DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

President Luis Abinader presented his administration’s Oportunidad 14-24, a program intended to turn around the lives of young people ages 14 to 24 years in vulnerable households. The program reaches out to youths who are not studying nor working but are in the capacity to do so (Ninis). It seeks to encourage vulnerable youths to engage in educational and work opportunities to learn new skills in short courses, finish school or university studies, get internships and jobs or become entrepreneurs. Abinader says that the program has been recognized as the most complete in Latin America.

The program has already reached out to 44,000 young people of which 14,000 have graduated after taking courses in IT, hair styling, accounting and the culinary and hospitality arts.

The program falls under the Gabinete Social of the Presidency.

Learn more...

President Luis Abinader issued on 28 February 2025, Decree 105-25 ordering rational use of public resources for spending. He ordered the fulfillment of administrative control measures in place, including a ban on the purchase of vehicles and the carrying out of travel and partying. The measure applies to all in government.

As reported in El Nacional, opposition legislators say this is a demonstration that the government has not been able to control wasteful spending and spending by politicians in office that are backing select presidential candidacy hopeful for the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM). Given that President Luis Abinader cannot run for a third term, the PRM politicians are grouping around several possible candidates.

Read more in Spanish:

• El Nacional

Albert Ramdin / El Caribe

Suriname’s 67-year old foreign minister Albert Ramdin was elected the secretary general for the Organization of American States for the term 2025-2030 during the 56th Special Session of the General Assembly of the OAS on Monday, 10 March 2025. He succeeds Luis Almagro, who was first elected as OAS Secretary General in 2015 and re-elected in 2020 and whose term ends on 25 May 2025.

The US Departmehnt of State issued a note congratulating Ramdin for his election. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated:

“I look forward to working with Secretary General-elect Ramdin to uphold the OAS’s core mission of defending democracy, promoting and protecting human rights, as well as advancing security and economic prosperity throughout our hemisphere.

“We are committed to strengthening alliances with democratic partners to confront shared regional...

The City University of New York’s Dominican Studies Institute is promoting its 2025 Summer Internship Program. The deadline to apply is 21 March 2025.

The studies will be fully in-person from 2 June to 24 July 2025 at the City College of New York at 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York.

The CUNY DSI’s Summer Research Internship Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with meaningful research experience in the field of Dominican Studies. Whether training in the humanities, social sciences, or STEM, selected participants will have the opportunity to work collaboratively and under the guidance of CUNY DSI’s one-of-a-kind multidisciplinary Research Unit.

The students will also have access to the Dominican Library, the premier repository of bibliographic resources documenting the Dominican experience in the United States, and the Dominican Archives...

Diario Libre reports that the defense is scheduled to present concluding statements on 24 March 2025 regarding the legal battle involving Alex and Magalys Medina Sanchez, siblings of former Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, who are facing major corruption charges. The case, known as the “Antipulpo” case, has been ongoing for over four years, prompting the defendants’ lawyers to request its dismissal.

The prosecution counters that corruption cases should not be subject to statutory limitations.

Alex Medina, the main defendant, is accused of fraudulent contracting with a government power utility. His sister, Magalys Medina, is also accused in the case.

The defense argues that the prolonged duration of the case (over four years) exceeds the reasonable timeframe outlined in the Criminal Procedure Code (CPP), and thus, the charges should be dropped.

Wilson...

The Judicial Branch has overturned the sentence that had acquitted Venezuelan national Karla María Moya of charges related to impersonating a medical doctor and has ordered a new trial. The decision was made to reconsider the evidence supporting the accusation.

Last August 2024, Moya was cleared of charges that she had been pretending to be a doctor without a license. However, the Public Ministry appealed the acquittal and successfully secured a new hearing.

The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeals in the National District nullified Moya’s acquittal and ordered a retrial “for a new evaluation of all the evidence presented, for the reasons stated” in the original sentence.

Consequently, the Presidency of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in the National District will assign a different judge to handle the case, as per Article 423 of the...

Blood Moon Eclipse / Space

Skywatchers across the Caribbean and much of North and South America are in for a treat on 13-14 March 2025, as a total lunar eclipse will grace the night sky. This celestial spectacle, often dubbed a “blood moon,” will be visible from virtually all Caribbean islands, providing a safe and captivating viewing experience for all.

Unlike solar eclipses, which require special eye protection, lunar eclipses are perfectly safe to observe with the naked eye. According to Space.com, this particular eclipse will be especially leisurely, lasting a total of six hours from start to finish.

Here’s a breakdown of the key times (in Eastern Daylight Time – EDT):• 11:57pm EDT on 13 March – 6am EDT on 14 March: The eclipse will be ongoing, with the moon gradually moving into Earth’s shadow.• 2:26am EDT – 3:31am EDT: This is the period of totality, when the moon will be...

Juan Soto / Listin Diario

In the Major League Baseball (MLB) 2025 season, four Dominican players are contenders for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award this year. In 2024, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers won their respective league’s MVP awards.

First is Juan Soto. The Dominican slugger has boasted an on-base percentage of over .400 for the past seven years and is expected to repeat this. He is currently the #4 on the all-time list for achieving at least 25 home runs and receiving 125 bases on balls. Only Hall of Famers Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams are currently ahead of Soto in this category.

And, also in the National League, there is exciting player Elly de la Cruz with his impressively fast pitches, stolen bases and seemingly impossible plays. It was nearly an endless streak of great baseball from a very young man...

132 players have registered to compete in the Corales Puntacana Championship, a PGA Tour event that awards 300 FedExCup points.

The 8th edition of the Corales Puntacana Championship will take place from 14 to 20 April 2025, at the Corales Golf Course in Punta Cana. The competitors are from 20 countries across five continents.

Billy Horschel, the American golfer, claimed victory in last year’s tournament, securing his eighth PGA Tour title. Horschel took home a prize of US$720,000 from the event’s total purse of US$4 million.

The PGA Tour is the premier professional men’s golf circuit in the United States, with over 175 tournaments held across six international tours.

The Corales Golf Course, located within the Punta Cana Resort, is also home to the PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic. Designed by the renowned architect Tom Fazio, the course opened in 2010 and enables playing on cliffs, bays, natural ocean coves, inland lakes, and coral quarries along the Caribbean...

The GT Challenge of the Americas is set for 5 and 6 April 2025 at the Las Americas Track on Las Americas Expressway in eastern Santo Domingo. Teams from the Dominican Circuit Runners Club and Track Club RD are already gearing up for an intense competition against the powerful international participants for the local championship.

The GT Challenge of the Americas is an internationally acclaimed event, renowned throughout Central America and the Caribbean. It kicks off the national circuit racing championships, promising an exhilarating start to the racing season.

Adriano Abreu Sued, president of the Dominican Automotive Federation (FDA), emphasized the significance of this event as a testament to the growing strength of motorsports in the region.

Key figures from PAV Events, including Pablo Pou, Jacinto Peynado and Alfredo Nin, expressed...

Former Dominican Republic senior national volleyball team captain will compete in the upcoming Hato Mayor Beach Volleyball Tournament.

Prisila Rivera, former captain of the Reinas del Caribe, the Dominican senior world volleyball team, is now playing beach volleyball competitively. She will compete for the Dominican Republic’s master’s team (Las Olimpicas) at the 29th edition of the Hato Mayor/Vicentillo Easter Sports Festival Beach Volleyball Tournament.

She will be joined by joined by fellow ex-Reina del Caribe players Cosiris Rodriguez and Alexandra (Rosa) Casó. All three have extensive indoor volleyball experience, having competed in regional, Olympic, and World events.

The 29th edition of the Hato Mayor/Vicentillo Easter Sports Festival beach volleyball competition will take place at the Rancho Ecoturístico Doña Callita from Thursday, April 17th (technical meeting)...

The CCN consumer group recently announced the publishing of its Orgullo de mi Tierra collection book of 320 pages on the Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s highest mountain. The mountain is a protected flora and fauna life refuge and primary source of water, but also a prime hike in the Caribbean. Hikers can marvel at its biodiversity as they make the climb up to 3,101 meters.

The book is for sale for RD$3,000 at Cuesta Libros in Santo Domingo and CCN stores around the country.

The book looks into the National Parks J. Armando Bermudez and Jose del Carmen Ramirez, with their many microclimates and unique habitats. The parks are the birthplaces for the country’s two most important rivers in the Central Mountain Range.

Recently temperatures of -5C were reported in Valle Nuevo, located in Juan B. Pérez Rancier, also in the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central) of the Dominican...

In the presence of President Luis Abinader, Tourism Minister David Collado, and renowned tennis player Rafael Nadal, Meliá Hotels International officially opened the first Zel branded hotel in the Caribbean, setting a new mark as it targets tennis fans, offering wellness and gastronomy. The event also marked the start of construction on the first “Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy” in America, located within the same resort complex.

Joining the inauguration were Meliá’s President and CEO Gabriel Escarrer, and Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz.

Situated in the province of La Altagracia, the all-inclusive Zel Punta Cana resort boasts 190 suites designed for groups and families, offering direct pool access, multiple restaurants, a gym, an event hall, and expansive terraces for relaxation and wellness.

President Abinader emphasized the significance of Meliá Group and...

The Hotusa Group Spanish hotel chain is expanding into the Dominican Republic with the re-opening of a legendary hotel as a five-star Eurostars branded hotel set for the final quarter of this 2025. The company will operate the Samana resort, named Eurostars Grand Cayacoa, under a lease agreement, as stated in a recent communication.

Hotusa markets its Eurostars brand as a collection of exceptional hotels, inspired by values that are closely linked to the world of art and culture. Luxury and sophisticated facilities and excellent attention to detail are promised to guests.

With this addition, the chain further expands its international presence, entering a new country and solidifying its commitment to the Caribbean region, where it already operates 12 hotels.

The Eurostars Grand Cayacoa 5*, situated on the southern side of the Bay of Samana will feature 295 rooms, two...

Reports are that Dominicans have heavily booked vacation stays at beach and mountain destinations, this coming Easter Week (13 to 20 April 2025). El Dia reports that Tourism Minister David Collado has said that leading resorts will be operating at 90%.

Tourism Minister David Collado said: “We are full in Bavaro and Punta Cana, and there is high occupancy registered for Bayahibe. Samana is enjoying its best times and Puerto Plata, too. These are good times for the tourism industry,” he said.

Easter Week is also a time to be in cities, that usually empty out as city residents hit the resorts. Shopping is good with many sales and cultural activities also abound.

Read more in Spanish:

• El Dia

The Abinader administration has announced the start of construction on a modern cruise ship terminal in Barahona, in the southwest. The announcement signals a significant investment in the region’s tourism infrastructure. The project, with an estimated cost of RD$713 million pesos (approximately US$12.4 million), is set to transform the southern province into a major tourist destination.

The new terminal, covering an area of 6,329 square meters (68,125 sq ft) with an additional 23,096 square meters (248,280 sq ft) of surrounding development, will feature:• A central plaza integrating the project’s different elements across 5,980 square meters (64,517 sq ft).• A combination of scenic design and materials.• Gazebo, parking for buses and cars.• 35 commercial spaces.• Recreational areas including restaurants, bars, a church, and spaces dedicated to showcasing rum production.•...

Dominican Republic-based Arajet has just opened bookings for its first flights to the New York-New Jersey area. The airline will be flying from Santo Domingo (SDQ) to Newark International Airport (EWR) starting 16 June 2025. The flight is still subject to US government clearance.

An estimated two and a half million Dominicans live in the New York-New Jersey area.

The airline says the introductory flights will be 30% off the regular fares. The airline website posts fares of US$173 for the one-way flight, and fares of US$262 round trip are being advertised.

The introductory fares lower travel costs are US$127 for EWR to SDQ and US$135 for SDQ to EWR.

The entry of Arajet as a competitor for the Dominican market is expected to impact the fares offered by several US airlines that already serve the market. These are JetBlue, Delta, American, United and Frontier...

Coinciding with Arajet’s announcement of flight bookings opening between Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Newark (EWR), JetBlue has escalated the competition with its “Big Spring Sale,” offering some of its lowest fares yet. This move signals an intense fare war between carriers serving US-DR routes. Arajet is booking flights from SDQ to EWR as of 16 June 2025 with roundtrip fares starting at US$262.

This JetBlue sale comes on the heels of Arajet’s announcement of its inaugural flights from the DR to EWR. The airline is already flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico and flights to Miami, Florida begin in April 2025.

Key fares from the Dominican Republic to the US and Puerto Rico for travel from 18 March to 11 June 2025:• Santo Domingo (SDQ) to New York (JFK): US$139• Punta Cana (PUJ) to Orlando (MCO): US$139• Santiago de los Caballeros (STI) to San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU): US$69

Read...

Frontier is announcing US$79 fares from Puerto Plata to San Juan, Puerto Rico. This opens up tourism to the north coast, a destination studded by beaches and accommodations.

The airline announces its flights from the Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in San Juan to Puerto Plata’s Gregorio Luperon International Airport (POP) starts 19 June 2025. A service frequency of twice a week is scheduled.

Read more in Spanish:

• Frontier

In a significant move, Jamaica has lifted the visa requirement for Dominican Republic residents traveling to the island for tourism or business purposes for periods up to 180 days.

The announcement was made by Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, during a press conference at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in New Kingston on Monday, 3 March 2025. Bartlett described the measure as a historic milestone in tourist cooperation between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

The visa free travel is effective as of 4 March 2025.

Dominican Republic-based airline, Arajet offers non-stop flights from Santo Domingo (SDQ) to Kingston (KIN). Arajet also offers flights from Punta Cana (PUJ) to Kingston.

For Jamaica, the decision is also a step forward to benefiting from the millions of tourists that are visiting nearby Dominican Republic, a percentage of which could take...

Newly appointed Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso unveiled a significant restructuring of the Public Ministry and announced several key appointments aimed at bolstering operational efficiency and effectiveness. The changes are expected to make headlines in coming days, with the removal of Wilson Camacho from the administrative corruption section, and the restoring of Espiñeira Ceballos, Juan Medina de los Santos and Mirna Ortiz to key positions.

Reynoso appointed seven deputy attorneys general to strategic positions within the institution. Among the notable appointments:• Rodolfo Espiñeira Ceballos was named First Substitute Attorney General and will work directly in the Attorney General’s office.• Wilson Manuel Camacho Peralta will lead the Department for Criminal Prosecution.• Osvaldo Bonilla Hiraldo will oversee international legal assistance, including...

President Luis Abinader presented the Dominican Republic as the ideal destination for textile and footwear industry investments during his participation in the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) Executive Summit on 6 March 2025 in Washington, D.C. He emphasized the country’s competitive advantages in infrastructure, connectivity, and political stability, the Ministry of Foreign Relations reported.

Speaking at the AAFA’s “Global Supply Chain and Trade” conference, Abinader highlighted the Dominican Republic’s thriving industrial and logistics platform, which is leading the way in Latin America and the Caribbean. He noted the country’s market-friendly policies, transparency, and stability, making it an ideal partner for any US business seeking sustainable growth.

“Not only is the Dominican Republic breaking records as a premier tourist...

President Luis Abinader and Mr. Mung Chiang, President of Purdue University / Diario Libre

Purdue University welcomed President Luis Abinader and delegation to campus for meetings with university president Mung Chiang and other Purdue leaders to discuss expanding a growing partnership in semiconductors, biotechnology, and online learning last week. Purdue is backing research and education collaborations with the Dominican Republic. Chiang is an excellent partner for the Dominican aspirations to become a nearshore base for semiconductor manufacturing.

Chiang was born in mainland China but at an early age migrated to Hong Kong and after high school to the United States for his university studies. He would eventually be chosen dean of the College of Engineering at Purdue and under his leadership, Purdue Engineering would become the largest ever top-5 engineering...

It is no secret that over 50% of Dominican labor works in the informal sector of the economy, that is, the sector that does not pay company taxes. As a result, there have been numerous attempts to reduce this imbalance and bring these elements into the formal sector.

One of the latest suggestions comes from Cesar Dargam, the vice president of the National Business Council (Conep), possibly the most powerful assembly of economic strength in the country. Dargam recognized the bureaucratic and monetary stumbling blocks that impede micro-, small, and even medium from entering the formal sector. As a result, these entities that represent over 50% of the workforce of the entire country are outside the formal sector and contribute little to the fiscal health of the nation.

Dargam’s suggestion is to create a single tax within the tax structure that would greatly simplify...

The Santo Domingo Metro office has been gradually adding more cars to expand the service given the growing demand for the fast transit service. The fast service and fares as low as RD$20 have made the metro the main transport system in the capital city.

Metro office director Rafael Santos Perez mentioned that the government heavily subsidizes the fares, when speaking at the Almuerzo Semanal Corripio. He said the fares should be RD$80 per fare, compared to the actual low of RD$20. The government operates with a deficit of RD$2.7 billion, but some of this is compensated by promotion charges.

He said on an average day the Metro will transport around 400,000 passengers. On Tuesday, 4 March 2025, for instance, 200,855 pax used Line 1; 187,0000 used Line 2 and 11,639 the skylift.

Santos Perez said that as of July 2025, the routes will be using six-car trains instead...

Marisol Mackenzie / A Metro y Medio / Ana Mercy Otañez

A woman who worked with a contractor cleaning the facilities of Barrick Gold in Sanchez Ramirez province is today a heavy-duty equipment driver. A native of Cotui, she is the 15th of 17 brothers and sisters. She was a single mother who needed a better job and took the challenge to get trained. She found openings in Barrick to advance, and encouragement from fellow male equipment drivers. Today, she is the only woman certified to Hitachi 3,600 excavator used in mining operations.

Marisol MacKenzie told her story for the Ana Mercy Otanez podcast on the occasion of International Woman’s Day on 8 March 2025.

Follow the story Ana Mercy Otanez...

Government and private sector have come together for the launching of the ExpoSostenible 2025 on 2 and 3 April 2025 at the Hotel Embajador in Santo Domingo. The focus is on circular economy, renewable energies and corporate social responsibility. Samuel Sena, president of the Consejo de Desarrollo Economico y Social de Santo Domingo (Codessd) has the leadership for the organization with the backing of ProDominicana.

Read more in Spanish:

• ExpoSostenible 2025

Albert Ramdin / El Caribe

The membership of the Organization of American States (OAS) is to vote on Mondy, 10 March 2025 for the replacement of Uruguayan Luis Almagro, who served two five-year terms. The OAS has 34 voting members and 18 votes are needed to win in the secret vote.

As of late, Albert Ramdin of Suriname is the only candidate. He has been minister of foreign relations of Suriname since 2020. The rules of the OAS elections allow for candidates to declare themselves on the day of the election.

The Dominican Republic has announced its backing of frontrunner Albert Ramdin, who had served as OAS assistant secretary general from 2005 to 2015. Ramdin is said to have the backing of the 14 Caribbean member states. A recent report in Americas Quarterly highlights that the Caribbean has 14 of the 18 needed votes to win, but minimal financial leverage and contributes...

A video created by a Spanish political party has circulated blaming the Dominican Republic for rampant corruption in Spain. Dominican beaches and the country symbols are used in the video “Island of Corruption”. President Luis Abinader would reportedly call former Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar of the Partido Popular and the Ministry of Foreign Relations would issue a formal complaint to Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.

The incident coincided with the inauguration by Rafael Nadal in the Dominican Republic of the inauguration of the Zel Punta Cana, a joint venture between Nadal’s Zel Group, the Melia Hotel Group, and the Banco Popular Dominicano. The Dominican Republic is the country of choice of around two dozen Spanish hotel companies, and is the country’s main foreign investor in the tourism industry.

The controversial video caricatured Spanish politicians and their...

The presiding judge of the Fifth Chamber for Instruction in Santiago, Cirilo Salamon Sanchez, has ordered 70 persons and legal entities to go to criminal trial on charges of money laundering, drug trafficking and a list of other crimes. This trial will be the successful culmination of a long investigative process called Operation Hawk (Falcon in Spanish).

In his decision, the judge noted that the prosecutors had followed all of the legal process to the letter and the was no further reason to delay the trial on the many charges. The case is interesting because not only are many people indicted but also several commercial entities involving real estate and even gasoline stations. Many of the accused were under house arrest and wearing ankle bracelets.

Pyramid schemes, those wonderful promises of great return on investments, far beyond anything to be found in banks or stock markets, are the bane of Dominican society and the victims of the scams keep making headlines.

One of the latest cases is that of ATB Football, which was an online betting scam that offered to double any investment in one month. With prizes for recruiting new players, the scam used the internet platform known as Telegram. The scheme also involved the use of crypto currency such as Tether. Everything came crashing down when authorities announced that the platform was not authorized to operate in the Dominican Republic.

The city of San Francisco de Macoris in the northeast was particularly hard hit as crowds gathered at the offices there to demand their money back. And this was just the latest case to reach the news.

Listin Diario recalls other...

A major effort of the authorities to find 20-year old Indian tourist Sudiksha Konanki who was last seen after 4:15am on Thursday, 6 March 2025 when walking on the beach of the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana. She was last seen wearing a two-piece bikini. A pre-med student at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and a legal resident in the state of Virginia, she had traveled to the Dominican Republic with five girlfriends on 3 March 2025 to celebrate the traditional university spring break.

The hotel, local authorities and the embassies of India and the United States have been active in the case. As reported, the area was patrolled with helicopters, divers, boats, drones, canine units and staff with no sightings by the Air Force, Navy, Civil Defense, firefighters and hotel staff.

The girlfriends reported Konanki as missing the next day when she did not return...

It is confirmed. Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldaña will be in Santo Domingo to grace the stage at the 40th annual Premios Soberanos on 25 March 2025. The announcement was made Sunday, 9 March 2025 by the Association of Art Critics (Acroarte). The awards recognize the better performances in 58 categories spanning the fields of film, the classics, communication, and popular entertainment. The televised show is a standout celebration of national music and art and a way to become up to date with what is popular in Dominican show business.

Saldaña, a Dominican-American actress who recently won the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the musical drama Emilia Pérez, will be one of the night’s featured stars as the prestigious awards ceremony celebrates its anniversary. Saldaña has co-hosted the awards in the past. She is the daughter of a Dominican father...

Juan Mercedes / El Día

The World Baseball Classic will be held 5 to 17 March 2026 with the participation of 20 teams. The event has been held on five occasions yet the DR has only won the event once in 2013, but the intent this year is to bring the trophy home.

This time around, the Dominican Republic is taking action to best ensure a win. Nelson Cruz early on was appointed general manager. He had been the manager also in 2023. He has created an all-star committee – Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez, Vladimir Guerrero, Adrian Beltre, David Ortiz and Edwin Encarnacion

These then chose Albert Pujols, fresh off winning the Escogido Lions Dominican Professional Baseball League championship and the Caribbean Series.

Pujols is working to build the best possible Dominican team.

The past WBC winners are:2006, 2009, 2023: Japan2013: Dominican Republic2017: United States

Read...

On the agenda of his business-promotion trip to the United States, President Luis Abinader will tour Purdue University in Indiana to meet with the university authorities that are backing the training of Dominicans in the manufacture of semiconductors.

President Abinader is scheduled to meet in Indiana with the leadership of Purdue University, including President Mung Chiang. Purdue University is working with the Dominican Republic to train for the development of the local semiconductor industry. Accompanying the President on this trip will be Minister of Industry and Commerce, Víctor (Ito) Bisonó. Local free zone industries expect to open plants for initial phases of semiconductor manufacturing.

Yet, now Diario Libre points out that funds that would be available for the effort for an emerging semiconductor industry in the Dominican Republic may be revoked now that US...

Fabricio Gomez Mazara and Roberto Angel Salcedo / RDTV

The Dominican Republic has announced the launch of a RD$500 million fund aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative sectors. The fund, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Culture and the National Council for the Promotion and Support of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (Promipyme), seeks to bolster the nation’s orange economy and promote circular economy practices.

Minister of Culture, Roberto Ángel Salcedo, and Fabricio Gómez Mazara, director of Promipyme, unveiled the program on Wednesday, 5 March 2025 at the Ministry of Culture headquarters. The initiative prioritizes ventures in fields such as fashion, design, gastronomy, advertising, publishing, photography, theater, and crafts, as well as software development related to arts and culture.

The program offers 12% interest...

Inflation was 0.37% in January 2025, but growth was also relatively sluggish. The Central Bank reported a 2.2% year-over-year growth in January 2025. This growth, measured by the Monthly Indicator of Economic Activity (IMAE), indicates a moderation in domestic demand, particularly in the investment sector, influenced by a slowdown in construction.

The Central Bank reports that the global economic context remains challenging, with restrictive financial conditions, high international interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and changes in US trade policy contributing to a stronger US dollar.

The Central Bank reported that the key factors influencing growth were variations in the construction and mining sectors.

The construction industry faced a 7.3% year-over-year decline in January, attributed to persistently high real interest rates in the Dominican...

The Ministry of Environment has provided the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA) with a fleet of 10 pickup trucks and 20 motorcycles. This donation aims to reinforce SENPA’s patrol and surveillance capabilities, crucial for combating environmental crimes throughout the nation, the Presidency reports.

The official handover took place at the Ministry of Defense, with Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Paíno Henríquez, and Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, presiding over the event. Brigadier General Ángel Alfredo Camacho Ubiera, director of SENPA, accepted the vehicles on behalf of the service.

“These vehicles will enable SENPA to respond more efficiently to citizen complaints and address environmental threats with greater speed,” stated Minister Henríquez during the ceremony. He emphasized...

The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) has announced the release of a new RD$50 bill, set to enter circulation on Thursday, 6 March 2025.

The new bills, bearing the year 2024, will feature the same security measures as the current RD$50 bills in circulation. The year of issue, 2024, can be found on the front side of the bill, on the lower left side near the security thread.

The Central Bank says previously issued RD$50 bills are valid alongside the new 2024 bills.

Read more in Spanish:

• 7 Dias

Ellen Pérez Ducy / Diario Libre

Economist Ellen Perez Ducy writes in Diario Libre on 6 March 2025 that the minimum wage raises have had little impact on inflation over the past decades. The Abinader administration recently announced a gradually phased in 20% minimum wage rise for non-sectorized private sector workers.

She reports that the non-sectorized private worker minimum wage is as of March 2025 US$446.6 for large companies, US$409.4 for medium-sized companies and US$274.3 for small companies. She says the amounts are double the nominal minimum wage in 2011, for a 41% real increase.

She mentions that past increases in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 took place at a time when inflation was stable at around 4.39% and expects this to be the same this time around.

Read more in...

In what is described as his first interview with media after eight years, former President Danilo Medina responded to questions from the El Sol de la Mañana panel. Medina was President for the terms 2008-2012 and 2012-2016. He said he was unable to change the Constitution because his political party, the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) was divided. Eventually, former President Leonel Fernandez (1996-2000, 2004-2008, 2008-2012) split from the party to found the People’s Force accusing Medina of rigging the primary.

Medina took advantage of the morning talk show to defend the actions of his government. He blamed the Procurement Agency for allowing any irregularities of which his brother Alex Medina and sister Magalys are accused of, as well as his brother-in-law Max Montilla. He said that the accusations to his family members are political and just because of their ties to...

Christian pastor turned politician Carlos Peña, leader of the Servants Generation Party (GenS), announced on Tuesday, 4 March 2025 that his organization will renounce state funding allocated by the Central Electoral Board (JCE). This decision comes despite GenS’s emergence as a significant independent political force following the 2024 elections.

Peña called on the JCE to use the funds rejected by GenS to improve the Civil Registry, revoking fraudulently obtained nationalities, and to bolster efforts against illegal immigration and border protection.

He made the announcement of renouncing the political party funding when speaking at the Altar de la Patria. Peña claims that in the nation’s 181-year history, no political party has ever rejected public funds, but he wants to be the first to make a statement against partisan spending.

Peña declared that GenS will not partake...

Costa Rica, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic have officially declared their support for Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin in his bid to succeed Luis Almagro as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).

This endorsement, as stated in a joint press release by the three nations, underscores their dedication to regional unity, the reinforcement of multilateralism, and the strengthening of democratic institutions throughout the Americas, particularly during a period marked by instability and challenges to development.

The backing from Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic follows similar expressions of support from Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay, which were announced on Tuesday.

The election for the new OAS Secretary General is scheduled for March 10th. Ramdin is one of two candidates vying for the position, with Paraguayan...

Haiti now has two airports open to international flights. These are the Cap Haitien International Airport (CAP) and the Antoine Simon International Airport (CYA), some 9 kms from the coastal city of Les Cayes in the southwest.

The Antoine Simon Airport in the coastal city of Les Cayes, named after a Haitian president who led a rebellion in the early 1900s, operated for almost two decades before renovations began in 2013 to extend its runway.

The Antoine Simon Airport will now be Haiti’s third international airport, a development that is expected to serve the Haitian expat population and Haitians in general, boost the local economy and provide a new way for some nonprofits to distribute aid.

Cap Haitien International Airport (CAP) is served by Haitian airline Sunrise Airways, the Turks & Caicos lines Caicos Express Airways and...

Jairo González was sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding more than 30 people through fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday, 25 February 2025 marked the culmination of a high-profile trial that has captured widespread attention.

Gonzalez had been serving pretrial detention since 10 March 2023 at the Correction and Rehabilitation Center of San Pedro de Macorís.

Gonzalez, the president of Harvest Groups & Asociados, was accused by more than 200 people of operating a financial scam that resulted in victims suffering losses of around US$100 million.

The court, presided over by judges Keyla Pérez Santana, Elías Santini Perera, and Arisleyda Méndez Bautista, also imposed a fine of RD$25 million pesos on the convicted fraudster. González, who operated through the firm Harvest Trading Cap, was found guilty of illegally soliciting funds...

The Dominican authorities have yet to report on the responsible for the largest shipment of cocaine captured in an operation at Puerto Caucedo in December 2024.

Meanwhile, a recent seizure of 548 packages of cocaine off the coast of Pedernales has reignited concerns about the Dominican Republic’s persistent role as a transit point for narcotics destined for the United States and Europe.

El Nacional reports that while the local authorities tout the operation as a success, questions linger about the decision to intercept the drugs at sea rather than allowing them to reach their intended destination on land.

Critics argue that a more impactful strategy would involve permitting the drug shipment to proceed, enabling law enforcement to apprehend not only the transporters but also the individuals awaiting the cargo. This approach, they contend, would deliver a more...

One week after the tragic death of 21-year-old student Aida Nicole Reyes Gómez, her family and friends held a candlelight vigil demanding justice, Listin Diario reports. She was a passenger in a Toyota Prado driven by Juan J. Baldera Custodio. Another unnamed person was also in the vehicle and survived the accident.

The vigil took place at the intersection of Winston Churchill Avenue and Ángel Severino Cabral Street, the site of the fatal accident on 26 February 2025.

The protesters allege the Police is delaying the case and cite possible influence behind the delay. What is known is that the woman who caused the accident is 32-year old Raquel Guzmán Torres. Guzman Torres is under arrest at the Centro del Automovilista. Guzman Torres was driving a Bestune T33. She is the wife of former city councilor for the Social Christian Reformist Party and current adjunct...

President Luis Abinader travels to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, 5 March 2025 accepting an invitation from the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) to speak at its Executive Summit, El Dia reports.

The 2025 AAFA Executive Summit will be held in person from 5-7 March 2025, at the InterContinental Washington D.C. at The Wharf, bringing together executives from retail, apparel, footwear, and fashion accessory brands from the United States and around the globe for two days of thought-provoking dialogue.

The visit comes at a time when the United States is the focus of much controversy after the imposition of new trade tariffs. The Dominican Republic seeks to benefit from nearshoring contracts and the local free zone industry sector at present is booming.

The event in Washington, D.C. will address pivotal issues impacting the industry’s responsible growth and...

President Luis Abinader used the first half of the weekly La Semanal press conference on Monday, 3 March 2025 to tell Dominicans and the world of the progress that is happening and the goals for his second term. During his presentation in La Semanal con la Prensa, Abinader said the government is focusing on the areas of health, safety, housing, the economy, employment, education, and institutional development.

He said he is working to turn the Dominican government into “the most modern and digitalized in Latin America.”

He highlighted that the DR is in 6th place in sustainable development behind Chile, Uruguay, Cuba, Argentina and Costa Rica. He expects to leave the Presidency with the country in third place by 2028.

He said his economic team has compiled information that shows that if the present trend continues the nation’s economy (GDP) should double by 2036...

Eduardo Estrella took office as the Minister of Public Works on 26 February 2025. On 4 March, President Luis Abinader announced he was appointing several new vice ministers to be part of Estrella’s team.

These are Miguel Ángel Logroño Di Vanna who is named vice minister for Supervision and Controls at the Ministry. He will be responsible “to guarantee the correct implementation of infrastructure projects.” In 2022, Logroño Di Vanna was honored by President Luis Abinader during an event at the Presidential Palace to recognize past ministers and secretaries of public works for their contributions to infrastructures and important buildings undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works.

Also appointed is Fernando Hiram Taveras Rodríguez who is named vice minister for Road Maintenance of the Ministry. The task is defined as the person in charge of supervising and improving the...

Customs Agency reports on two seizures of weapons and ammunition at the Port of Haina.

The most recent, reported on 4 March 2025, is that of a cache of weapons and ammunition intended for shipment to Haiti following an inspection at the Port of Haina.

According to a press release from the Customs Agency (DGA), officers discovered 36,000 rounds of ammunition in various calibers, 18 rifle magazines, 13 9mm magazines, a .50 caliber rifle magazine, a silencer, and a pistol box.

The authorities also uncovered 23 firearms originating from the United States that were to be sent to Haiti. The discovery was made during an inspection of a transit container coming from Miami, Florida, and bound for Haiti. The shipment contained a .50 caliber Barrett rifle, 17 7.62 caliber rifles, a 9mm rifle, five 9mm Glock pistols, and an Uzi submachine gun.

Last week, 37 firearms at the...

The General Prosecutor’s Office for the Electric System (Pegase) and Edesur Dominicana have seized more than 6,000 electricity meters during several operations aimed at dismantling illegal connections in neighborhoods across Greater Santo Domingo. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to combat electrical fraud.

As part of the operation, Pegase has transferred an initial batch of 976 seized meters to Edesur. The remaining meters are undergoing a thorough verification process before being re-integrated into the electric distribution system, ensuring more efficient use of resources.

The meters were recovered during a series of raids where various types of electrical fraud were detected. Edesur and Pegase continue to collaborate to enhance the effectiveness of their efforts, with the goal of reducing the electrical losses caused by...

A Dominican Air Force (FARD) captain has been ordered to serve one year of pretrial detention for allegedly falsifying work permits to provide legal status to Haitian citizens. Captain Domingo Ureña Rodríguez was arrested following a raid on his residence in Montellano, Puerto Plata, on Wednesday, 26 February 2025. The arrest was part of “Operation Janus Mask,” an investigation into the forgery ring.

Judge Romaldy Marcelino Henríquez of the Puerto Plata Permanent Attention Service Court issued the detention order. Ureña Rodríguez faces charges of forgery of official documents, prevarication, and criminal association.

The operation involved collaboration between the FARD’s A-2 Intelligence Subdivision, the Puerto Plata Air Base, the FARD Legal Department, prosecutors Leury Virgilio Ureña and Carmen Daynisa Rosario Pascual, PETT investigators, and agents from...

The government repealed on 3 March 2025, Decree 30-25, which would have imposed a tax on digital services provided by foreign companies. Presidential spokesperson Homero Figueroa announced the decision, confirming the act’s dispositions would not be implemented

Decree 30-25 aimed to apply the Value-Added Tax (VAT), known locally as ITBIS, to foreign digital platforms offering services within the Dominican Republic. This included streaming services, apps, cloud-based software, and other technology platforms used by Dominican consumers.

“The decree will be repealed,” Figueroa stated.

The measure, published in Official Gazette No. 11186 on 25 January 2025, was scheduled to take effect six months after its issuance, around July 2025. The decree was also available on the Legal Consultancy of the Presidency’s website. It stipulated that the VAT would apply to all digital...

According to the just released Obesity Atlas 2025, 68% of the Dominican population has high BMI (overweight) and 32% is obese. The number of overweight adults is expected to be 5.78 million in the next five years.

The Obesity Atlas highlights that what is happening in the Dominican Republic follows global trends. Around the world, overweight and obesity will affect nearly 3 billion adults (some 50% of the world’s adult population) by 2030. There are also concerning rises in the number of adults with obesity who will likely need medical intervention in their lifetime, with serious implications for health systems.

Read More:

• World Obesity Report
• Diario Libre