The vibrant town of La Vigía in Dajabón recently hosted the Japanese Cultural Gathering ‘Bon Odori,’ a spectacular event that seamlessly blended Dominican and Japanese traditions. This celebration, held in the heart of the first Japanese colony in the Dominican Republic, was a feast for the senses, featuring traditional music, dance, and cuisine that paid homage to both cultures. Attendees were treated to the thunderous beats of taiko drums, mesmerizing ancestral dances, and the sight of participants adorned in yukatas, all while indulging in authentic Japanese delicacies like sushi and curry under the soft glow of traditional lanterns. The festival also highlighted local handicrafts, offering a comprehensive cultural experience. Omar Mukai, president of the Association of Japanese Descendants, emphasized the event’s mission to preserve and share Japanese heritage, which has been an integral part of Dominican culture for nearly 70 years. The Bon Odori, traditionally celebrated during Japan’s Obon Festival, is a joyous occasion that honors the spirits of ancestors with gratitude. The event was organized by Mukai in collaboration with the Ecotourism Cluster of Dajabón, led by Kathia Sarit De Mukai.
标签： Dominican Republic
多米尼加共和国
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UNICEF donates safe space for migrant children and women
In a significant move to address the needs of vulnerable migrants, the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) in Santiago, Dominican Republic, has unveiled a new safe space designed specifically for children, adolescents, and pregnant or nursing women intercepted due to irregular immigration status. The facility, generously donated by UNICEF, is equipped to offer secure and comfortable conditions during the migration process. This initiative is part of a larger agreement that includes the establishment of three such centers, with one already operational in Dajabón and another under construction in Elías Piña. The combined investment for these projects exceeds 18.2 million Dominican pesos. Each center is thoughtfully designed with recreational areas, offices for psychosocial support, rest zones, accessibility features, and air conditioning to ensure the privacy, well-being, and protection of its users. The inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of UNICEF officials Geny Lozada and Yamira Cuesta, IOM representative Santos Miguel Román, CONANI official Natividad Rodríguez, and DGM representatives General Juan Carlos Vicente Pérez and Colonel Manuel Carrasco Guerrero.
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Dominican Week 2025 launches in Canada
The Dominican Republic Embassy in Canada has officially inaugurated Dominican Week in Canada 2025, with a series of events set to take place in Ottawa and Toronto on October 15 and 16. This initiative is designed to highlight the nation’s leadership, economic vitality, cultural richness, and investment potential on a global stage. The opening ceremony, held in Ottawa, featured Ambassador José Blanco Conde, who underscored the event’s significance in positioning the Dominican Republic as a dependable and competitive partner for Canada. The celebration included cultural showcases, such as a presentation of Creole cuisine by acclaimed chef Dayanny de la Cruz, who was honored for her efforts in promoting Dominican gastronomy worldwide. Sculptor Juan Trinidad was also recognized for his contributions to advancing Dominican art and culture internationally. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe presented an official city proclamation, while Ambassador Blanco gifted a bust of national hero Juan Pablo Duarte to Ottawa City Hall, symbolizing the strong ties between the two nations. The Dominican delegation will participate in a packed agenda, including meetings with federal, provincial, and parliamentary leaders, as well as business executives. Key activities will feature panel discussions on air connectivity, trade, investment, tourism, and logistics, alongside a roundtable on critical minerals and rare earths. The delegation will also visit Bombardier’s aviation facilities. This year’s edition aligns with Hispanic Heritage Month and the Toronto Global Forum, serving as a strategic precursor to the 10th Summit of the Americas, which will be hosted by the Dominican Republic in December.
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Construction advances on Santo Domingo’s Sports Boardwalk ahead of 2026 Games
Santo Domingo is set to witness a transformative urban development with the ongoing construction of the Sports Boardwalk, a flagship initiative under the Santo Domingo Integrated Plan. Spearheaded by Mayor Carolina Mejía and supported by President Luis Abinader, this project aims to revitalize 1.7 kilometers of the city’s iconic seawall. The first phase of the endeavor focuses on creating a vibrant public space that combines sports, leisure, and community engagement. Betsy Luciano, supervisor of the Infrastructure Department, recently provided updates on the project, emphasizing the installation of bleachers, beach volleyball courts, and two terraced food courts. Additionally, plans include the development of outdoor sidewalks, benches, and streetlights to enhance accessibility and aesthetics. Construction engineer Jorge Lerebours outlined further enhancements, such as the expansion and renovation of the parking lot, alongside the construction of a soccer field, paddle tennis court, amphitheater, and skate park. Mayor Mejía has projected that a significant portion of the Sports Boardwalk will be completed by April 2026, coinciding with the Central American and Caribbean Games, marking a milestone in the city’s urban renewal efforts.
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New TRAE Control Center enhances safety for nearly 1.9 million students
The Dominican Republic has introduced a cutting-edge Georeferenced Control and Monitoring Center for its National Student Transportation System (TRAE), marking a significant leap in public school transportation safety and efficiency. This state-of-the-art platform will oversee 1,871 buses in real time, ensuring the safe transit of nearly 1.9 million students across the country. The initiative is expected to slash school transportation operating costs by 25%, while also enhancing transparency and reliability. Education Minister Luis Miguel De Camps emphasized President Luis Abinader’s dedication to modernizing the education sector, stating, ‘Behind every monitored route there is a calm mother, a confident father, a waiting teacher, and a State that supports and watches over its children.’ The system leverages preventive artificial intelligence to identify potential issues such as driver fatigue, unauthorized stops, or irregularities during trips. Each bus is being transformed into a ‘smart bus,’ equipped with GPS-enabled cameras, cybersecurity systems, and internet connectivity. Parents can now track buses in real time, receive boarding alerts, and view estimated arrival times, while drivers and managers gain access to tools for optimizing routes, monitoring vehicle status, and analyzing real-time operational data.
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Omar Fernández calls for income tax relief for salaries under RD$52,000
In a compelling appeal to the Dominican government, Senator Omar Fernández, representing the National District, has called for an urgent revision of the income tax exemption threshold. On Wednesday, Fernández emphasized the need to raise the tax-free salary limit to RD$52,000, aligning with the Dominican Tax Code. His plea comes in response to the 2026 General State Budget proposal, which maintains the current threshold of RD$34,685—unchanged for six consecutive years despite rising inflation. Fernández criticized this stagnation, warning that it severely impacts over 300,000 workers, eroding their purchasing power. He highlighted that the failure to adjust the threshold results in a monthly loss of RD$17,244 for low- and middle-income earners. ‘This is money being directly taken from the pockets of Dominicans who need it most,’ he asserted in a social media video. The senator further underscored the economic strain by pointing out that the average cost of a basic food basket has surged to RD$46,716. He argued that maintaining the outdated tax threshold effectively deprives workers of a year’s worth of essential goods. Fernández urged the Executive Branch to adhere to the law and revise the exempt salary scale to reflect accumulated inflation. ‘My request is straightforward,’ he concluded. ‘The government must follow the law and provide Dominican families with much-needed economic relief.’
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Despite reforms, U.S. says Dominican Republic still fails to meet anti-trafficking standards
The U.S. State Department has acknowledged the Dominican Republic’s advancements in combating human trafficking, elevating the country to Tier 2 in its 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report. While this marks a significant improvement, the report emphasizes that the nation still falls short of fully meeting the minimum standards for eradicating human trafficking. Key reforms, such as the amendment of Law 137-03—which eliminates the requirement to prove force, fraud, or coercion in cases involving minors—underscore the government’s intensified efforts. Additionally, authorities have ramped up investigations and prosecutions, identified a greater number of victims, and strengthened labor inspections in high-risk sectors. In 2024 alone, 229 new trafficking investigations were initiated, more than doubling the 99 cases recorded the previous year. Despite these strides, the report highlights persistent challenges, including inadequate focus on forced labor cases, weak protection mechanisms for male and labor victims, and ongoing corruption among public officials. Vulnerable populations, such as stateless individuals and migrants, remain at heightened risk due to insufficient documentation and social services. On a positive note, the Dominican Republic has taken commendable steps, such as suspending companies accused of forced labor, launching a 2025–2028 National Action Plan, and initiating a pilot program for formal migrant worker registration. The U.S. has urged the country to enhance institutional coordination, improve victim detection, and impose stricter penalties on traffickers, while acknowledging that resource constraints and corruption continue to impede full compliance with international standards.
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Frank Rainieri announces Los Manantiales overpass to open within weeks
Frank Rainieri, the visionary founder of the Puntacana Group, has revealed that the Los Manantiales Crossing overpass is set to be inaugurated within the next three to four weeks. Although the exact financial investment remains undisclosed, Rainieri highlighted that the project has been completed in record time, showcasing his company’s dedication to providing swift and impactful solutions for local communities. The overpass, developed through a collaborative public-private partnership, aims to enhance mobility and connectivity for surrounding areas while improving access to key destinations in the eastern region. Rainieri made this announcement during the International Conference on Tourism Cooperation, an event organized in the Dominican Republic by UN Tourism in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur). This initiative underscores the Puntacana Group’s ongoing commitment to infrastructure development and community welfare.
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Brewery president highlights over RD$17 billion invested since 2021
Santo Domingo – Fabián Suárez, President of the Dominican National Brewery (CND), revealed that the company has invested over RD$17.64 billion since 2021, a strategic move driven by the Dominican Republic’s economic stability and its attractiveness to foreign investors. Suárez emphasized that the cornerstone of AB InBev’s sustained investment in the country is the exceptional talent of the Dominican workforce, which has positioned the nation as a leading market in the Caribbean and beyond. His comments were made during the inauguration of the company’s new Logistics Transformation Hub, an event graced by President Luis Abinader. The state-of-the-art logistics center, a key component of CND’s 2021–2026 investment plan, spans 145,000 square meters on the Santo Domingo Beltway and represents an investment exceeding RD$2.9 billion. Designed for maximum operational efficiency, the facility can store 115 million beers, equivalent to 25 days of national demand, and is expected to create over 500 direct and indirect jobs. This project complements the 44,000 jobs already supported by the beer industry nationwide, aiming to enhance production capacity, streamline distribution, and advance sustainability efforts to bolster national development. Víctor “Ito” Bisonó, Minister of Industry and Commerce, hailed the new hub as a testament to investor confidence in the Dominican economy, citing the country’s stable economic climate and record-breaking foreign direct investment, which reached US$4.523 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit US$5 billion by year-end. He also commended CND’s achievements in operating entirely on renewable energy, producing its own glass bottles, and maintaining a fully integrated supply chain.
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Colombian President declines to attend Summit of the Americas in the Dominican Republic
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced his decision to boycott the upcoming Summit of the Americas, scheduled for December in the Dominican Republic. In a statement posted on his X account, Petro cited the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from the event as the primary reason for his absence. He emphasized, ‘Dialogue does not begin with exclusions,’ underscoring his commitment to inclusive regional discourse. Additionally, Petro criticized the presence of U.S. military forces in Caribbean waters, viewing it as a contentious issue. The Colombian leader also disclosed that he had proposed a CELAC–U.S. meeting to discuss economic integration across the American continent. However, he lamented that Washington has yet to respond to this initiative or other related proposals presented to Latin American and Caribbean nations. Petro’s decision highlights growing tensions over regional diplomacy and the role of the United States in hemispheric affairs.