Carib Scope

标签： Dominican Republic

多米尼加共和国

  • Dominican child found during immigration operations where 28 Haitians were detained

    Dominican child found during immigration operations where 28 Haitians were detained

    VALVERDE, Dominican Republic – In a decisive security operation targeting illegal migration routes, the Dominican Republic Army (Ejército de la República Dominicana – ERD) successfully interdicted two vehicles engaged in human smuggling near the municipal district of Ámina. The operation culminated in the detention of 28 Haitian nationals found to be in an irregular migratory status within the country.

    The initial intervention occurred when ERD personnel identified and pursued a white Lexus SUV bearing license plate G094995. The driver, upon detecting military presence, executed an abrupt abandonment of the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. A subsequent inspection of the deserted Lexus revealed 20 undocumented Haitian migrants, comprising 17 adult males and 3 adult females.

    In a simultaneous and coordinated action, a second ERD patrol unit intercepted a red Ford Explorer with license plate G202999. Mirroring the first incident, the operator of this vehicle also evaded capture by escaping into the surrounding area. This abandoned SUV contained a dual discovery: 8 Haitian nationals (4 men, 3 women, and 1 minor) and an unaccompanied Dominican minor who was left behind.

    All detained individuals, including the 28 Haitian migrants and the Dominican minor, were transported under military escort to the headquarters of the 4th Infantry Brigade. The two impounded vehicles were also conveyed to the base. Dominican authorities confirmed that standard legal protocols are now being administered to process each case in accordance with the nation’s immigration and security statutes.

  • Indomet forecasts that the effects of the trough will continue in several provinces of the country.

    Indomet forecasts that the effects of the trough will continue in several provinces of the country.

    The Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) has released a comprehensive weather advisory indicating that a high-altitude trough system continues to influence weather patterns across northeastern provinces. Meteorological data shows that Hato Mayor, Samaná, El Seibo, and María Trinidad Sánchez have already experienced precipitation episodes, with the atmospheric disturbance expected to progress toward Hermanas Mirabal, Espaillat, and Puerto Plata regions in subsequent hours.

    According to meteorological analysis, atmospheric humidity levels are projected to diminish post-noon hours, resulting in predominantly clear skies with intermittent cloud coverage across most national territories. This improvement in weather conditions follows the trough’s movement through affected areas.

    Meteorologists note that despite daytime clearing, nocturnal hours may bring precipitation to southeastern sectors and portions of the Central Mountain Range. The capital region, including Greater Santo Domingo and the National District, anticipates partly cloudy conditions with isolated showers throughout the day.

    Temperature metrics indicate minimum readings between 20-22°C (68-72°F) and maximum temperatures ranging from 30-32°C (86-90°F). The institute continues monitoring atmospheric developments and will provide updates as weather patterns evolve.

  • When does a vehicle cease to be useful in the Dominican Republic according to the law?

    When does a vehicle cease to be useful in the Dominican Republic according to the law?

    SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Republic has implemented sweeping vehicle safety and retirement regulations under its comprehensive Law No. 63-17 on Mobility, Land Transportation, Transit, and Road Safety. This legislation establishes precise criteria for determining when a vehicle must be permanently removed from circulation, prioritizing public safety and environmental protection.

    The law specifies three primary conditions under which a vehicle is deemed unroadworthy and must be demolished. First, mandatory age limits are imposed based on vehicle type: motorcycles (10 years), light passenger vehicles (15 years), minibuses (17-20 years depending on capacity), buses (25 years), and heavy cargo vehicles (30 years). Upon reaching these thresholds, vehicles become ineligible for inspection tags and operational permits.

    Second, regardless of age, any vehicle failing the mandatory Technical Vehicle Inspection (ITV) – which assesses mechanical integrity, safety features, and emissions compliance – will be prohibited from operation. The National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant) holds authority to revoke circulation authorizations for vehicles presenting public safety risks.

    Third, insurance companies must declare vehicles as total losses following severe damage from accidents or fires, permitting sale only for parts or demolition. The law explicitly bans importing vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles.

    Enforcement mechanisms require the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII) to remove non-compliant vehicles from the National Registry, while Intrant coordinates immediate demolition operations. This regulatory framework represents one of the Caribbean’s most stringent vehicle safety initiatives, aiming to modernize the national fleet and reduce traffic fatalities.

  • Constitutional Court upholds 20-year prison sentence for soldier for killing two men

    Constitutional Court upholds 20-year prison sentence for soldier for killing two men

    The Dominican Republic’s Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal filed by Army First Lieutenant Yarin Esteudy Novas Sena, who sought to overturn his 20-year prison sentence for the 2014 fatal shooting of two men. The court’s decision represents the final judicial resolution in a case that has spanned nearly a decade.

    Novas Sena’s conviction stems from a December 2014 incident in Los Guaricanos, Santo Domingo Norte, where he shot and killed Manuel José Crespo Núñez (‘El Mello’) and Yarel Jesús Taveras Ulloa (‘El Guardia’). The lieutenant claimed the victims had assaulted him moments earlier, stealing cash and his cellular phone.

    The constitutional appeal challenged Ruling No. 1305, issued by the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice on October 30, 2019, which had affirmed the original sentence handed down by the Collegiate Court of the Judicial District of Santo Domingo.

    While the Constitutional Court acknowledged technical validity regarding filing deadlines due to improper notification procedures, it ultimately determined the appeal lacked substantive legal foundation. The court concurred with the Attorney General’s Office that the petition failed to meet requirements established by Law No. 137-11, the Organic Law of the Constitutional Court.

    Judicial authorities noted that Novas Sena’s submission contained only superficial arguments without proper legal analysis. The appellant merely referenced constitutional provisions and criminal code articles—including Article 321 and 329(2) of the Criminal Code and Article 40.13 of the Constitution—without demonstrating their specific relevance to his case.

    The court emphasized that such perfunctory legal references prevented meaningful judicial review, making it impossible to assess whether the challenged ruling contained procedural deficiencies or fundamental rights violations. This absence of substantive argumentation led to the appeal’s inadmissibility declaration, effectively upholding all previous judicial determinations. The court additionally exempted Novas Sena from bearing procedural costs.

  • Stephora’s death fuels accusations of discrimination in the Dominican Republic

    Stephora’s death fuels accusations of discrimination in the Dominican Republic

    A tragic incident involving the drowning of an 11-year-old Haitian girl during a school excursion in the Dominican Republic has escalated into a significant diplomatic issue, raising serious questions about discrimination against Haitian migrants. Stephora, a child of Haitian descent, drowned in a swimming pool while her classmates and school monitors allegedly failed to respond to her distress calls, according to attorney Miguel Valdemar Díaz Salazar who represents the victim’s mother.

    The November 14 tragedy saw the girl’s body remain submerged for over thirty minutes before surfacing. The judicial response has drawn criticism, with three of four accused school employees receiving probation while the director was cleared of responsibility. The investigation timeline has raised concerns, as authorities didn’t question the grieving mother until December 5—more than twenty days after the incident.

    Legal representatives point to potential discriminatory treatment, noting the mother had previously reported harassment against her daughter, including ethnic slurs such as ‘damn Haitian.’ The case has attracted attention at the highest levels, with Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council urging transparency from Santo Domingo and condemning ‘acts of violence’ against Haitian migrants.

    Haitian consul Stephen Junior in Santiago de los Caballeros called for rigorous investigation without hasty conclusions, expressing confidence in the Dominican judicial process while emphasizing the need to treat the case without politicization. The incident has sparked border demonstrations and formal complaints from advocacy groups, including Colectivo HaitianosRD which submitted a brief documenting 54 additional deaths in deportation contexts between 2021-2025.

    The tragedy occurs against a backdrop of intensified deportations since October 2024, when Dominican President Luis Abinader implemented mass deportation policies targeting undocumented migrants. Despite international concerns about returning people to Haiti’s gang violence that claimed over 4,000 lives in early 2025, authorities have deported approximately 370,000 Haitians so far this year—a national record.

    Amnesty International has criticized health service protocols that link medical access to deportation risk, calling such measures unjustified and discriminatory. President Abinader has denied systemic racism in the Dominican Republic while acknowledging Stephora’s death should not have occurred. The historical context between the two nations involves complex cultural and political dynamics dating to Haiti’s 22-year rule over Hispaniola (1822-1844), which created lasting tensions between the French-influenced Haitian and Spanish-influenced Dominican cultures despite shared African heritage.

  • Climate: Showers today, downpours tomorrow

    Climate: Showers today, downpours tomorrow

    Meteorological authorities forecast a significant shift in weather patterns across the Dominican Republic as the prevailing prefrontal trough begins its eastward movement. The Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) reports that moderate easterly winds will continue transporting moisture, triggering morning showers across eastern provinces including La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, María Trinidad Sánchez, and Samaná.

    Precipitation patterns are expected to expand considerably during afternoon hours, with Indomet predicting rainfall coverage extending to La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez, Monseñor Nouel, and La Vega. These precipitation events are projected to persist through early evening hours.

    Temperature fluctuations will characterize the 24-hour period, with notably cool conditions anticipated during nighttime and early morning hours. Mountainous regions and valleys will experience the most pronounced cooling, accompanied by periodic fog and mist formation. Conversely, afternoon temperatures will rise significantly due to warming southeastern winds creating hot conditions.

    Weather officials indicate that tomorrow will bring increased precipitation activity as a new weather trough approaches the region, potentially intensifying rainfall distribution across the Caribbean nation.

  • An increase in respiratory viruses has been recorded in children in the National District

    An increase in respiratory viruses has been recorded in children in the National District

    Santo Domingo’s healthcare system is facing a significant public health challenge as multiple hospitals across the National District report a dramatic increase in patients suffering from respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses during November and December. Children have emerged as the most severely affected demographic in this concerning epidemiological situation.

    Medical authorities, including Dr. Mabel Jones, Director of the Children’s Hospital, have confirmed the active circulation of multiple pathogens in the environment. Laboratory testing has identified Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Influenza strains A and B, H1N1, and various gastrointestinal viruses as the primary culprits behind the current wave of infections.

    On-site observations by Listin Diario reporters at two major healthcare facilities revealed numerous patients, predominantly infants and young children, exhibiting characteristic symptoms including persistent cough, nasal congestion, high fever, fatigue, and general malaise. While the majority of cases involve children under five, adults presenting with influenza-like symptoms have also been documented.

    The Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital has become a critical care epicenter, with concerned parents seeking urgent medical attention for their children. Hospital corridors and waiting areas have been filled with children ranging from three months to five years of age, requiring both routine check-ups and treatment for severe flu complications.

    Patient case studies highlight the severity of the situation. Karen de la Cruz traveled from Haina, San Cristóbal, seeking treatment for her son who has been battling unrelenting fever and severe coughing since early November. Similarly, Gloribel Santos reported her three-month-old daughter’s deteriorating condition with worsening cough and congestion symptoms that necessitated transfer to a Santo Domingo medical facility.

    In response to the crisis, health authorities have issued comprehensive prevention guidelines. Dr. Jones emphasized critical measures including keeping symptomatic children home from school, consistent mask usage by infected individuals, frequent hand washing, avoiding self-medication without pediatric consultation, and prioritizing vaccination to prevent further complications.

    The Dr. Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City reported additional cases, including a five-year-old girl requiring three medical visits over several weeks for persistent flu-like symptoms. Medical staff confirmed 37 cases of acute febrile upper respiratory illnesses in November alone at this facility.

    The Ministry of Public Health has activated 71 vaccination centers throughout Greater Santo Domingo and the National District to combat seasonal influenza. While health officials acknowledge that public response to vaccination efforts has not yet reached optimal levels, medical staff at the Santo Socorro Hospital vaccination tent report steady attendance across all age groups, including children with parents and senior citizens accessing vaccines for influenza and other viruses.

  • Cool temperatures Clear skies in some provinces, rain in others: How changeable will the weekend weather be?

    Cool temperatures Clear skies in some provinces, rain in others: How changeable will the weekend weather be?

    Meteorological authorities in the Dominican Republic have issued a detailed weather forecast indicating varied conditions across the nation’s provinces. According to the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), morning conditions presented predominantly clear skies for most regions, with notable exceptions in María Trinidad Sánchez, Samaná, Duarte, Hermanas Mirabal, Espaillat, and Sánchez Ramírez. These northeastern provinces experienced morning showers resulting from cloud systems carried by moderate easterly winds and the slight influence of a trough system.

    Weather patterns are expected to shift throughout the day, with morning precipitation gradually moving toward adjacent provinces while diminishing in intensity. Meteorological models project increased shower activity during afternoon hours, particularly affecting Santo Domingo, San Pedro de Macorís, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez, Monseñor Nouel, San Cristóbal, La Vega, and Duarte. Southeastern sectors will likely experience predominant rainfall during nighttime hours.

    The forecast for Sunday indicates scattered rainfall of light to moderate intensity commencing in early morning hours across southeastern, northeastern and Caribbean coastal provinces. This precipitation pattern stems from another trough system combined with east/southeasterly winds, primarily impacting La Altagracia, El Seibo, Hato Mayor, María Trinidad Sánchez, Duarte, Samaná, Espaillat, and Puerto Plata.

    Coastal areas will maintain cloud coverage through morning hours, gradually clearing as drier air masses advance across the region. Afternoon conditions will feature mostly isolated cloud cover nationwide, though localized meteorological factors may generate isolated showers in the Central Mountain Range and northwestern territories.

    Temperatures remain seasonally appropriate with calm and pleasant conditions during nighttime and early morning hours. Mountainous regions and inland valleys may experience occasional fog and mist formations, creating characteristically cool microclimates consistent with seasonal expectations.

  • Three defendants in Operation Cobra confessed in court that they paid bribes to Senasa officials

    Three defendants in Operation Cobra confessed in court that they paid bribes to Senasa officials

    In a significant development within the Dominican Republic’s Operation Cobra anti-corruption investigation, three defendants have formally confessed to paying bribes to former National Health Insurance (SeNaSa) director Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy and other officials. The admissions occurred during Thursday’s coercive measures hearing at the Palace of Justice in Ciudad Nueva.

    Court prosecutor Mirna Ortiz, head of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca), revealed that the defendants not only admitted their involvement but also provided evidence of their collaboration with prosecutors. The judicial proceeding, led by Deputy Attorney General Wilson Camacho, involves ten individuals accused of orchestrating a massive fraud scheme that defrauded the Dominican State of billions of pesos, including over 2 billion pesos in bribes alone.

    The prosecution has presented a substantial case file containing more than 138 documentary evidences, 35 testimonial proofs, and expert analyses. They are seeking 18 months of pretrial detention and have requested the case be declared complex due to its scale and impact on over 7 million Dominicans covered by the national health insurance program.

    Judge Rigoberto Sena presided over the hearing, which adjourned around 11:00 PM Thursday and is scheduled to resume Friday afternoon for defense presentations. The defendants face multiple charges including criminal association, bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, and fraud against the state.

    The Public Prosecutor’s Office is pursuing criminal sanctions against all implicated parties and seeking confiscation of stolen funds from the health risk administrator. The case represents one of the most significant corruption prosecutions in recent Dominican history, targeting high-level officials within the country’s healthcare system.

  • Get ready! The weekend weather brings surprises.

    Get ready! The weekend weather brings surprises.

    Meteorological authorities have issued a weather advisory for the Dominican Republic, warning citizens to prepare for sustained rainfall patterns from today through Saturday. A weather trough amplified by moisture-rich winds is expected to deliver moderate precipitation across multiple regions, with intermittent periods of intense downpours potentially developing.

    Renowned weather analyst Jean Suriel communicated this alert through his official social media channels, providing detailed meteorological context. “Recent days have witnessed elevated perceived temperatures between 10 AM and 4 PM due to an east-southeast wind circulation pattern,” Suriel explained. “This atmospheric movement originates from a high-pressure system currently positioned over the Atlantic Ocean.”

    The analyst provided contrasting observations regarding nighttime conditions, noting that cooler temperatures have persisted during evening and early morning hours throughout most Dominican territories. This thermal moderation results from seasonal frontal systems and Atlantic wind currents that dominate between 7 PM and 8 AM.

    According to the detailed forecast, moderate rainfall is anticipated today across southern, southeastern, and northeastern regions, including the Central Mountain Range and border areas. Precipitation may occur during both afternoon and nighttime periods as the trough system exerts its influence.

    Meteorological projections indicate scattered showers will continue into Friday morning, particularly affecting southern, southeastern, and northeastern zones. However, weather patterns are expected to intensify following midday, with heavier downpours potentially creating urban flooding concerns in vulnerable areas.

    The trough’s influence will maintain its presence through Saturday, generating additional rainy intervals across much of the country. Precipitation is forecast to commence during morning hours with increased intensity developing throughout the afternoon.

    Meteorological relief appears likely by Sunday as the trough system begins to weaken. This atmospheric change should reduce both intensity and frequency of rainfall, though residual showers may still occur during morning and midday periods. Monday is expected to bring significantly diminished precipitation as the system fully dissipates.