标签： Dominican Republic

In a move designed to embed greater transparency and public accountability into the country’s evolving solid waste management framework, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has signed Decree No. 498-26, formally creating a new Citizen Oversight Commission tasked with monitoring the DO Sostenible Trust. This initiative marks a key step forward in the government’s commitment to delivering ethical, rule-compliant management of public resources dedicated to improving waste infrastructure across the nation.

The newly formed commission operates as an independent advisory and honorary body, with a core mandate to track both the on-ground implementation and financial management of all projects funded through the DO Sostenible Trust. Its core responsibilities include verifying that all spending and program activities align with the Dominican Republic’s existing solid waste management legislation, as well as publishing regular periodic oversight updates and a comprehensive annual public report on the trust’s operations. This level of public reporting is intended to give civil society and ordinary citizens clear visibility into how public and donor resources are being used for waste management improvements.

Five experienced professionals have been appointed to serve on the commission, selected specifically for their demonstrated independence, established reputation for integrity, and confirmed lack of conflicts of interest related to the trust’s activities. Alliet Ortega will lead coordination of the commission’s work, joined by fellow members Manuel García Arévalo, Giselle Pérez Reyes, Roberto Despradel Catrain, and Ruth de los Santos. Before taking office, all commission members are required to sign a formal ethical commitment that formalizes pledges to maintain their independence, uphold strict confidentiality for sensitive information, and disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may arise during their tenure.

Under the terms of the presidential decree, the commission holds broad authority to fulfill its oversight mandate: it may formally request any necessary information from trust administrators, accept input and recommendations from ordinary citizens and relevant industry stakeholders, and propose targeted policy and operational adjustments to strengthen transparency, institutional integrity, and overall management of the DO Sostenible Trust.

This new oversight body directly supports the full implementation of the country’s General Law on Integrated Solid Waste Management, reinforcing the current administration’s ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable, transparent system for handling solid waste across the Dominican Republic. By creating a formal role for independent citizen oversight, the government has signaled its intent to address longstanding concerns about resource mismanagement in public environmental projects, while creating a new channel for public participation in sustainability initiatives.

Santo Domingo — The head of one of the world’s leading anti-corruption watchdogs has highlighted the Dominican Republic’s robust progress in rooting out public sector graft, positioning the Caribbean nation as a standout global example for tangible action on transparency and governance reform.

In a conversation with Dominican local media outlets, Transparency International President François Valérian emphasized what sets the country apart from many other nations: while dozens of states have comprehensive, well-written anti-corruption legislation on their books, few follow through with consistent enforcement. In the Dominican Republic, by contrast, three core pillars of government — the executive branch, public prosecution service, and national judiciary — are actively moving forward with corruption investigations and trials, Valérian explained.

“The Dominican Republic is not just talking about fighting corruption — it is delivering on that promise,” Valérian said, acknowledging that the country still faces persistent challenges in fully eradicating graft. Even so, he underscored that national authorities have demonstrated clear, unwavering commitment to opening high-profile corruption cases and holding influential actors accountable under the law.

Valérian’s positive assessment arrives ahead of a major global governance milestone for the country: the Dominican Republic is slated to host the 18th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) from December 1 to 4, 2026. The quadrennial event, one of the largest global gatherings focused on transparency reform, is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees from 140 nations. Participants will span sectors and include sitting government officials, civil society activists, leaders of multilateral international organizations, academic researchers, and private sector executives, all coming together to refine shared global strategies for advancing openness and combating transnational corruption networks.

In a symbolic ceremony held at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican President Luis Abinader formally welcomed 30 top-performing students of Dominican origin from across the globe as part of the 2026 edition of the Dominican Pride Abroad (ODEX) program, the initiative’s fourth iteration.

Organized by the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (Index), ODEX was designed to serve two core purposes: first, to celebrate the exceptional academic accomplishments of young Dominican diaspora members building lives outside their ancestral homeland, and second, to deepen the cultural and emotional bonds between these young people and the Dominican Republic through a structured six-day program of cultural and civic engagement activities.

In his opening remarks to the gathered students and their family members, President Abinader emphasized the lasting place of diaspora communities within the Dominican national identity, urging attendees to nurture their connection to their heritage. “We want you to feel Dominican too. There will always be a country here waiting for you with open arms,” he told the group.

The meeting between the president and the students extended for an hour, during which Abinader responded to questions on a wide range of policy and national progress topics, spanning systemic improvements to Dominican education, targeted poverty reduction campaigns, expanding access to healthcare, and major infrastructure upgrades for public transportation. He also shared personal reflections on his own journey into electoral politics and outlined his administration’s long-term vision for inclusive national growth.

The participating students, who traveled alongside their family members, arrived to the Dominican Republic from eight countries and territories across North America, Europe, and South America: the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain, Italy, England, Argentina, Chile, and Panama. The 2026 ODEX program runs from July 20 to July 25, and beyond the meeting at the National Palace, it includes scheduled guided visits to leading cultural sites such as national museums and the historic Colonial City, as well as tours of the National Congress and key national government institutions.