Jorge Luis Estrella Arias, Eddy Enmanuel Segura Arias, and Alberto Ezequiel Segura Arias partnered with the deceased...

A 27-year old Venezuelan, Scarlet Valentina Mujica Zapata is the main suspect in the death of 33-year old Julio Cesar de la Rosa Peralta. Preliminary reports is that it was a hit and run accident. She was arrested on Tuesday and is kept at the Fiscalía Especial de Tránsito del Distrito Nacional de la Digesett as she awaits charges.

De la Rosa Peralta was the son of Julio Cesar de la Rosa Tiburcio, of the Dominican Anti-Corruption Alliance (Adocco). De la Rosa Tiburcio reported his son missing on the next morning. The family had been together in San Cristobal on Saturday but then lost contact with the deceased to learn latter he had died.

A surveillance camera review led the Police to the vehicle that was driven by the Venezuelan woman. The Police officers followed the trace of the vehicle after the incident to a parking area next door to where the suspect...

The ban on consumption of alcoholic beverages, vapes and hookahs in parks and plazas in Higuey by the Higüey City Hall is a trending topic. The controversy is whether Higuey Mayor Karina Aristy has the legal right to ban the consumption.

Aristy issued the notice on the Higuey City social media. The measure would be in effect immediately, that is on Monday, 17 June 2024.

Higüey authorities explained that this decision seeks to promote healthy habits and ensure a family environment in the public spaces of the city.

The statement highlights that the ban is based on Article 27 of Law 175-07 on Municipal and Municipal Districts, which empowers municipalities to regulate the use of public spaces.

The city hall warns that those who violate the ban will be subject to the sanctions established in the municipal regulations. The sanctions are not listed.

For centuries...

President Luis Abinader congratulated Al Horford on his winning the NBA Final on 17 June 2024. He called Al Horford who shared the call with his wife, fellow Dominican Amelia Vega (2003 Miss Universe).

“Al Horford has made history as the first Dominican to win an NBA Finals series, he has done so with the Celtics, champions of the 2023-2024 season,” President Luis Abinader wrote on X. “What great pride for our country! Congratulations on your incredible achievement.”

Read more in Spanish:

• N Digital

The story of Dominicans in the National Basketball Association (NBA) league began when Tito Horford was drafted in 1988 and has its latest chapter now that his son Al Horford won a NBA Final on 17 June 2024.

Alfredo William Horford (Tito Horford) is in sports history books as the first Dominican to play in the NBA. Born in La Romana on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic, he moved to Texas for high school to pursue a basketball career. He played college basketball at Louisiana State University and the University of Miami before being recruited by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (39th overall) of the 1988 NBA draft. He played two seasons with the Bucks (1988-1990) and a short stint with the Washington Bullets in 1993-1994. He also played professionally in Spain in 1992. He played on the Dominican national team and represented the country in...

President Luis Abinader says he is concentrating on pushing the country on a path to double GDP by 2036. The objective is to turn the DR into a developed country.

Speaking during the 17 June 2024 press conference from the Presidential Palace, Abinader said a national pact is needed to steer the country to status as a developed country.

He sees this objective feasible given the Dominican Republic’s proven track record. He spoke of the resilience of the country in dealing with challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukrainian war, the slowdown of the economy to deal with imported inflation and the major difficulties caused by the Haitian crisis.

Abinader said 1.7 million new jobs need to be created, average middle wages tripled, extreme poverty eliminated, and life expectancy extended by six years, plus the investments for the country to become the most...

In the Dominican Republic, there are seven betting shops for every public school, N Digital reports. Many of the betting shops are on the same block of school.

The calculation of betting shops to schools is based on official statistics from the Ministry of Education for the 2022-2023 school year. The Ministry of Education lists 7,839 educational centers in the public sector. Meanwhile, the National Survey of MSMEs, presented last week by the Central Bank and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), counted the operation of 56,933 betting shops, both formal and informal.

The story in N Digital reveals that if private schools are added, then the schools would be 10,567. So, compared to the number of betting shops, there are five betting shops for every school in the Dominican Republic.

Another way to see how betting shops proliferate and thrive...

Work has been resumed on the completion of the Ciudad Sanitaria Luis Eduardo Aybar, the largest public hospital complex in the Dominican Republic. The project was begun in 2013 and would have been finished in 2017.

Speaking at the La Semanal press conference on the medical city, Housing Minister Carlos Bonilla said that the delays that have affected the equipment are because the contractor demanded payment to deliver the codes for the equipment. The government was demanding completion of the works as contracted. After several agreements fell through, the government has now replaced the contractor.

The Ministry of Housing and Construction (MIVED) is in charge of the project since the change of government in 2020. Dr. Jose Joaquin Puello, the hospital’s president, called for works to continue in an interview published in Listin Diario last week.

“We...

Source: Al Horford Instagram Site

On 17 June 2024, the Boston Celtics claimed their 18th NBA championship, ending a 16-year title drought. The team had not won a championship since 2008. The 106-88 victory made the team the all-time winningest franchise, surpassing a long-standing tie with the Los Angeles Lakers (17 championships).

The consensus is the team won because it played as a team. While Jaylen Brown received the MVP trophy, it was the concerted effort of all under 35-year old coach Joe Mazulla (previously an assistant coach with no NBA head coaching experience) that led the team all the time, resulting in a victory in the finals against the Dallas Mavericks, a team that relied heavily on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

NBA reported: “But this entire team offered so much more. Smartly assembled by front office boss Brad Stevens, the Celtics had star power and...

Now that Boston Celtic’s Al Horford has accomplished his career milestone of winning an NBA Championship, there is much speculation whether he will accept the challenge to become an Olympian. The Dominican team still has a chance at qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

The DR team is playing preparatory games in Spain now under Coach Nestor (Che) Garcia. Garcia has been on the coaching staff of Argentina and Venezuela when they played in an Olympic Games. The Che hopes to coach a Dominican team in the Olympics.

To make the Olympic team, the DR needs to win a slot during the 2-7 July 2024 (Dominican time) qualifier to be held in Piraeus, Greece.

The Dominican team coach is putting together the roster of the team that would travel to Greece for that important competition. He tells Diario Libre the task is not easy, because of the contractual conditions of many...

Acciona of Spain was awarded the contract to build the runway, apron (ramp), taxiway, airport parking area for the Pedernales International Airport. The apron is used to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading passengers or cargo, refueling, parking or maintenance.

The technical designs for the terminal are still being drafted and the tender for the terminal construction has yet to be called. The airport design was provided by the Dominican Airport Department and is part of the Master Plan for the tourism development of Pedernales by Dominican architect Jose Mella.

El Pais, the Spanish news media, reports that the contract for works to be carried out at the Cabo Rojo International Airport in Pedernales, on the southwestern coast of the Dominican Republic, is for EUR62 million and covers the construction of a 3.1 km runway and parking area for five Boeing...

Tourism Minister David Collado was in Bayahibe in the East to inaugurate road improvements in the tourist destination on Monday, 17 June 2024. The works had been started in August 2023.

The Ministry of Tourism invested RD$53 million to rebuild 11 roads (3.48 km) in the municipality to strengthen Bayahíbe as a premier tourist destination in time for the boom of summer vacationers.

The roads were given a 2-inch asphalt concrete surface and parking areas paved with cobblestones. Additionally, 4,229 linear meters of curbs, inlets, and filters were built to ensure proper drainage and the long-lasting durability of the newly paved roads. The project also included the installation of horizontal and vertical signage.

The project was carried out by the Ministry of Tourism’s Tourism Zone Infrastructure Execution Committee (CEIZTUR), headed by Yaneris...

Minister of Tourism David Collado announces a public-private alliance to build the much-desired Santo Domingo Convention Center and a boulevard for tourists in Santo Domingo. According to Collado, the grounds of the former Hotel Hispaniola (at the corner of Abraham Lincoln and Independencia) in the National District will be the site of the new center. The government had declared eminent domain/public utility on the land back in 2022 via Decree 296-22.

In front of the closed Hispaniola is the legendary Hotel Santo Domingo. There are expectations this closed hotel may also be integrated into the convention center project.

Collado made the announcement on 12 June 2024 during the inauguration of the Santo Domingo Marriot Piantini and the Aloft Santo Domingo Piantini, with President Abinader in attendance.

The government has asked for guidelines and supervision of the new...

Arajet, the rapidly expanding low-cost airline, has marked a significant milestone with the arrival of its 10th aircraft in the new airplane design. This latest addition to their fleet, a Boeing 737 Max 8, bears the special name “Los Haitises,” a tribute to the stunning karst-landscaped national park in the provinces of Hato Mayor, Monte Plata and Samaná. The aircraft’s arrival was celebrated at a special ceremony attended by Dominican Vice President Raquel Peña, Arajet CEO Victor Pacheco Mendez, and Boeing Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Landom Loomis.

Vice President Peña lauded Arajet as a platform that showcases the Dominican Republic’s tourism offerings and exemplifies the government’s support for private initiatives. She emphasized that the airline’s continued fleet expansion reflects the confidence of both domestic and foreign investors in the...

Arajet, the Dominican Republic’s low-cost airline, has signed an agreement with the Puntacana Group to offer flights to and from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) starting 1 November 2024. All Arajet flights have been based at the Santo Domingo Las Americas International Airport (SDQ).

The new alliance will make Punta Cana Airport Arajet’s second base of operations, expanding its network of destinations and connections throughout the continent. Arajet will now be able to feed off the hundreds of flights that fly into Punta Cana from all around the world.

“We are excited to welcome Arajet as commercial partner to our airport community,” said Frank Elías Rainieri, CEO of Grupo Puntacana. “We are confident that this will be a successful alliance. With these new routes, we continue to expand our network of international destinations and connections...

Thousands of cruise ship passengers are touring the streets of Puerto Plata. The North Regional Director of Tourism Atahualpa Paulino says that 35 ships are scheduled to dock at the Amber Cove and Taino Bay terminals in Puerto Plata this June 2024. 19 ships will dock at Carnival Cruise ship’s Amber Cove, while the remaining 16 will anchor at Taino Bay.

Paulino highlighted the stepped up influx of seafaring visitors will continue to boost the local economy, fostering tourism and promoting interaction with local businesses and services as passengers take shore excursions and taxis to see the sights.

Puerto Plata is a popular cruise destination known for its beautiful beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant culture. The city offers a variety of activities and attractions for cruise passengers, including horseback riding, zip-lining, and exploring the historic colonial district.

Among the cruise ships set for Taino Bay are:• June 18: Norwegian Sky (07:00 – 16:00), Norwegian...