标签： Dominican Republic

HIGÜEY, LA ALTAGRACIA – Municipal authorities in Higüey have implemented a controversial ban targeting individuals identified as “therians” from accessing public spaces. Mayor Karina Aristy announced the restrictive measure on Tuesday during the inauguration ceremony for the reconstructed Bible Park in the La Malena sector.

The mayor’s declaration occurred before an audience comprising municipal officials, city council members, community leaders, and religious representatives. Aristy directly addressed circulating reports about the presence of such groups nationwide, stating unequivocally that they “are not welcome” within municipal boundaries.

Aristy grounded her position in what she characterized as a necessary defense of Higüey’s core values and cultural identity. She formally designated the municipality as “a town of faith and of hardworking men and women,” emphasizing that preserving these principles represents a shared responsibility between local government and residents.

The political endorsement for this measure was visibly demonstrated through the presence of church representatives and City Council members who witnessed the announcement. As of current reporting, no official responses have been issued by organizations associated with therian communities or by higher-level government authorities regarding the municipality’s stance.

This development raises significant questions regarding public accommodation policies and municipal authority to restrict access based on identity expression. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between traditional community values and emerging subcultural identities within contemporary society.

Santo Domingo has entered a new era of urban mobility with the operational launch of the Line 2C metro extension this Wednesday. This transformative infrastructure project specifically targets enhanced transportation efficiency in Santo Domingo Oeste, with particular benefits for Los Alcarrizos municipality residents.

President Luis Abinader, speaking at Tuesday’s inauguration ceremony, emphasized the project’s dual impact on both temporal and economic aspects of daily commuting. “This new section will substantially decrease journey durations and alleviate transportation expenses for thousands of capital-bound commuters,” the president declared during the official proceedings.

The newly activated segment stretches 7.3 kilometers and features five strategically positioned stations: Pedro Martínez (Manoguayabo), Franklin Mieses Burgos (Monumental Avenue), 27 de Febrero (kilometer 13), Freddy Gatón Arce (kilometer 14), and Pablo Adón Guzmán at the gateway to Los Alcarrizos. The extension has been engineered for full interoperability with Santo Domingo’s comprehensive public transit network.

To facilitate public familiarity and promote ridership, transportation authorities have implemented a complimentary service model throughout the inaugural week of operations.

Projections from official sources indicate the extended line will accommodate approximately 150,000 daily passengers, ultimately serving a population base exceeding one million residents. A significant ancillary benefit will be the alleviation of chronic congestion along the Duarte Highway, the metropolitan region’s principal traffic artery.

This metro expansion constitutes a critical component of the Integrated Transportation System of Santo Domingo, a holistic urban mobility framework incorporating metro, aerial cable car, and dedicated bus corridor infrastructure designed to promote sustainable transit solutions throughout the capital region.

In Santo Domingo’s Evaristo Morales sector, a protracted land ownership conflict has escalated as local residents urgently seek presidential intervention. The neighborhood association has formally requested President Luis Abinader to mediate a dispute that jeopardizes the homes of more than sixty families who have resided on the property for periods ranging from thirty to sixty years.

Community representative Auristelia Batista emphasized the devastating humanitarian consequences of potential evictions, warning that dozens of families face homelessness without governmental assistance. Residents vigorously contest the ownership claims advanced by Víctor Livio Cedeño Jr., maintaining that the land has historically been state property rather than privately held.

Batista revealed that this conflict spans more than three decades, noting that the claimant’s father previously attempted to reclaim the land without success. The recent resurgence of these ownership claims has alarmed the established community.

Residents assert that their homes were constructed through gradual, self-funded improvements over many years. They characterize the current legal proceedings as irregular and have petitioned authorities to conduct thorough scrutiny of the documentation presented by the claimant.

Agripina Polanco, another long-term resident, provided historical context, explaining that families originally settled in the area when it remained undeveloped. The dispute has intensified substantially as the property’s commercial value has appreciated in recent years. Polanco called for rigorous due process protections to prevent what residents perceive as an imminent injustice against economically vulnerable households.

The contested property is situated between 7th Street, Luis F. Thomen and Francisco Pratts Ramírez streets, and Winston Churchill Avenue in the Evaristo Morales neighborhood.

Neither governmental authorities nor the claimant have issued official statements addressing the residents’ allegations at this time, leaving the community in a state of uncertainty regarding their housing security.

SANTO DOMINGO – In a landmark event for urban mobility, Dominican President Luis Abinader has officially inaugurated Line 2C of the Santo Domingo Metro. This significant 7.3-kilometer infrastructure project is poised to transform daily life for more than a million inhabitants of Los Alcarrizos, Pantoja, and surrounding western districts by seamlessly integrating 14 densely populated communities with the capital’s core.

Addressing attendees at the inauguration ceremony, President Abinader heralded the project as the culmination of a long-standing commitment to the populace. He declared that it effectively terminates an era defined by grueling commutes, chronic traffic congestion, unpredictable travel times, and exorbitant transportation expenses. The President emphasized the line’s transformative power, reframing urban mobility ‘from an obstacle into an opportunity’ for economic and social advancement.

The engineering marvel comprises five strategically placed stations—Pedro Martínez, Franklin Mieses Burgos, 27 de Febrero, Freddy Gastón Arce, and Pablo Adón Guzmán—with its terminus in Los Alcarrizos offering a direct interchange with the existing cable car network. The construction scope included extensive civil and electromechanical works, a substantial 940-meter tunnel, and a parallel 6.5-kilometer marginal road adjacent to the heavily utilized Duarte Highway.

Transport authorities project substantial benefits for users, including a potential reduction in commuting costs by up to 60% and a daily time savings of up to two hours during peak periods, significantly alleviating pressure on the Duarte corridor. With a capacity to transport 15,000 passengers per hour in each direction, the line is estimated to serve nearly 150,000 commuters daily.

An introductory free service period is in effect from Wednesday, February 25th, continuing through the Easter holiday, operating on a specially published schedule. Following the inaugural speeches, President Abinader, First Lady Raquel Arbaje, and government officials conducted an inaugural tour of the new line.

This inauguration marks a substantial leap in the Abinader administration’s national mass transit strategy, expanding coverage by 38 kilometers through a combination of new metro, cable car, and monorail projects in Santo Domingo and Santiago. Operations for this integrated network fall under the purview of the Metropolitan Transportation Company, as mandated by Law 63-17, with regulatory oversight by INTRANT. This system is a cornerstone of the Integrated Transportation System of Santo Domingo (SIT Sto. Dgo.), which aims to unify planning, fare structures, and technological platforms across all public transit modes.

SANTO DOMINGO – In a significant move toward environmental stewardship, Dominican President Luis Abinader officially inaugurated the Management Committee for the San Juan de la Maguana Botanical Garden during a ceremony at the National Palace on Tuesday. This establishment represents a cornerstone in the government’s strategy to advance ecological preservation, scientific learning, and sustainable economic growth in the nation’s southern region.

The newly formed committee will be chaired by Tomás Alejo Concepción, Bishop of San Juan, and comprises a diverse coalition of stakeholders. Membership includes officials from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, local and municipal government representatives, national asset management professionals, academic institutions, cooperative organizations, and experts from botanical gardens across the Dominican Republic.

Bishop Concepción, addressing attendees, commended President Abinader for strengthening the academic, social, and economic infrastructure of the South. He characterized the botanical garden project as a transformative achievement that elevates San Juan de la Maguana to the status of the country’s third city to feature such a facility. The Bishop framed the initiative as a crucial act of recognition long deserved by the southern provinces.

The project’s foundation is solidified by Decree No. 38-26, enacted on January 23, 2026, which designates the garden’s creation as a matter of high public interest. This legislation empowers the committee to coordinate and supervise all implementation phases, guarantee operational transparency, and administer public funds within established oversight and accountability frameworks.

Key mandates for the committee include the development and approval of a preliminary Master Plan within a 90-day timeframe, facilitation of inter-institutional collaboration, and leadership in creating a sanctuary focused on protecting native and endemic flora, fostering scientific inquiry, and promoting environmental awareness.

With the committee’s swearing-in, the government has formally commenced the project’s planning stage, underscoring its dedication to environmental sustainability, the protection of natural resources, and securing an enhanced quality of life for future generations.