During an official working visit to Brooklyn, New York on Thursday, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader gathered with leaders and members of the city’s large Dominican diaspora community for a historic event that marked a new chapter in ties between the borough and the Caribbean nation.
The meeting was hosted by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who used the occasion to make a landmark proclamation: September 24, 2026 will officially be known as Dominican Pride Day in Brooklyn. The designation serves two key purposes: to honor the countless social, economic, and cultural contributions that the Dominican diaspora has made to the borough’s growth and identity, and to commemorate President Abinader’s landmark visit to the community.
Reynoso, who made history as both the first Dominican and the first Latino to hold the office of Brooklyn Borough President, opened his remarks by celebrating the profound impact of the local Dominican community. He noted that more than 100,000 Dominican residents currently call Brooklyn home, and that their contributions span every sector from small business to public service, arts to education. Reynoso expressed optimism that President Abinader’s visit would create new pathways for collaboration between Brooklyn and the Dominican Republic, unlocking mutually beneficial opportunities for diaspora members on both sides of the border. As part of the event, Reynoso was honored with an award recognizing his commitment to public service and his advocacy for Dominican heritage.
In his address to the gathered community, President Abinader spoke of his pride in the achievements of Dominicans based in Brooklyn, emphasizing the critical role the diaspora plays in supporting the Dominican Republic’s economic and social development. He thanked community members for their ongoing support of family and friends back home, via consistent remittances, direct investment in local projects, and personal assistance that lifts millions of households out of economic uncertainty.
The Dominican president also outlined his administration’s ongoing work to improve access to government services for Dominican citizens living abroad. He highlighted ongoing efforts to expand consular service access across the United States and digitize routine government procedures to reduce wait times and bureaucratic friction for the diaspora. Most importantly, Abinader argued that continued progress and economic expansion within the Dominican Republic will deliver the greatest long-term benefits to Dominicans living overseas, strengthening national identity and creating more opportunities for cross-border exchange.
To illustrate the progress his administration has delivered, President Abinader pointed to major gains across multiple key sectors. He noted that between 2019 and the first half of 2026, the national poverty rate fell sharply from 25.9% to 14.8%. Other key achievements include expanded infrastructure across the country, a resurgent tourism sector that drives job growth, improved energy security and access, new mass transit projects serving urban populations, targeted development of the Pedernales region, and new industrial initiatives in Manzanillo.
On the public safety front, Abinader confirmed that the Dominican government is continuing to prioritize reducing violent crime, specifically homicides, and implementing comprehensive reform of the National Police to improve accountability and community trust. He also acknowledged that the country, like many across the globe, faces new and emerging challenges, particularly in connection to the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the need to develop adaptive governance frameworks for new technologies.
In addition to the proclamation of Dominican Pride Day, the event brought major news for Dominican residents in New York: Jesus Vásquez Martínez, the Dominican Consul General in New York, announced that the Dominican Consulate in Brooklyn has received permanent authorization from the U.S. Department of State and is now fully operational. Vásquez Martínez also confirmed that the Dominican Central Electoral Board will maintain an on-site presence at the new Brooklyn consulate, allowing local residents to complete voter registration, update their information, and access other electoral services without traveling to Manhattan.
Closing out the formal remarks, Reverend Father Jeremías Castillo praised President Abinader’s recent call for a national day of prayer in the Dominican Republic, noting that the initiative aligns deeply with the nation’s long-standing religious traditions and shared cultural history.
The event capped off a day of meetings between President Abinader and local community leaders, reinforcing the close ties between the Dominican Republic and one of the largest Dominican diaspora communities in the United States.