标签： Dominican Republic

LAS CALDERAS, PERAVIA – In a significant event for the nation’s maritime defense, the Dominican Republic Navy celebrated the graduation of 272 cadets on Saturday, January 17. The ceremony, held at the prestigious Las Calderas Naval Base—renowned as the cornerstone of the country’s naval training—marked the culmination of an intensive six-month program designed to enhance the Navy’s operational capabilities.

Presiding over the proceedings was Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, ERD, the Minister of Defense. In his official capacity, he administered the formal oath of service, officially integrating the new cohort into the active ranks of the Navy. The event also featured Vice Admiral Juan B. Crisóstomo Martínez, Commander General of the Navy, who personally presented the top graduate award.

Captain José Agustín José Vásquez, Director of the Naval Training Center, detailed the rigorous curriculum that blended academic instruction, technical expertise, and military discipline. He underscored the core values instilled in every graduate: discipline, honor, and unwavering loyalty, which form the bedrock of their future careers.

Special recognition was accorded to Cadet Brayni Rodríguez Rodríguez, who was distinguished as the Honorary Graduate for her exceptional academic achievements and exemplary conduct throughout the training. The newly minted sailors, now specialists in diverse fields including marine infantry, mechanics, electricity, communications, computer science, nursing, and logistics, are set to be deployed across various institutional services.

The graduation was attended by a host of civil and military dignitaries, alongside proud family members. The formal event concluded with a religious blessing, symbolizing the collective pride in the graduates’ commitment to serving and strengthening the Dominican Republic and its Armed Forces.

Santo Domingo – The Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII) has implemented a dual deadline system for vehicle circulation tax renewals, creating distinct timelines for online versus in-person processing. Digital renewals through the DGII 360 platform must be completed by Sunday, January 18, while physical renewals at authorized locations remain available until January 31, 2026.

The agency has streamlined the digital process, requiring only national identification numbers (RNC) and vehicle plate information through either the official DGII mobile application or the website www.dgii.gov.do. This convenience comes with a delivery trade-off: online applicants receive their physical stickers within approximately four business days in the capital region and eight days elsewhere, while in-person renewals provide immediate issuance.

Current compliance statistics reveal significant collection numbers alongside substantial outstanding renewals. As of last Friday, approximately 800,000 vehicle owners had yet to renew their permits, despite collections already exceeding 2 billion pesos from compliant citizens. Digital adoption has been notable with over 150,000 vehicles processed online.

The 2025-2026 fiscal period sees expanded eligibility with 2,086,756 vehicles requiring renewal—an increase of 193,732 units from the previous cycle. The DGII projects total collections will reach RD$3,433,806,000 during this annual mobilization of vehicle owners nationwide.

Fee structures remain unchanged from the previous period: RD$1,500 for vehicles manufactured through 2020 and RD$3,000 for those from 2021 onward. Renewal services are available at 47 financial institutions with 856 branches nationwide, plus DGII offices in Montecristi and Samaná.

The agency has established a graduated penalty system for non-compliance: RD$2,000 for missing the January 31, 2026 deadline; RD$2,100 for those who also missed the 2024-2025 period; and RD$3,100 for vehicles outstanding since 2023-2024 or earlier, incorporating administrative fees atop base penalties.

Religious leaders and mental health experts in the Dominican Republic are raising urgent concerns about the deteriorating moral landscape in digital content and its profound effects on younger generations. The Catholic Church, represented by Monsignor José Amable Durán and Father José Luis Cruz, identifies the normalization of explicit lyrics in urban music and unfiltered vulgar content on social platforms as a primary catalyst for behavioral and emotional disorders among children and adolescents.

Monsignor Durán, auxiliary bishop of Santo Domingo, emphasized that this issue transcends religious doctrine, touching upon fundamental aspects of social morality. He articulated that music and language were originally conceived for positive expression but are now being weaponized to promote moral disorder, irresponsible behavior, and explicit sexuality. The prelate directly linked the current epidemic of teenage pregnancies to early exposure to morally damaging musical content consumed even within family environments.

The debate extends beyond mere content criticism to address the technological paradigm shift that has enabled this crisis. Father Cruz, rector of the Catholic University of Santo Domingo, highlighted the contrast with previous decades when regulatory mechanisms in traditional media prevented mass dissemination of harmful content. The internet’s borderless nature has created an essentially ungovernable digital ecosystem where children access explicit material without restrictions.

Psychological perspectives from family therapist Yesmín Meyer corroborate these concerns, noting that negative role models from urban music and influencers promote violence, sexism, and damaging gender stereotypes. These influences fundamentally shape the behavioral patterns and social roles that young people adopt during their formative years.

All experts converge on the irreplaceable role of parental guidance and digital literacy rather than advocating for absolute censorship. They stress that parents must implement conscious content filters and foster critical thinking skills, acknowledging that social media is permanently embedded in modern life. The solution requires a multifaceted approach combining responsible parenting, ethical content creation, platform accountability, and educated consumption.

A community’s vigilance culminated in a heartening resolution to a distressing disappearance case in Santo Domingo East. Dianibel Ozuna, who had just celebrated her sixth birthday, and her 53-year-old grandmother, Marilyn Adon de Jesús, were safely located after being reported missing since January 13th.

The breakthrough occurred when an observant taxi driver, having recognized the pair from widespread media reports, proactively intervened. He escorted them to his residence in the Las 50 Casitas project, located in the Los Prados Orientales area, ensuring their safety until family members could arrive.

Danyela Peña, a relative, provided details on the discovery. She confirmed that the woman and child were situated in a park within the Los Mina sector. Peña emphasized that the successful outcome was a direct result of rapid information dissemination and exemplary cooperation from the public. “Thank God the news recognized them and brought them here,” Peña was quoted as exclaiming with relief.

In subsequent communications, the grandmother, Marilyn Adon, indicated to her family that she had been in the process of ‘sorting something out’ and had intended to extend her stay away from home. Prior to their discovery, family members and neighbors had expressed deep concern, revealing that Adon had been grappling with a mental health condition. They attributed this to recent personal difficulties, which had reportedly affected her stability over preceding months.

Keyla, the daughter of Marilyn and mother of Dianibel, had previously described her mother’s condition, noting episodes of nervous breakdowns and pacing, followed by returns to lucidity. A neighbor, Juan Hernández, corroborated the family’s concerns, suggesting that external pressures related to her living situation were a significant contributing factor to her recent state.

Authorities and family have confirmed that both the young girl and her grandmother were found in perfect physical health, bringing a positive close to the anxious search effort.

The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) has escalated maritime warnings following an urgent meteorological bulletin from the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (INDOMET). According to Saturday’s advisory, navigational conditions throughout the Caribbean Sea and along the nation’s northern coastline have significantly deteriorated, with the hazardous marine environment expected to persist for the next 24 to 48 hours.

INDOMET has implemented specific restrictions for the coastal segment stretching from Punta Águilas to Cayo Pisaje in the Pedernales region. Maritime authorities have mandated that operators of fragile, small, and medium-sized vessels remain in port due to dangerously gusty winds and life-threatening wave conditions that present severe navigation risks.

For the remainder of the Caribbean coastline and Atlantic coastal areas, officials have issued strong recommendations for extreme caution during maritime operations. Vessels are advised to maintain proximity to shorelines as meteorologists anticipate sustained moderate to strong winds accompanied by periodically abnormal wave patterns throughout the affected regions.

The COE has reinforced its urgent appeal to fishing communities, maritime operators, and coastal residents to maintain heightened vigilance and refrain from unnecessary risk exposure during this period of pronounced maritime instability. The coordinated emergency response system remains activated to monitor developments and respond to potential incidents arising from the deteriorating sea conditions.

SANTO DOMINGO – Milton Morrison, Director of the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant), has publicly attributed the pervasive traffic chaos in the Dominican Republic to a widespread disregard for traffic laws, particularly by motorists, motorcyclists (motoconchistas), and delivery drivers. In a stark assessment, Morrison described these groups as operating like “lawless goats,” creating significant disorder on the roads.

The official’s comments were made in response to a recent report by Listín Diario. He firmly rejected any notion that drivers in the country are broadly compliant with regulations, stating that such a claim is “totally false.” Morrison argued that if compliance were universal, the nation’s traffic situation would be “a marvel.”

Emphasizing his long-standing advocacy for stricter law enforcement, Morrison clarified Intrant’s role within a broader ecosystem of institutions. He pointed out that while he is a proponent of rigorous law application, Intrant itself is not a “superpowerful institution” as sometimes perceived. Effective traffic management, he stressed, requires a coordinated, transversal effort involving multiple agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office and the General Directorate of Transit and Land Transportation (Digesett).

To address these systemic issues, Morrison is advocating for a substantial increase in financial penalties for traffic violations. He had previously presented this proposal to the National Congress, where he also outlined the grim realities of road accidents and fatalities.

Furthermore, Morrison proposed a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving. He believes that individuals caught driving under the influence of alcohol should be immediately incarcerated rather than given leniency. His stance is that jail time would serve as a powerful deterrent and a harsh lesson, effectively teaching offenders that driving intoxicated is unacceptable.

The Dominican Republic’s rollout of its advanced electronic passport system has generated overwhelming public response, with appointment slots filling rapidly just one day after the application process commenced. According to Rocío Quirós, Communications Director at the General Directorate of Passports (DGP), the newly launched system witnessed substantial citizen engagement since its activation on Thursday, February 15.

The initial phase caters to multiple applicant categories: first-time passport seekers, individuals with expired documentation, those whose passports expire within six months, and persons requiring replacement due to loss or damage. Physical document processing is scheduled to begin February 19 at the DGP’s central headquarters on John F. Kennedy Avenue in the Los Prados sector.

Quirós clarified that operations currently remain centralized at the main office, with nationwide implementation planned through a gradual expansion strategy. The administration aims to achieve complete coverage across the National District by June.

The next-generation passport introduces groundbreaking features, including a repatriation service providing up to $9,000 coverage for citizens who die abroad. With over 130 sophisticated security elements—such as invisible inks, microtext, and optically variable imagery—the document meets international standards for modern immigration control systems.

Priced at RD$6,700 (representing a RD$1,050 increase from previous rates), the new passports offer extended validity periods:十年 for adults and five years for minors under 18. During the transition period, both mechanical (current) and electronic passports will remain valid until the renewal process completes nationwide, which officials anticipate may require several years.

Regarding institutional changes, the DGP’s former headquarters on George Washington Avenue will continue serving as an operational center following renovations to enhance customer service facilities. Portions of the administrative space have been reallocated to the Directorate of Migration Control, previously co-located within the same building.