标签： Dominican Republic

The Isabel Aguiar overpass, a significant infrastructure project in Santo Domingo, is officially set to open on Wednesday, October 8, following an 18-month construction period. Located at the intersection with 27 de Febrero, the overpass aims to address chronic traffic congestion in the Pintura zone. With a total cost exceeding 2 billion pesos, the project was meticulously supervised by Minister of Public Works Eduardo Estrella. The 480-meter structure is designed to accommodate 70,000 vehicles daily, facilitating smoother travel from Pintura to Plaza de la Bandera. The overpass features five lanes—three east-west and two west-east—constructed with reinforced concrete, New Jersey-type walls, and post-tensioned beam bridges, enabling vehicles to travel at 50 km/h without traffic lights. Additionally, the project is expected to reduce travel times between Santo Domingo Oeste, the south, and the National District by up to 40%, while providing direct connections to the 6 de Noviembre Highway and the 27 de Febrero Extension. Minister Estrella also announced that the overpass will be complemented by a trench at Plaza de la Bandera, slated for completion by mid-2026, offering a long-term solution to traffic woes. The construction was funded through the Aerodom contract, with a focus on timely payments and efficient execution.

An anteater, recently rescued while crossing a street in Verón, La Altagracia, is set to make its public debut at the National Zoological Park as early as next week. Nayib Emilio Aude Díaz, the park’s director, revealed that the animal’s origins remain a mystery, as there are no official records of its entry with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. Authorities suspect it may have been smuggled or arrived as a stowaway. Upon its arrival, the anteater was found to be underweight, dehydrated, and stressed, prompting immediate medical attention and a quarantine period for recovery. The zoo team is now actively searching for a potential mate to ensure the animal’s long-term well-being. Belonging to the order Pilosa, anteaters are native to South and Central America and are renowned for their distinctive elongated snouts and specialized tongues, which are perfectly adapted for feeding on ants and termites. Beyond their unique physical traits, these mammals play a vital ecological role by regulating insect populations, aerating soil through their foraging activities, and contributing to the overall health of ecosystems. Their presence highlights the critical importance of biodiversity and the intricate connections between species within natural habitats.

In a recent interview on the program *Esto no tiene nombre*, Rafael Alburquerque, a labor law expert and former Vice President of the Dominican Republic, denounced the unethical practices of certain employers who exploit Haitian workers and subsequently seek their deportation to evade paying labor benefits. Alburquerque labeled these actions as abusive and illegal, highlighting their detrimental impact on both the affected workers and the nation’s global reputation. He emphasized that such practices undermine the principles of legality, respect, and accountability that should govern labor relations. Alburquerque also addressed the 80-20 rule in Dominican labor law, which requires that at least 80% of a company’s workforce be Dominican. While exceptions are permitted for industries like construction and agriculture, he argued that the process for granting these exceptions should be managed by the Ministry of Labor in collaboration with employers, unions, and the National Migration Institute, rather than being solely at the discretion of the President. Furthermore, he called on the government to enhance oversight mechanisms to ensure that employers fulfill their obligations toward foreign workers. Alburquerque warned that failing to address these issues could lead to international complaints and damage the country’s standing. He concluded by stressing the importance of balancing national interests with the protection of human rights in the hiring of Haitian labor.

In a significant display of discontent, the Dajabón Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association organized a large-scale protest outside City Hall, calling for stricter enforcement against Haitian drivers accused of operating illegally within Dominican territory. The demonstrators argued that undocumented foreign drivers are causing widespread chaos on local roads, leading to frequent traffic accidents involving motorcycles and three-wheelers. Eduardo Medina, president of the National Federation of Dominican Motorcycle Taxi Drivers in Dajabón, highlighted the unfair competition posed by Haitian drivers, who he claims are monopolizing motoconcho stops and jeopardizing the livelihoods of Dominican drivers. Medina emphasized that Dominican drivers face severe risks, including violence, if they attempt to operate in Haiti under similar conditions. The protesters voiced their support for Mayor Santiago Riverón’s efforts to regulate the movement of Haitian motorcycles in the municipality. Riverón reiterated the ongoing ban on Haitian triple-engine vehicles and stressed the importance of local drivers’ cooperation to enforce the regulation. Additionally, he announced that Dominican drivers would soon have access to new three-wheel motorcycles through the Promipyme program. The mayor firmly stated that municipal authorities would not yield to pressure from merchants or foreigners, insisting that Dajabón’s regulations must be upheld. Meanwhile, motoconcho drivers urged national authorities to take immediate action, warning that the illegal operations of Haitian drivers could deprive many Dominican families of their primary source of income.

In a tragic incident on Saturday night, a Haitian man identified only as ‘Blanco’ lost his life after being brutally attacked by a mob in the Gozuela area of Pepillo Salcedo municipality, Manzanillo. The incident occurred on a rice farm in the Santa María district, near the Dominican-Haitian border. According to the National Police’s Criminal Investigations Division (Dicrim) in Montecristi, the man allegedly attempted to rob a group of Haitians crossing into Dominican territory, which incited the violent response from the crowd. Dr. Rosibel Grullón, the medical examiner, confirmed that the victim succumbed to severe head trauma. Local residents revealed that the deceased had a reputation for targeting other migrants who used unofficial border crossings. Following the incident, judicial and police authorities transferred the body to the Padre Fantino Hospital morgue before sending it to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) in Santiago for an autopsy. Prosecutor Francis Alexander de Jesús Peña Sabés has initiated a comprehensive investigation to uncover the full details of the case and assign accountability.

In a significant development at the Codevi free trade zone, located near the Dominican Republic-Haiti border, hundreds of Haitian workers organized a peaceful demonstration to voice their opposition to the industrial park’s decision to withhold taxes at the request of the Haitian government. The protest, which unfolded without violence, prompted the evacuation of Dominican personnel from the area. In response, the National Police of the Dominican Republic heightened security measures on their side of the border to ensure stability and prevent any potential escalation. According to Goidy Reyes, a correspondent from RC Noticias, an urgent meeting has been scheduled to address the grievances and facilitate the swift return of workers to their jobs. The situation underscores the ongoing economic and political tensions between the two neighboring nations, particularly concerning labor rights and cross-border trade policies.