标签： Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO — Top Dominican Republic officials, including President Luis Abinader and Vice President Raquel Peña, chaired the 59th regular session of the nation’s Council of Ministers on Monday, where the administration greenlit the 2027 Annual Budget Policy. The policy establishes clear national spending priorities that align directly with the country’s ambitious long-term development blueprint, Meta RD 2036.

After the conclusion of the gathering, José Ignacio Paliza, the country’s Minister of the Presidency, outlined the core priorities of the new budget framework. The 2027 policy will center public investment on four key pillars: growing the nation’s human capital, expanding critical public and commercial infrastructure, boosting national productivity, and strengthening public sector institutions. At the same time, Paliza confirmed that the government will preserve all existing social support programs while upholding its commitment to disciplined, responsible fiscal management that avoids unsustainable debt accumulation.

Paliza emphasized that the budget policy is intentionally structured to direct limited public resources toward initiatives that deliver the most meaningful, long-lasting gains for both national sustainable development and the daily well-being of Dominican citizens.

Among the key commitments outlined in the policy, the administration will retain education spending at 4.05% of the country’s gross domestic product, matching current investment levels that prioritize long-term human development. The government will also continue rolling out its multi-decade education initiative, the Horizon 2034 Plan, with targeted investments to expand school infrastructure across the country and improve accessible student transportation services.

Beyond education, public health will receive significant allocations, with new investment going toward upgrading existing hospitals, expanding primary healthcare units that serve underserved communities, strengthening the National Emergency Network, and expanding the reach of social protection programs for low-income and vulnerable populations.

Major infrastructure investments will also be a core focus, with funding earmarked for new highway construction, integrated regional public transportation systems, expanded aqueduct networks, upgraded sanitation infrastructure, and nationwide housing improvement projects. Additional funding will be allocated to reinforce the independence and capacity of the national judiciary, as well as boost both citizen safety and border security. High-priority security projects include the completion of a cutting-edge smart border fence and the construction of new, modern correctional facilities across the country.

Following three years of diplomatic service in the Caribbean nation, outgoing Canadian Ambassador Jacqueline Delima Baril has received one of the Dominican Republic’s most prestigious state awards in recognition of her work advancing bilateral ties between Ottawa and Santo Domingo. In a formal ceremony held at the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ central headquarters, Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez bestowed the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella, in the rank of Grand Cross Silver Plaque, to Delima Baril on behalf of the Dominican government.

The top honor was officially authorized by Dominican President Luis Abinader via Presidential Decree No. 421-26, a formal designation that singles out Delima Baril’s key efforts to deepen cooperation and connection between the two countries. During the event, Álvarez highlighted the ambassador’s consistent dedication to nurturing open dialogue, expanding collaborative partnerships across priority sectors, and building lasting mutual trust between Canadian and Dominican stakeholders.

The ceremony drew a crowd of senior Dominican government leaders, resident diplomatic representatives from other nations, and senior staff from the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo. Accepting the distinction, Delima Baril offered reflective remarks on the landmark progress achieved during her tenure, expressed sincere gratitude for the rare national honor, and reaffirmed the deep, enduring friendship and shared commitment to cooperation that define the modern relationship between Canada and the Dominican Republic.

In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the lower house of the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, took a key step Tuesday to refine the country’s upcoming new Penal Code, voting to launch an open public consultation process. The initiative is designed to collect citizen and stakeholder feedback on potential adjustments to the legislation, which is scheduled to go into full effect on August 3.

Chamber President Alfredo Pacheco outlined the framework of the consultation effort in remarks following the approval vote. Under the plan, legislators will open the door to recommendations from every major sector of Dominican society, and are prepared to hold public hearings to directly address widespread concerns about specific articles within the new code.

While no formal deadline has been established for members of the public to submit their proposed changes, legislative leaders aim to complete the review of all potential amendments during the current legislative session, which is scheduled to conclude on July 26. Pacheco emphasized, however, that the process will not be rushed: if more time is needed to carefully evaluate submissions, the consultation period can be extended past the end of the current session.

One critical clarification Pacheco made regarding the scope of the review is that the three legal grounds for abortion already enshrined in the new code will not be reopened for debate. The Chamber president noted that this contentious issue received years of extensive deliberation and negotiation throughout the multi-year process of developing and approving the new Penal Code, and it will not be revisited as part of this amendment consultation. All proposed adjustments will instead center on other provisions that have sparked public criticism or concern from stakeholder groups since the code’s final approval.