标签： Dominican Republic

In a tragic incident, the body of a Norwegian national was recovered from the waters off Cabarete, near the Velero Hotel in Sosúa, Puerto Plata province, on Monday afternoon. The Dominican Republic Navy reported that the discovery was made around 2:40 p.m. by the interceptor boat Elnath, approximately two miles from the shore. The victim, identified as 49-year-old Jonas Ovedal, was a resident of Tenares. His remains were transported to the Puerto Plata dock, where forensic pathologist Dr. Miguel Cuevas conducted an initial examination in the presence of judicial authorities. According to the medical report, Ovedal died from drowning. His body was subsequently transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) for a detailed autopsy. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances leading to his death.

The Central Electoral Board (JCE) of the Dominican Republic has firmly restated its position against the registration of same-sex marriages, asserting that such unions are not permitted under the nation’s Constitution or existing legal framework. This declaration came in response to recent claims by former U.S. Ambassador James ‘Wally’ Brewster, who publicly stated on social media that he had officiated a wedding ceremony for two men in Santiago. The JCE clarified that only Civil Registry Officials and accredited religious institutions are legally authorized to conduct marriages in the country, and these unions must strictly adhere to the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman. The JCE cited Articles 55 of the Constitution, along with Laws Nos. 4-23 and 198-11, to emphasize that Dominican law exclusively recognizes heterosexual marriages, whether civil or religious. The institution concluded its statement by affirming that it ‘has not officiated, registered, nor will it register any marriage that violates the Constitution or the law.’ This development underscores the ongoing legal and societal challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic has officially transitioned into the 2025–2026 frontal season, a five-month period characterized by cooler temperatures and more temperate weather across the nation. Meteorologist Jean Suriel highlighted that this season, spanning from November to mid-April, will witness between 20 and 30 cold fronts approaching the northern Caribbean, with 8 to 15 directly impacting the country. The coldest phase is expected from January 15 to March 15, particularly in high-altitude regions such as Valle Nuevo, Pico Duarte, Valle de Bao, and the Sierra de Bahoruco, where temperatures may plummet below zero. These areas could also experience frost, hoarfrost, and even ice floes—rare yet typical occurrences during the Dominican tropical winter. Already, two cold fronts have passed near the northern Caribbean, with another anticipated this week. Additionally, a polar air mass is forecast to reach the island around November 16, further intensifying the chill. Popular destinations to embrace the mountain cold include Constanza, Jarabacoa, Ocoa, San José de las Matas, Polo in Barahona, and Loma de Cabrera. Suriel emphasized that the cooling effect will be most pronounced in the Cibao and mountain regions, though daytime warmth will persist until late November. “Nighttime and early morning hours, particularly between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., will feel significantly cooler,” he noted, adding that this shift offers a refreshing respite after months of relentless heat.

Barahona, a city in the Dominican Republic, faced devastating floods on Sunday as relentless rainfall transformed streets into raging rivers, overwhelmed ravines, and triggered landslides in the El Derrumbao region. The deluge caused significant damage to several resorts, burying them under mud, water, and debris. The National Meteorology Institute attributed the extreme weather to an upper-level trough interacting with a tropical wave, which unleashed torrential downpours starting early Sunday. In Villa Central, where a new maternal and child hospital is being constructed, the rainwater surged more intensely than typical river flows during storm season. The most severely impacted areas included Villa Central, El Derrumbao, Villa Mirian beach, the boardwalk, the city market, and the neighborhoods of La Playa and Villa Estela. Local authorities and the Fire Department collaborated to mitigate flooding on critical streets. At the Lisandra Aponte School, a wall collapsed, forcing emergency teams to evacuate multiple families from high-risk zones. The soil in Barahona was already saturated from recent rains caused by Hurricane Melissa, which had previously drenched parts of the Dominican Republic before advancing toward Jamaica as a Category 5 storm.

The Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Migration (DGM) has initiated nighttime operations to bolster immigration controls and reinforce citizen security nationwide. This strategic move aims to address the issue of irregularly residing foreigners, particularly in high-traffic zones of the National District and Santo Domingo. The initiative involves deploying uniformed agents in visible patrols, organized into seven-member teams supervised by a coordinating officer to ensure protocol compliance and respect for human rights. Operations will occur daily, with heightened activity on weekends, extending into the early morning hours. Individuals lacking proper documentation will be transferred to immigration processing centers. Additionally, fixed observation points have been set up at traffic lights, motorcycle taxi stands, and other public areas where irregular activities or begging have been reported. The DGM highlighted that many interventions stem from the 311 ‘User Assistance’ line, enabling citizens to report concerns or request assistance.