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  • MOPC advances expansion of Frank Rainieri Tourist Boulevard

    MOPC advances expansion of Frank Rainieri Tourist Boulevard

    In the eastern Dominican province of La Altagracia, a critical infrastructure upgrade is well underway to transform one of the country’s most important tourism-driven travel corridors. The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) is leading the expansion of the Macao–Uvero Alto stretch of the Frank Rainieri Tourist Boulevard, a project crafted specifically to keep pace with the region’s explosive growth in tourism, residential construction, and commercial development.

    The scope of the work is substantial: crews will widen the 13-kilometer roadway from its original two lanes to four fully functional lanes, with all funding coming from the RD Vial Trust’s toll revenue system. Unlike one-off government spending allocations, this project leverages ongoing revenue from road users to directly reinvest in critical upgrades for the same travel network. Project organizers from both MOPC and RD Vial emphasize that the expansion will deliver far-reaching benefits, from smoothing out traffic flow to cutting down on collision risks, creating a more reliable travel experience for everyone from local residents and daily commuting workers to bus companies and vacationers heading to popular beach destinations in Macao, Uvero Alto, and the surrounding hotel zone.

    This expansion is not an isolated project; it forms a core part of the national government’s broader initiative to modernize the entire road network across the Punta Cana-Bávaro tourist hub, the country’s top tourism magnet. Right now, work teams are moving forward with earthmoving, base preparation, and lane expansion across the corridor, relying on heavy industrial equipment to stay on schedule. Local and national authorities note that the upgrade is a direct response to a dramatic surge in vehicle traffic, which has grown steadily alongside the region’s booming tourism and real estate sectors. Beyond reducing crippling peak-hour congestion, the project will also strengthen overall connectivity to Uvero Alto, a coastal destination that has emerged as one of the fastest-growing hotel development hubs in the entire Dominican Republic.

    RD Vial officials have reiterated that all toll revenue collected across the national network is consistently reinvested into public infrastructure projects, ongoing roadway maintenance, upgraded street lighting, clearer traffic signage, and targeted road safety programs that all work to improve national connectivity across the country. Once the Frank Rainieri Tourist Boulevard expansion is completed, the upgraded corridor is expected to serve as a safer, more modern, and more efficient transportation artery for one of the Dominican Republic’s most economically vital tourism regions, supporting continued growth and improving quality of life for both local communities and the millions of visitors that travel to the area each year.

  • Dominican rescuers pull child alive from Venezuela rubble after five days

    Dominican rescuers pull child alive from Venezuela rubble after five days

    In a remarkable display of cross-border humanitarian cooperation, a specialized urban search and rescue team from the Dominican Republic has pulled a 12-year-old child alive from the rubble of a collapsed residential building in Venezuela’s La Guaira state, five days after the structure fell. The young survivor, named Carlos Miguel Gutiérrez, was successfully located through the use of cutting-edge specialized search equipment, after days of painstaking searching through unstable debris. Following the discovery, Dominican rescue teams executed a carefully planned, technically complex extraction, adhering strictly to international safety protocols designed for collapsed structure emergencies. These protocols are put in place to minimize risk both to the trapped victim and the first responders carrying out the operation, a standard that guided every step of the team’s work in this high-stakes mission. This successful rescue stands out as one of the most notable and uplifting milestones of the Dominican Republic’s broader humanitarian deployment to Venezuela in the wake of the disaster. As emergency response teams from across the region continue their on-site work, search operations for additional potential survivors remain ongoing, with crews methodically working through the remaining rubble of the fallen La Estrella condominium.

  • Dominican Republic and Belgium sign customs cooperation agreement

    Dominican Republic and Belgium sign customs cooperation agreement

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – In a significant step to bolster cross-border security and streamline legitimate global commerce, the Dominican Republic and Belgium have formalized a new bilateral customs cooperation agreement. The memorandum of understanding, signed by top customs leaders from both nations, expands ongoing collaborative efforts to crack down on illegal activities linked to international trade, from customs fraud to transnational organized crime and illicit drug trafficking.

    Nelson Arroyo, Director General of Dominican Customs, and Kristian Vanderwaeren, Administrator of Belgian Customs, put pen to paper on the agreement during a formal ceremony in the Belgian capital. The new framework creates structured pathways for deeper collaboration between the two nations’ customs agencies, including regular exchanges of official information and intelligence, shared risk analysis methodologies, and mutual learning around industry best practices. It also paves the way for coordinated joint enforcement operations, early warning systems to flag high-risk shipments, and closer alignment on priorities within the World Customs Organization, the global body that sets standards for international customs practice.

    This latest agreement marks the third bilateral security pact reached by the two countries in 2024. It follows earlier accords between their national police forces and maritime security agencies that have already laid the groundwork for stronger cross-border security coordination. Beyond enforcement, the memorandum also deepens partnership between two key regional ports: the Dominican Republic’s Multimodal Caucedo Port and Belgium’s Port of Antwerp, one of the busiest container hubs in Europe. By aligning their customs enforcement efforts, both countries aim to strengthen the resilience of global supply chains, reduce security risks in the Caribbean and European regions, and speed up the movement of legal, legitimate trade between their economies and beyond.

  • Dominican Republic repatriates 65 people from Venezuela after earthquakes

    Dominican Republic repatriates 65 people from Venezuela after earthquakes

    In a coordinated emergency response ordered by President Luis Abinader, the Dominican Republic has successfully brought 65 people back from earthquake-ravaged Venezuela via a dedicated humanitarian repatriation flight, government officials confirmed this week. The operation was organized in close partnership by the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known locally as MIREX, with additional support from defense authorities.

    The chartered Sky High flight touched down at Las Américas International Airport carrying a diverse group of evacuees: 55 citizens of the Dominican Republic who had been stranded by the seismic disaster, nine Venezuelan nationals with close family or residential ties to the Caribbean nation, and one United States citizen who required emergency evacuation.

    On hand to receive the arriving passengers was Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, who used the occasion to restate the country’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding the well-being of Dominican citizens living or traveling abroad, as well as delivering rapid, coordinated support during unforeseen crises. Álvarez emphasized that the mission would not have been possible without seamless collaboration between MIREX and the Ministry of National Defense, noting that much of the on-the-ground coordination was managed by Opinio Díaz, Vice Minister for Consular and Migration Affairs.

    Even as the first group of evacuees safely returns home, Dominican authorities have no plans to wind down their support efforts in the disaster zone. A specialized consular response team remains deployed in Venezuela to continue providing ongoing assistance, documentation support and emergency aid to Dominican nationals who have chosen to remain in the country in the wake of the recent earthquakes.

  • LETTER: APUA and PWD- What a mess

    LETTER: APUA and PWD- What a mess

    A frustrated local resident named Denzil has penned an open letter to the editor calling out widespread mismanagement and a total lack of accountability for botched infrastructure works in Newfield, slamming a series of uncoordinated, wasteful construction projects that have upended daily life for local homeowners for months.

    In his scathing critique, Denzil argues that the entire initiative has been marked by chaotic planning from start to finish, with no clear leadership, no cohesive master plan, no regulatory oversight, and ultimately no one willing to take responsibility for the mess left behind.

    The core of his anger centers on work carried out by the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), which tore up local roadways to install new utility pipes that have sat disconnected and abandoned for months. Today, local roads remain ripped up and littered with construction debris, while thick clouds of dust plague nearby residential properties — and residents still have no access to improved water service that the project was meant to deliver.

    One particularly egregious example, Denzil notes, is the stretch of road connecting Friars Hill Road and Marble Hill Road. Crews first excavated this roadway in the first week of January. Two months ago, they returned to spend six weeks constructing a new sidewalk along one side of the corridor, then pulled out of the site with no further work for a full month. Now, crews have returned once again to dig up the opposite side of the road to build a second unnecessary sidewalk.

    Denzil questions the logic behind this piecemeal approach, pointing out that the road sees very little pedestrian traffic, making the two new sidewalks a complete waste of public funds that only serve to narrow the roadway and disrupt vehicle access.

    Worse still, he explains, the entire project was launched to address persistent recurring damage to the road surface. A simple preliminary investigation would have revealed that the root cause of the damage is runoff water from a nearby entertainment complex that undermines the road’s foundation every weekend. Despite all the disruption, dust, and public money spent on the current pipe and sidewalk works, the root problem has not been addressed at all — meaning the newly rebuilt road will inevitably crack and crumble again once work is complete, whenever that may be.

    “For how much longer will we put up with this nonsense?” Denzil asks, closing his letter with a plea for action to fix the broken system that allowed this unplanned, wasteful project to move forward.

  • Hospital Condemns Unauthorised Recording of Patient

    Hospital Condemns Unauthorised Recording of Patient

    Officials from Belize’s largest public healthcare facility, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA) based in Belize City, have issued a formal public call for the immediate takedown of an unauthorized patient video circulating widely across social media platforms. The recording, which captures an unidentified patient admitted after a violent assault, has drawn sharp criticism from hospital leadership for flagrant violations of the individual’s fundamental rights to privacy and personal dignity.

    In an official statement released to the public on June 29, 2026, KHMHA leaders outlined deep concern over the unregulated spread of the footage, which was captured without the patient’s consent either by an unauthorized visitor or a member of the public before being shared online. The patient is currently receiving ongoing care at the facility for injuries sustained in the violent attack that led to their hospitalization.

    The KHMHA statement emphasized a core principle of patient-centered care: every individual receiving treatment within the hospital’s wards is more than just a medical case. “Behind every bed in our wards is a person, someone’s mother, father, child, or friend, going through one of the most vulnerable moments of their life,” the statement read. “They deserve compassion, and above all, they deserve privacy.”

    Hospital management is urging all social media platforms users who have shared or reposted the video to remove it immediately, framing the request as a necessary action to uphold the patient’s basic human rights. Officials stressed that the requirement for patient privacy is not merely an internal institutional rule—it is a foundational expectation of basic human decency. “This is not just hospital policy; it is a matter of basic human respect,” the statement concluded.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Droom of drama? Brazilië, Duitsland en Oranje in actie

    Derde helft WK 2026: Droom of drama? Brazilië, Duitsland en Oranje in actie

    The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup enters its first day of Round of 32 action on Monday, June 29, with three high-stakes matches on the schedule headlined by global powerhouses Brazil, Germany, and the Netherlands, while off the pitch, Canada celebrates a landmark milestone in its men’s soccer history, and other nations grapple with heartbreak and organizational upheaval following early tournament exits.

    Five more spots in the Round of 16 will be claimed by the end of the day, joining Canada, which already locked in its place in the knockout stage over the weekend. Today’s fixture list kicks off at 14:00 local time at Houston’s NRG Stadium in Texas, where five-time World Cup champions Brazil face an up-and-coming Japan side. The second match of the day kicks off at 17:30 local time at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts, where Germany meets Paraguay, with Die Mannschaft desperate to end their streak of early World Cup exits dating back to their 2014 title win. The day’s action closes at 22:00 local time at Monterrey Stadium in host nation Mexico, where the Netherlands takes on North African side Morocco.

    Heading into their matchup with Japan, Brazil hold a clear historical upper hand over the Blue Samurai: across 14 previous meetings, Brazil have claimed 11 wins and suffered just one loss. The pair’s only prior World Cup meeting came 20 years ago, when Brazil secured a convincing 4-1 victory en route to their fifth title. However, Japan enters Monday’s clash with a boost of confidence, having overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Brazil 3-2 in a friendly in Tokyo last October, snapping Brazil’s long unbeaten streak in head-to-head matchups between the two sides. Even with that upset in recent memory, Brazil remain the heavy favorites to advance to the next round.

    For Germany, their matchup against Paraguay marks just their third meeting across all competitions, and their first in a World Cup since the 2002 Round of 16. The most recent encounter between the two sides was a thrilling 3-3 draw in a friendly match back in 2013. Having failed to make it out of the group stage in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Germany is hungry to end its drought of early exits and secure a place in the Round of 16, and is widely expected to get the win against Paraguay on Monday.

    The final match of the day between Netherlands and Morocco marks just the second ever World Cup meeting between the two nations, with their only prior tournament matchup coming in the 1994 group stage, where the Dutch claimed a 2-1 win behind goals from Dennis Bergkamp and Bryan Roy. Historically, the Netherlands has an unbeatable record against African opponents at the World Cup, remaining undefeated across six previous matches, with every win coming by a margin of at least two goals. Monday’s clash will however mark the Netherlands’ first ever knockout stage match against an African side. Morocco, for its part, enters the match full of confidence after a win over Scotland in the final group stage match, and is targeting back-to-back World Cup wins against European opposition to pull off an upset.

    Beyond the three matches scheduled for Monday, multiple key storylines unfolded across the tournament over the final days of group stage play. Leading off the off-field developments, Canada made men’s World Cup history, securing its first ever knockout stage win with a dramatic stoppage-time victory over South Africa that booked their spot in the Round of 16.

    The late match-winning goal from midfielder Stephen Eustaquio sparked wild celebrations across the Canadian camp, with co-host nation Canada celebrating the biggest milestone in the country’s men’s soccer history to date. Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch hailed his players, saying they had earned the title of “Canadian heroes” and already inspired a new generation of domestic soccer players across the country. Celebrations were made even more emotional by the presence of injured midfielder Ismael Kone, who was forced to withdraw from the tournament earlier after suffering a broken leg, but joined his teammates on crutches to celebrate the historic moment.

    In contrast to Canada’s joy, Iran’s World Cup campaign ended in devastating heartbreak, after the side missed out on a knockout stage spot by the narrowest of margins, becoming the first team in World Cup history to have three goals disallowed via VAR decisions. The dramatic late elimination sparked widespread emotional reactions across Iran and global soccer circles. Iranian head coach Amir Ghalenoei described his side’s bad luck as extraordinary. State media commentators in Iran also publicly questioned the circumstances of the elimination, while Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick rejected any suggestions of match fixing, noting that only “someone completely crazy” would believe the result was manipulated.

    In the wake of their own group stage elimination, South Korea has been thrown into soccer turmoil after head coach Hong Myung-bo stepped down from his role, facing heavy public and political criticism following the team’s underperforming campaign. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung launched a full investigation into the country’s national team program, calling the team’s early exit “deeply baffling” and openly questioning both the national team’s organizational structure and Hong’s appointment. Lee emphasized that personnel decisions ultimately determine on-pitch results, stating: “When loyalty and cronyism count for more than competence, and an unqualified person is put in a leadership position, the outcome is as predictable as fire.”

  • Kiwanis Nature Island Club welcomes 13 new members, installs 2025/2026 executive

    Kiwanis Nature Island Club welcomes 13 new members, installs 2025/2026 executive

    On Saturday, June 27, 2026, the Kiwanis Nature Island Club of Dominica marked a key milestone in its community service mission, holding an official induction and installation ceremony at the UWI Global Campus Auditorium to welcome 13 new members and swear in its 2025/2026 executive leadership team. The event, which capped a period of steady growth for the local service organization, was officiated by a delegation of senior Kiwanis leaders traveling from neighboring Martinique, including current Lieutenant Governor Jean Michel Pajaniady, 2026-2027 incoming Lieutenant Governor Thierry Jean-Bart, and Distinguished Lieutenant Governor Didier Saint-Louis.

    Mary Winston, who was first elected to the top post of the club on September 30, 2025, was formally installed as president for the 2025/2026 administrative year during the ceremony. In her opening address to gathered members, guests, and organizational partners, Winston opened by expressing sincere gratitude to all stakeholders in attendance, thanking sponsors, affiliated partners, fellow Kiwanians, and community supporters for their ongoing backing, and noting that she deeply valued the confidence the club’s membership had placed in her to lead the organization through the coming year.

    Winston went on to reaffirm the core mission of Kiwanis International, a global volunteer service network bound by the official motto “serving the children of the world.” The organization’s central purpose, she emphasized, is to drive tangible improvements in the lives of children and local communities worldwide, a mission the Dominica chapter has worked tirelessly to advance.

    Looking back on the work of the current tenure to date, Winston highlighted a slate of impactful community projects the club has already delivered. These included a holiday Christmas celebration for students at Goodwill Primary School held in late December 2025, the distribution of essential food hampers to vulnerable individuals and low-income families across the island, a financial contribution to the youth-focused Operation Youth Quake program, targeted support for a household in crisis in the Stock Farm neighborhood, and an in-kind donation of a mirror to contestants in the upcoming 2026 Miss Teen Dominica pageant. Each of these initiatives, Winston noted, reflects the club’s unwavering commitment to centering youth development and responsive community service in all its work.

    “Since assuming this role, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication, generosity, and commitment that defines our Kiwanis family,” Winston told attendees. “These initiatives are only possible because of the generosity and dedication of our members and supporters.” Looking ahead to the remainder of the term, she encouraged all existing members to keep their membership dues current, and challenged the broader club network to continue proactive recruitment of new members to expand the organization’s reach and service capacity across Dominica.

    Beyond the presidential installation, the ceremony formally swore in the full 2025/2026 executive board: Nicole Karama will serve as vice president, newly inducted member Daniah Labadie takes on the role of secretary, and Lisa Francis will act as club treasurer. The full roster of 13 new inductees joining the club this term includes Daniah Labadie, Sherika Winston, Shernel St. Rose, Laila Langford, Mitchel Jean Jacques, Erickson Romain, Kernilia Adams, Nea Liverpool, Lisa Francis, Alicia Griffith, Tamara Etienne, Twanny Govindin and Melisha Blanchard.

    In a closing statement shared via a post-ceremony press release, the Kiwanis Nature Island Club extended its gratitude to all members, community partners, and private supporters who have sustained its work over the past year. The organization reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to strengthening communities across Dominica through the core values of volunteerism, fellowship, and public service, noting that expanded membership will allow the club to take on more impactful projects for island residents in the months ahead.

  • New Senators Urged to Put National Interest Above Partisan Politics

    New Senators Urged to Put National Interest Above Partisan Politics

    In a formal address to the Upper House of Antigua and Barbuda on Monday, Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant presented an open letter from Jessica Zouetr, the immediate former president of the country’s National Youth Parliament Association, that carried a clear, principled message for two newly appointed senators with youth parliament roots.

    The letter extended warm, targeted congratulations to Senators Jonathan Wehner and Shaquan O’Neal, both graduates of the National Youth Parliament program, framing their ascension to the Senate as a landmark achievement not just for the organization itself, but for all young people across the twin-island nation.

    “Your appointments are a source of immense pride, not only for your families and communities, but also for the countless young people who now see that dedication, preparation and service can lead to the highest institutions of our nation,” Williams-Grant read aloud to the chamber during the opening of the sitting.

    Zouetr, who once served as the presiding officer of the youth parliament, noted that Wehner and O’Neal’s appointments mark the latest milestone for the organization. Back in 2022, the association celebrated its first Senate appointment when alumnus Keleir Gardner took a seat in the Upper House. This latest pair of appointments, Zouetr argued, is tangible proof that the youth parliament consistently fulfills its core mission: equipping young people with the skills and experience to step into national leadership and public service roles.

    Drawing from her own experience leading the youth body, Zouetr shared that she had overseen parliamentary sittings in which both Wehner and O’Neal participated, making their new appointments a full-circle, full-heartening moment for everyone involved with the program.

    “As you take your seats in these hallowed halls, remember the principles that guided your training,” the letter read.

    While Zouetr acknowledged that both new senators hold formal affiliations with political parties, she emphasized that their primary duty within the Senate extends beyond partisan loyalty. Their core responsibility as legislators, she argued, requires rigorous scrutiny of proposed legislation, thoughtful and constructive debate, and unwavering commitment to serving all residents of Antigua and Barbuda.

    “Your foremost allegiance here must be to the Constitution and to the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” she wrote. “Let every contribution you make and every vote you cast be guided by the principles of fairness, sound judgment and the national interest rather than partisan considerations.”

    After reading the letter in full, Williams-Grant explained that she chose to present the entire correspondence to replace her own planned opening remarks, because the message aligned perfectly with the core reminder she wanted to deliver to the entire Senate at the start of the sitting.

    “I think it was fitting for it to replace what I would have said this morning,” she said, adding that Zouetr’s message serves as an important reminder for every sitting senator that their role exists to serve the people of Antigua and Barbuda, and that the public rightfully expects their full commitment and best work in the chamber.

  • Nexen Family Health vacancy: Receptionist

    Nexen Family Health vacancy: Receptionist

    A new patient-focused general practice is gearing up for its official opening in Perdmontemps, St David, and has launched a search for its very first team member to fill the receptionist role. Nexen Family Health, which is scheduled to welcome its first patients in August 2026, is looking for a candidate who brings a friendly demeanor, strong professional ethics and solid organizational skills to join its growing team in a modern, newly built healthcare facility.

    As the first point of contact for every patient walking through the practice’s doors, the incoming receptionist will hold a core role in shaping patient experiences at Nexen Family Health. Their key duties will cover a broad range of front-of-house and administrative tasks: delivering consistently exceptional customer service to foster a warm, welcoming environment for all visitors; greeting and registering patients with courtesy and professionalism; managing and coordinating patient movement throughout the practice to keep daily operations running smoothly; responding to incoming enquiries via phone calls, emails and WhatsApp; maintaining up-to-date, accurate patient documentation and completing routine administrative work; processing patient payments and issuing official receipts; and keeping the reception area clean, tidy and welcoming at all times.

    To be considered for the role, candidates are expected to meet several core requirements. Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills are a must, as the role involves constant interaction with patients, clinical staff and third-party partners. Candidates must also present a professional appearance and demeanor, have proficient working knowledge of common digital tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, email platforms and WhatsApp, demonstrate the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously while staying calm during busy periods, and prove to be a reliable team member with consistent punctuality. While previous experience working in customer service or the healthcare sector is considered a valuable advantage, it is not a mandatory requirement for applicants. Nexen Family Health has confirmed that it will provide full, tailored training to the successful candidate to help them adapt to the role.

    The successful applicant will work a set weekly schedule that includes 8:00 am to 4:00 pm from Monday through Friday, and 8:30 am to 2:30 pm every Saturday, with full days off on Sundays, giving consistent work-life balance for the role.

    Individuals interested in applying for the position are asked to submit their curriculum vitae along with either a brief cover letter or a short personal introduction to the Hiring Manager. Applications can be sent via email to [email protected] or through WhatsApp to 473-456-3936. The closing date for all applications is 10 July 2026, and late submissions will not be considered.

    This recruitment posting is featured on NOW Grenada, which notes that it does not take responsibility for the opinions, statements or any third-party content shared by contributors. Users can access a reporting link to flag any abusive content related to the posting.