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  • Firefighter urges Dominicans to prepare for a potential major earthquake

    Firefighter urges Dominicans to prepare for a potential major earthquake

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – A senior leader from the National District Fire Department has issued a urgent call for Dominican households and communities to ramp up emergency preparedness efforts, as the nation sits on geologically active terrain that puts it at constant risk of a devastating seismic event.

    Colonel José Vicente Peña, speaking in a recent interview on the podcast *Reseñas*, outlined the scope of the country’s natural hazard profile: the island that the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti is crisscrossed by 14 active geological faults, making major seismic events an unavoidable long-term risk. While scientists and emergency officials uniformly agree that earthquakes cannot be predicted with current technology, Peña stressed that pre-event preparation remains the most effective tool to reduce casualties and damage when a major quake strikes.

    Peña laid out a series of actionable steps that families and workplaces can take starting immediately, beginning with structural risk assessments. He encouraged property owners and managers to inspect buildings for existing vulnerabilities, such as unaddressed wall cracks, exposed steel reinforcement bars, and other visible warning signs that could exacerbate damage during a seismic shift.

    Beyond structural checks, the fire official emphasized the need for coordinated household emergency planning. He advised all families to agree on a clear response protocol, including pre-designated safe meeting points in case family members are separated when a quake hits, to avoid post-disaster chaos and speed up reunification.

    A third core recommendation is the assembly of a 72-hour emergency survival kit, packed in an easy-to-grab backpack for rapid evacuation or shelter-in-place scenarios. Essential supplies Peña listed include potable water, non-perishable canned food, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, extra clothing, prescription medications, comprehensive first-aid supplies, and a whistle to signal for rescuers if trapped.

    Peña also shared critical safety guidance for people caught in an earthquake while inside multi-story high-rise buildings. Contrary to common misconceptions that encourage immediate running for exits, he advised against hasty evacuation during shaking, noting that falling debris and stairwell collapses are major causes of injury in these scenarios. Instead, people should seek immediate protection from falling objects, cover their heads and necks, and move to a pre-identified safe location within the building once shaking subsides.

    Closing his remarks, Peña underlined that individual household preparedness is only half the equation: coordinated community readiness plays an irreplaceable role in emergency response. In the critical first hours after a major earthquake, when formal first responder resources are often overwhelmed and stretched thin, local residents are frequently the first to provide aid to those in need, making collective community planning a key factor in reducing disaster mortality.

  • Dominican authorities roll out traffic plan ahead of new school year

    Dominican authorities roll out traffic plan ahead of new school year

    In preparation for the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, two leading Dominican transport regulatory bodies are rolling out a comprehensive set of initiatives to cut crippling traffic congestion around educational institutions and boost overall road safety for students, staff and local residents.

    The National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant) and the General Directorate of Transit and Land Transportation Safety (Digesett), the two agencies leading the scheme, have confirmed that priority will be given to campuses that consistently face the worst gridlock during peak morning drop-off and afternoon pickup windows.

    Among the practical interventions being rolled out are the placement of traffic cones to clearly demarcate separate driving lanes, the publication and promotion of tailored designated routes for parents and guardians dropping off students, and the introduction of staggered dismissal times organized by grade level to spread out vehicle traffic across a longer window.

    To further smooth traffic flows, authorities will also closely monitor temporary one-way traffic adjustments introduced to ease congestion in high-footfall school zones. They are also actively promoting carpooling among families and increased use of licensed private transportation services, while uniformed Digesett officers will be deployed to any campus that requires on-site traffic coordination and support.

    A key part of the new plan is stricter enforcement of existing school-zone traffic regulations, including compliance with mandatory road signage. Officials are reiterating a public reminder that the legal maximum speed limit for all vehicles in school zones remains 20 kilometers per hour, a restriction designed to reduce the risk of traffic accidents involving vulnerable pedestrians, most notably school-aged children.

    Intrant has issued a public call for full cooperation from all stakeholders, including parents, guardians, local drivers, and school management and communities. The agency stressed that collective adherence to traffic rules and partnership with enforcement authorities is the only way to guarantee a safe, orderly and low-stress return to in-person classes for all students when the new academic year begins.

  • Abinader launches “Weekly Agenda” to give citizens a look inside government decision-making

    Abinader launches “Weekly Agenda” to give citizens a look inside government decision-making

    SANTO DOMINGO — In a groundbreaking push to open government work to public scrutiny, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader is set to unveil *Weekly Agenda*, a new live broadcast initiative, this coming Monday, August 24 at 5:00 p.m. The innovative platform is crafted to give ordinary Dominican citizens an unfiltered, front-row view of how the national administration tracks and delivers on its core policy commitments.

    Each installment of the program will center on an executive working session, chaired directly by President Abinader, with participation from cabinet ministers, agency directors, and senior public officials in charge of the policy area being covered that week. Unlike closed-door government meetings that traditionally keep decision-making out of public sight, every episode will dedicate its full focus to a single top national priority. Discussions will cover tangible progress made, persistent hurdles blocking implementation, measurable performance metrics, outstanding unfulfilled commitments, and concrete next steps for advancing the policy goal.

    A core feature of the initiative is its commitment to accessibility: the working meetings will air live every Monday, enabling Dominican residents to follow along in real time as public officials weigh tradeoffs, assess outcomes, and coordinate cross-agency solutions to pressing national challenges.

    For its historic debut episode, the *Weekly Agenda* program will shine a spotlight on the country’s education sector. President Abinader will convene top leaders from the education system, led by Minister of Education Luis Miguel De Camps, for a comprehensive review of preparations ahead of the upcoming new school year. The discussion will touch on critical on-the-ground issues, from the physical condition of school campuses across the country and the availability of key instructional resources to progress completed to date, unresolved obstacles, and urgent priorities that must be addressed before students return to their classrooms.

    Down the line, future editions of the program will tackle a broad range of other high-stakes policy areas, including macroeconomic growth, public safety, major infrastructure projects, public health, affordable housing, and national energy security.

    According to a statement from the Dominican Presidency, the overarching goal of this new platform is to bridge the gap between the national government and the public it serves. By opening up internal monitoring and implementation processes, the administration aims to show citizens not just what policy achievements the government has delivered, but also how leaders track progress against priorities, tackle emerging barriers, and roll out effective solutions to improve life across the country.

  • Three men shot dead in separate attacks

    Three men shot dead in separate attacks

    A wave of brutal gun violence has swept the Bahamian capital of New Providence over a single weekend, leaving three men dead and law enforcement launching a widespread manhunt for multiple fugitive suspects. The string of attacks, which unfolded between Friday afternoon and Saturday midday, has deepened ongoing concerns over persistent violent crime in the region, even as investigators work to piece together details of each coordinated incident.

    The first fatal shooting took place just before 4 p.m. Friday in the area near the intersection of Soldier Road and Blue Hill Road. When officers from the East Street South Police Station and the specialized anti-crime unit Operation Black Scorpion arrived at the scene following reports of repeated gunfire, they discovered a 51-year-old man lying face down outside a local apartment complex, with clear evidence of multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel confirmed the victim was dead at the scene. Preliminary investigative findings suggest the man was in the area conducting routine activity when two male suspects stepped out of a white Japanese-manufactured sedan, drew concealed firearms, and fired multiple rounds at him before fleeing east along Soldier Road in their getaway vehicle.

    Less than 16 hours after the first killing, a second attack unfolded just after 7 a.m. Saturday at a residential property on Joe Farrington Road. Responding officers from the Mobile Division and Elizabeth Estates Police Station found a 52-year-old man, who had just returned to his home, dead inside a yellow apartment building. According to initial reports, three armed suspects arrived at the property in a silver SUV, with two carrying high-powered military-style weapons and the third armed with a standard handgun. As the gunmen opened fire, the victim attempted to escape inside his residence, but the attackers pursued him inside and continued shooting, striking him multiple times before fleeing west along Joe Farrington Road. EMS pronounced the victim dead at the scene shortly after arrival.

    Five hours after the second killing, the third fatal attack occurred on Gladstone Road, just a short distance north of Fire Trail Road. When police and EMS arrived just after noon, they found a 36-year-old landscaper who had been shot while working on the eastern side of the road. Like the previous two victims, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say a white Japanese-model sedan pulled up beside the victim as he worked, and two armed suspects exited the vehicle and opened fire before fleeing north.

    The investigation into this third killing quickly escalated into a high-speed police pursuit when Operation Black Scorpion officers intercepted the suspect vehicle in the Pride Estates neighborhood. The chase ended on Allen Close, where suspects inside the vehicle reportedly opened fire on pursuing officers, triggering an exchange of gunfire. When the driver finally pulled the vehicle to a stop behind a private residence, four people — three men and an 18-year-old woman — exited the vehicle. Police reports confirm one of the male suspects, seated in the back of the vehicle, continued firing at officers even after the vehicle stopped, prompting police to return fire that left the getaway vehicle heavily damaged. The three male suspects managed to scale a perimeter fence and escape the scene, but the 18-year-old female driver was later found hiding underneath a public bus and taken into custody. She has been formally cautioned in connection with the killing, the pursuit, and the shootout with police. Investigators searching the suspect vehicle and the surrounding area after the incident recovered two high-powered firearms, one additional handgun, and a quantity of unused ammunition.

    In addition to the three fatal killings, police were also investigating a separate non-fatal shooting late Sunday night on Reeves Street, located just off Fox Hill Road. Two men were wounded in that attack and were transported to a local hospital by ambulance; as of press time, no update has been released on their current condition.

    Prior to this weekend’s violence, official records from The Tribune put the national murder count at 48 as of August 4, not including the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Abdul Zidor on Fire Trail Road East just last week. The three weekend killings mark a sharp escalation in the capital’s ongoing gun violence crisis, putting new pressure on law enforcement to crack down on illegal firearms and gang-related activity in the region.

  • Three charged with murdering Katrina

    Three charged with murdering Katrina

    A weeks-long high-stakes search for a missing 34-year-old mother of two from Eleuthera has ended with murder charges against three local residents, closing one of the most closely watched missing person cases in the Bahamas this year.

    Katrina Kelly, a resident of Bluff, Eleuthera, was last seen alive on the night of August 11. When she failed to contact her family, an extensive multi-party search operation was launched, drawing widespread public attention and a combined reward offer of more than $50,000 for any information about her location. Prosecutors formally filed charges against 31-year-old Rico Hepburn, 34-year-old Dencil ‘Gio’ Delancy, and 43-year-old Jakita Cash in court on Friday, marking the latest major development in the ongoing investigation.

    According to court documents, the three defendants are accused of acting in concert to intentionally and unlawfully kill Kelly on Eleuthera on August 11, the same day she was last seen. A second charge accuses the trio of damaging Kelly’s 2013 Nissan Cube—valued at $7,000—on August 12, a day after the alleged killing. Initial court procedure does not require the defendants to enter formal pleas to the murder charge at this stage, and all three are eligible to file bail applications with the Supreme Court of the Bahamas.

    The case unfolded rapidly after Kelly’s disappearance was reported. Three days after she was last seen, on August 14, local law enforcement issued an official missing person alert to the public. As concerns for Kelly’s safety grew, police expanded the search operation, deploying additional detective teams and police canines to Eleuthera. Local volunteers and trained divers joined the search effort to comb through land and coastal areas for any trace of the missing mother.

    The search effort drew broad community and organizational support, with rewards posted to encourage tips from the public. Kelly’s own family was the first to offer a reward, putting forward $2,500 for information that would lead to her safe return. Shortly after, the Fox Foundation stepped in to add a significant additional reward of up to $50,000 for any information clarifying Kelly’s whereabouts, bringing the total reward pool to $52,500.

    Following the completion of initial investigative work, police confirmed on Friday that the three suspects would face formal charges. Alongside the murder and property damage charges, law enforcement had initially noted the trio would also face a charge of compounding a crime, though that charge was not referenced in the final criminal complaint filed Friday. All three defendants have been remanded into custody as they prepare to file their bail applications before the Supreme Court. The case has been adjourned until February 4, 2027, at which point the defendants are scheduled to receive voluntary bills of indictment, moving the case one step closer to trial.

  • Authorities seize illicit alcohol, premium cigarettes and medicines in Villa Consuelo

    Authorities seize illicit alcohol, premium cigarettes and medicines in Villa Consuelo

    In a coordinated law enforcement operation targeting unregulated commercial activity in the Dominican Republic capital, authorities have confiscated nearly 120,000 units of contraband goods from a commercial establishment owned by Chinese nationals in the Villa Consuelo neighborhood of Santo Domingo.

    The operation, organized by the Illicit Activities Committee under the country’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MICM), was executed on the ground by the Specialized Corps for the Control of Fuels and Trade of Goods (Ceccom). Multiple government agencies joined the action to provide specialized support, including the General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products (Digemaps), the General Directorate of Migration (DGM), and prosecutors from the Public Ministry.

    Official records place the total volume of seized merchandise at 119,708 units, covering a range of products from alcoholic beverages and premium cigarettes to sexual stimulants and pharmaceutical goods. Preliminary assessments value the contraband at 19.48 million Dominican pesos, equal to roughly $340,000 U.S. dollars.

    Investigating authorities outlined that none of the seized products carried the mandatory health registrations required for commercial sale in the country, and all exhibited significant irregularities in product labeling. These violations confirm the goods were being marketed through illegal channels, creating two key risks: first, untested and unregulated products pose direct safety hazards to consumers who purchase them; second, the unreported commercial activity allows operators to evade paying required taxes, depriving the Dominican government of legitimate revenue.

    In remarks following the operation, MICM Minister Yayo Sanz Lovatón reaffirmed the national government’s commitment to continuing sweeping enforcement actions against commercial enterprises that operate outside the country’s trade, public health, and tax regulations. He specifically emphasized the effectiveness of inter-agency coordination that made this large-scale seizure possible, noting that collaborative operations will remain a core strategy for cracking down on illicit trade moving forward.

    Beyond the contraband seizure, immigration officials also took five Haitian nationals into custody during the operation, all of whom were found to be residing and working in the country with irregular immigration status. The five individuals have since been transferred to DGM custody for processing in line with Dominican immigration law.

    All confiscated merchandise has been placed under a formal, documented chain of custody to preserve legal integrity, and has been moved to Ceccom’s headquarters to undergo pending legal and administrative procedures as the investigation continues.

  • Foreign Minister Bisonó holds first call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

    Foreign Minister Bisonó holds first call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

    In a critical early diplomatic engagement following his appointment, Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó connected with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio via phone on Saturday to lay the groundwork for future bilateral collaboration between the two Caribbean and North American nations.

    The conversation opened with a formal gesture of goodwill, as Rubio extended official congratulations to Bisonó on taking up his new cabinet position. Alongside this welcome, the top U.S. diplomat took the opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding, robust partnership that has defined relations between Washington and Santo Domingo for decades.

    Over the course of the call, the two senior diplomatic leaders worked through a packed agenda of topics aligned with both nations’ shared interests. Core areas of discussion included expanding bilateral trade volumes, attracting new cross-border investment, and aligning priorities in key strategic economic and security sectors. The pair also dedicated time to mapping out potential areas for new joint projects that could deliver mutual benefits.

    For his part, Bisonó used the conversation to restate the Dominican government’s clear commitment to deepening coordination with the United States. He emphasized that the Dominican Republic prioritizes advancing shared initiatives that will expand economic opportunity, boost regional security, and build shared prosperity for citizens of both nations.

    Diplomatic observers note that this early bilateral discussion fits directly into Bisonó’s stated broader agenda: strengthening the Dominican Republic’s strategic partnership with Washington and moving forward a cohesive shared cooperation agenda that addresses the most pressing shared challenges and opportunities for both countries.

  • Gevonden voertuig bevestigd als auto van Leysner

    Gevonden voertuig bevestigd als auto van Leysner

    A major breakthrough has been achieved in the high-profile disappearance investigation of Rodney Leysner, Chief Commercial Officer of Surinamese beverage company Rudisa. Investigators have positively confirmed that a burnt-out vehicle recovered from a swamp in the Saramacca region belongs to the missing executive, law enforcement sources confirmed this week.

    The identification was made possible by the vehicle’s intact chassis number, which remained visible despite extensive fire damage. This confirmation marks the first time authorities have established a definitive direct connection between the recovered vehicle and Leysner’s disappearance, ending earlier speculative links between the two.

    Prior to the chassis number analysis, investigators only held an unconfirmed suspicion that the vehicle was the one Leysner was using before he went missing. The burnt wreckage was pulled from the Saramacca swamp in recent search operations, and the formal confirmation pushes the long-running investigation into a critical new phase.

    Four people have already been named as official suspects in the case. Among them, three have been taken into custody: a Cuban couple identified only by the initials S.A. and Y.S.N., and an individual identified as E.R., who is currently being held for further questioning. The fourth suspect, Ryan Torilall, remains at large as of the latest update, and law enforcement is actively working to locate and apprehend him.

    Authorities including local police and other investigating agencies are continuing their probe into the case. Next steps for the investigation include determining exactly how and when the vehicle ended up abandoned in the remote Saramacca swamp. Investigators will also conduct a thorough search of the vehicle and its immediate surrounding area to look for any forensic evidence that can shed more light on Leysner’s fate and the circumstances of his disappearance.

  • Roadworks planned across island next week

    Roadworks planned across island next week

    A sweeping series of infrastructure maintenance projects, spanning road repairs, drainage upgrades, and pedestrian safety improvements, is set to launch across multiple Barbadian parishes next week under the direction of the country’s Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW). The initiative prioritizes upgrading critical road infrastructure and refreshing school crossing markings just in advance of the upcoming new school year, aiming to improve commuter safety and reduce longstanding travel disruptions caused by deteriorated roadways.

  • Aantal verkeersdoden en zwaargewonden met helft terugdringen

    Aantal verkeersdoden en zwaargewonden met helft terugdringen

    On August 23, Suriname’s government launched a groundbreaking five-year strategic road safety plan that sets an ambitious target: cutting the number of traffic deaths and severe injuries by 50% by 2030, compared to 2021 baseline figures. The new framework, which updates the nation’s prior 2018-2021 road safety strategy, moves beyond single-factor approaches to address road safety across every layer of the country’s transportation system, tackling not just driver behavior, but also infrastructure design, vehicle safety, law enforcement, traffic education, and post-crash emergency care.

    The plan arrives after decades of stagnant progress on reducing traffic-related harm in Suriname. Data compiled by the Suriname Police Corps, included in the official strategy document, shows that over the past 30 years, the country has recorded an average of 71 traffic fatalities per year. The lowest annual death toll was 34 in 1994, while the deadliest year on record was 2009, when 112 people lost their lives to road crashes. Since 2015, no consistent downward trend has been achieved: 96 people died in traffic incidents in 2021, followed by 74 deaths in 2022, 69 in 2023, and 79 in 2024. The majority of these fatalities are concentrated in the districts of Paramaribo and Wanica.

    Suriname’s road safety data also reveals stark demographic disparities in crash risk. Young people between the ages of 15 and 34 account for the largest share of traffic fatalities and severe injuries, with the 20-29 age group hit hardest. Men are also overrepresented in crash statistics, making up 69% of traffic injury patients treated at the emergency department of Paramaribo’s Academic Hospital. Motorcycle and moped crashes, in particular, disproportionately affect male road users.

    Officials have identified a range of contributing risk factors that the new plan will target. Key human-related hazards include speeding, drunk driving, unlicensed operation of vehicles, and failure to correctly use seatbelts and motorcycle helmets. Systemic risks are equally pressing: poorly maintained or non-existent sidewalks, deficient road infrastructure, unsafe parking practices, and vehicles that do not meet basic safety standards all exacerbate danger on Suriname’s roads.

    The 2026-2030 strategy is structured around five core pillars: improved road safety governance, safer roads and mobility infrastructure, safer vehicles, safer road user behavior, and enhanced post-crash care for victims. Key initiatives outlined in the plan include expanded traffic education in schools, strengthened enforcement of traffic laws, targeted speed management infrastructure, updated regulation for electric bikes and electric scooters, expanded research into local road safety trends, and improved collection of crash data.

    A central guiding principle of the new strategy is the internationally recognized Safe System Approach. This framework is built on the understanding that human error in traffic can never be fully eliminated, so the entire transportation system must be designed to ensure that mistakes do not automatically lead to death or catastrophic injury. The plan emphasizes that achieving this goal requires more than just encouraging safe road user behavior; it also demands investment in safer vehicles, upgraded infrastructure, and consistent, effective enforcement of traffic laws.

    The new strategy builds on lessons learned from Suriname’s previous 2018-2021 strategic and action plan for road safety. The older plan underwent a full evaluation, and its results, gaps, and key takeaways were integrated into the priority-setting process for the 2026-2030 framework. Multiple government agencies and civil society organizations were also consulted during the plan’s development to ensure a holistic, collaborative approach.

    In the preface to the plan, Minister of Justice and Security Harish Monorath emphasized that road safety is not solely the responsibility of the government. Alongside police, schools, and emergency response services, every individual road user — from motorists to cyclists to pedestrians — shares accountability for creating safer roads. At the same time, the plan establishes a more tightly coordinated cross-government approach that connects infrastructure upgrades, vehicle safety regulation, law enforcement, and emergency medical response to create a cohesive system of protection.

    To ensure accountability and flexibility, progress on the plan’s targets will be monitored annually, with public progress reports and annual adjustments to actionable initiatives allowed. A midterm evaluation is scheduled for the end of 2028, and a final independent evaluation by an external expert will be conducted at the end of 2030. With its clear, measurable 50% reduction target, the Suriname government has set a bold, accountable goal for road safety improvement over the next four years.