标签： Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO – In a significant environmental achievement, the Cap Cana Foundation has received prestigious recognition from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep) for its groundbreaking conservation initiative. The foundation was honored in the fifth edition of the Catalog of Promising Practices for its comprehensive program dedicated to reproducing threatened native and endemic plant species in the Dominican Republic’s eastern regions.

The innovative program represents a multifaceted approach to ecological restoration, focusing on cultivating, nurturing, and reintroducing indigenous flora while simultaneously reducing dependence on non-native exotic plants. Through meticulous conservation efforts, the foundation has achieved remarkable success in propagating over 12,100 plants encompassing 122 distinct species, with 12% classified as endemic and 88% as native to the region.

Among the program’s most notable accomplishments is the strategic planting of 1,000 Bayahibe rose specimens within the protected boundaries of Cotubanamá National Park. Beyond physical restoration work, the foundation has implemented extensive educational outreach, conducting environmental workshops that have enlightened more than 600 participants about sustainable conservation practices and ecological stewardship.

This distinguished recognition underscores the foundation’s unwavering commitment to conservation and ecological rehabilitation throughout Cap Cana and the broader La Altagracia province. UNDP and Conep leadership have applauded the initiative for its substantial contributions to sustainable development principles, social inclusion, and comprehensive environmental protection. The foundation has extended an invitation to other institutions, organizations, and concerned citizens to participate in their ongoing mission to preserve the nation’s natural heritage and ensure future generations can experience the country’s rich biodiversity.

The Dominican Republic has achieved a significant milestone in combating gender-based violence with a 28.17% reduction in femicides for 2025, according to President Luis Abinader. Official statistics indicate a decline from 71 cases in 2024 to 51 cases this year, marking the most substantial decrease recorded in recent history.

Despite this progress, President Abinader emphasized that gender violence continues to represent a national emergency requiring immediate and compassionate intervention. The announcement was made during his weekly press briefing ‘LA Semanal con la Prensa,’ where he unveiled the groundbreaking ‘Puntos VIDA’ initiative – a comprehensive nationwide network of certified safe spaces for women facing violence.

The VIDA program (representing Surveillance, Identification, Reporting, and Assistance) will establish both public and private establishments as immediate support centers for women at risk. These designated locations will employ specially trained personnel equipped to perform critical functions including danger assessment, emergency authority notification, safe accompaniment services, and direct coordination with 911 emergency services, the dedicated VIDA Line, and protective services.

In a demonstration of governmental commitment, all central government institutions will undergo certification first, establishing a precedent for private sector participation. Following public sector implementation, the program will expand to include supermarkets, shopping malls, pharmacies, gas stations, banking institutions, and healthcare facilities nationwide.

Certification requirements mandate that participating establishments provide private consultation areas, telephone access, extended operating hours, and staff comprehensively trained in gender-sensitive and trauma-informed care methodologies. The initiative integrates seamlessly with the Attorney General’s existing VITALIA strategy, creating an interconnected safety net designed to ensure that no woman in the Dominican Republic is ever far from secure assistance.

In a significant development in the Operation Cobra case, Dominican Republic prosecutors have formally requested 18 months of pretrial detention for ten individuals implicated in a massive embezzlement scheme targeting the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa). The alleged corruption network, which prosecutors say defrauded the state of approximately 15 billion pesos, represents one of the most substantial financial crimes against public health funds in recent history.

The accused ringleader, former SeNaSa director Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy, stands alongside former officials and collaborators who allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated operation to divert public health funds. The Public Prosecutor’s Office presented its detention request before the Office of Permanent Attention Services in the National District, simultaneously petitioning the court to classify the case as complex due to the extraordinary scale and coordination of the alleged fraud.

Prosecutor Héctor García, speaking on behalf of the prosecution team, detailed how the defendants engaged in coordinated criminal actions that systematically drained resources from the national health insurance system. The investigation, jointly conducted by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca) and the Directorate General for Prosecution, has uncovered a multilayered scheme involving multiple criminal methodologies.

Deputy prosecutor Wilson Camacho and prosecutor Mirna Ortiz are leading the comprehensive probe that has resulted in charges including conspiracy among public officials, prevarication, criminal association, bribery, embezzlement, fraud, document forgery, and money laundering. The extensive list of charges reflects the complexity of the alleged operation and the determination of authorities to address corruption at institutional levels.

The case has drawn significant public attention as it involves the diversion of funds specifically allocated for healthcare services, potentially affecting the quality and availability of medical care for Dominican citizens. The judicial proceedings are expected to continue as prosecutors work to demonstrate the connections between the accused individuals and the sophisticated financial mechanisms used to allegedly conceal the stolen funds.

A disturbing incident of racial aggression unfolded aboard a New York City subway train, captured in a viral video that has sparked widespread condemnation across social media platforms. The footage depicts an African American woman launching an unprovoked verbal and physical assault against a Hispanic passenger moments after she occupied a neighboring seat.

The aggressor initiated hostilities by demanding the woman vacate the seat, proclaiming she ‘didn’t deserve’ to sit nearby. The situation rapidly escalated as the perpetrator began shoving the victim while shouting explicitly xenophobic rhetoric including, ‘This is the U.S., not your country.’ Despite clear expressions of disapproval from fellow commuters, the assailant remained defiant, stating she ‘didn’t care’ about their objections as she continued her tirade.

The video evidence reveals a pattern of discriminatory behavior rooted in claims of being ‘offended’ by the passenger’s mere presence. Transportation authorities have confirmed the incident is under investigation as potential hate crime, highlighting ongoing challenges regarding passenger safety and racial tensions within public transit systems. Civil rights organizations have denounced the attack as representative of broader issues concerning immigration-related hostility and public conduct in multicultural urban environments.

Santo Domingo – In a strategic move to regulate festive celebrations, the Dominican Ministry of the Interior and Police has enacted Resolution MIP-RR-0009-2025, temporarily extending alcohol sales hours throughout the Christmas and New Year period. The special provisions will remain effective from December 10, 2025, through January 5, 2026, specifically designed to manage nightlife activities during the peak holiday season.

Under the revised operational framework, establishments including nightclubs, bars, restaurants, private clubs, event venues, piano bars, and casinos may continue alcohol service until 3:00 AM from Sundays through Thursdays. The extension expands until 4:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, with complete removal of time restrictions on December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day).

Minister Faride Raful provided crucial clarification that the extended hours exclusively apply to entertainment venues, while grocery stores, supermarkets, cafés, car washes, amusement parks, water parks, and dedicated liquor stores must maintain their standard closing time of 12:00 midnight as stipulated in Resolution ESP/001-2022. Enforcement will be rigorously implemented by the National Directorate for the Control of Alcohol Sales (COBA) with operational support from the National Police. Establishments found violating the regulations face severe penalties including immediate closure and potential license revocation.

Complementing the alcohol sales adjustments, the government has deployed an extensive security apparatus comprising over 27,000 police and military personnel nationwide. Minister Raful emphasized the shared responsibility approach, urging citizens to exercise moderation and responsible behavior during celebrations. Additionally, the Ministry reminded the public that the firearms license renewal process remains available until December 31 under the current grace period.

Santo Domingo – The National Institute of Traffic and Land Transportation (INTRANT) has unveiled stringent temporary measures regulating freight vehicle operations during the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities. These safety-oriented restrictions, formalized under Resolution 011-2025, will be enforced during two distinct periods: December 23-26 and December 30 through January 2. The regulations comprehensively suspend all existing cargo permits, including those typically valid for Restricted Access Zones (ZAR).

Authorities will issue special conditional permits exclusively for vehicles transporting essential commodities. The approved categories include fuel distribution, water supply, food products, pharmaceutical supplies, toys, and hospital waste management. Eligibility for these permits mandates that all companies must be formally registered as Freight Transport Operators through INTRANT’s official digital platform. Notably, double-trailer configurations and any oversized or overweight loads will be categorically denied permits due to elevated safety concerns.

The regulatory framework provides explicit exemptions for critical service vehicles including emergency medical transport (ambulances), public utility maintenance trucks, water tankers, and official roadside assistance units. Violations of these temporary restrictions will incur substantial penalties, with fines equivalent to one minimum wage within the Dominican public sector.

INTRANT has implemented a streamlined digital process for permit applications and payments, with authorized permits featuring downloadable QR codes for verification purposes. Director Milton Morrison emphasized that these measures aim to significantly reduce roadway risks and ensure family protection during high-traffic holiday periods. The agency concurrently reinforced that cargo vehicles must continuously adhere to standard traffic regulations, including prescribed speed limits, appropriate load securing protocols, containment of loose materials, and proper lane usage.