SANTO DOMINGO – A stark economic warning has been issued by the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), projecting that the average Dominican family will face an additional expenditure of RD$11,019 for their traditional Christmas dinner in 2025 compared to costs in 2020. This alarming forecast was detailed in a comprehensive study unveiled by the party’s Secretariat of Agricultural Affairs.
Adriano Sánchez Roa, a prominent PLD leader, presented the data, indicating that the total price for a festive meal has skyrocketed from RD$5,805 in 2020 to a projected RD$16,825 in 2025. This dramatic upsurge translates to a cumulative inflation rate of nearly 190% over the five-year period. Sánchez Roa characterized this trend as ‘excessive,’ cautioning that such financial pressure would render the cherished Christmas Eve celebrations unattainable for a significant portion of the population.
The analysis squarely attributes this inflationary spiral to perceived governmental failures in agricultural policy. Key grievances include the alleged dismantling of technical support structures within the Ministry of Agriculture, the systematic weakening of the Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD), and the consolidation of food distribution networks that disadvantage local producers. The PLD further contends that the termination of social welfare programs established during their previous administration has critically exacerbated national food insecurity.
Central to the cost crisis are prohibitively high prices for essential holiday staples. Items fundamental to the Dominican Christmas table—including pork, chicken, turkey, rice, assorted vegetables, and dairy products—have become increasingly unaffordable. The party asserts that existing government measures, such as limited assistance programs and Christmas bonuses, are insufficient to offset the severe economic strain caused by the erosion of more robust social food support systems previously in place.