标签： Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic has expressed its approval of the international community’s decision to transform the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti into a specialized 5,500-member ‘Gang Suppression Force.’ This initiative, spearheaded by the United States and Panama, aims to address the escalating violence perpetrated by armed groups in Haiti. Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez emphasized that this decision represents a pivotal step toward restoring stability in the neighboring nation. The revamped mission will adopt a more robust and focused strategy, directly targeting criminal gangs that have severely disrupted the security and daily lives of Haitians. Álvarez also reiterated the Dominican Republic’s unwavering support for the initiative, underscoring its potential to mitigate the broader regional security crisis stemming from Haiti’s instability.

In a decisive statement on Monday, Dominican President Luis Abinader declared that he would await the conclusion of the Public Ministry’s investigation into alleged irregularities at the National Health Insurance (Senasa). This announcement followed the government’s submission of a detailed report on the matter. Speaking during his weekly press briefing in Santiago, Abinader underscored his administration’s unwavering stance against corruption and its efforts to dismantle the entrenched culture of impunity that has plagued the Dominican Republic for decades. The president emphasized that all corruption cases, including those involving government entities, would be rigorously addressed. He also highlighted ongoing preparations for preventive measures to mitigate the risk of similar offenses in the future. While acknowledging Senasa’s autonomy and its exemption from the Public Procurement and Contracting Law, Abinader reiterated his expectation for a thorough and transparent explanation from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Reaffirming his commitment to zero tolerance for corruption, he vowed to hold all parties accountable, irrespective of their affiliations.

Santo Domingo – In a significant development, President Luis Abinader revealed on Monday that the United States has elevated the Dominican Republic to Tier 2 in its annual human trafficking report. This upgrade acknowledges the nation’s ‘significant efforts’ in combating human trafficking, a crime that has long plagued the region. President Abinader highlighted the effective collaboration between the Dominican and U.S. governments over the past year as a key factor in achieving this milestone. The U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report categorizes countries into three tiers based on their adherence to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Tier 1 represents nations fully meeting the minimum standards, Tier 2 includes countries making substantial progress despite not fully complying, and Tier 3 comprises those failing to meet standards or demonstrate efforts to do so. The Dominican Republic’s new Tier 2 status underscores its commitment to addressing severe forms of human trafficking, including sex trafficking involving force, fraud, or coercion, and imposing penalties commensurate with the gravity of such crimes, particularly when children, rape, kidnapping, or death are involved. This recognition reflects the government’s intensified enforcement measures and its dedication to eradicating human trafficking.

Santo Domingo – Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader voiced optimism on Monday regarding the United Nations’ potential extension of the Multinational Mission for Security Support (MSS) in Haiti. He endorsed a U.S. proposal to increase the mission’s troop strength to 5,500, aiming to directly address the escalating threat posed by armed gangs. The current mandate of the Kenyan-led mission, supported by Panama, is scheduled to expire on October 2. Abinader emphasized that the current deployment of 700 Kenyan troops falls short of the initially planned 2,500, criticizing their limited operational scope, which primarily involves facility protection rather than active engagement with gangs. He reassured that the Dominican Armed Forces remain vigilant in securing the border, firmly stating that Haitian gangs will not be permitted to infiltrate Dominican territory. This development follows a recent plea by Laurent Saint-Cyr, president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, at the UN General Assembly, where he highlighted the dire situation in Haiti, describing it as a war between gangs and the populace, with half the population facing severe food insecurity.