Carib Scope

标签： Dominican Republic

多米尼加共和国

  • Nayib Bukele files to seek a third consecutive presidential term

    Nayib Bukele files to seek a third consecutive presidential term

    In a historic development for El Salvador’s political landscape, President Nayib Bukele has formally submitted his pre-candidacy to run for a third consecutive presidential term in the 2027 general election. This step comes just months after a controversial constitutional revision cleared the way for unlimited presidential re-election, rewriting the rules of the country’s democratic process.

    The ruling Nuevas Ideas party made the official announcement of the candidacy filing on Sunday, confirming that incumbent Vice President Félix Ulloa has also put forward his name to seek another term in office. Xavi Bukele, head of the Nuevas Ideas party, posted images of the completed registration documents across multiple social media platforms, making the news public for supporters and observers alike. Following the registration, Ulloa released a statement expressing gratitude to the party for the chance to continue advancing their shared political agenda. For his part, Bukele has yet to make any public statement addressing his pre-candidacy, and political analysts widely agree he will not face any serious challengers during the party’s upcoming primary selection process.

    The constitutional changes that made Bukele’s third-term run possible were approved by the country’s Legislative Assembly back in July 2025. In addition to eliminating term limits for the presidency, the reform package also pushed the date of the next presidential election forward to 2027, and extended all future presidential terms from five years to six. The reform has drawn sharp criticism from domestic opposition groups and international democracy watchdogs, who argue that removing term limits undermines the checks and balances core to democratic governance. Despite this backlash, Bukele maintains sky-high approval ratings among the Salvadoran public, a popularity built largely on his aggressive, widely supported crackdown on violent gang activity that once terrorized communities across the country. Even so, growing economic uncertainty and rising cost-of-living concerns have become increasingly top-of-mind for Salvadoran voters in recent months, creating an undercurrent of unease heading into the 2027 campaign cycle.

  • Surf schools urge Dominican authorities to ban vehicles from Playa Encuentro

    Surf schools urge Dominican authorities to ban vehicles from Playa Encuentro

    One of the Caribbean’s most iconic surfing hubs, Cabarete’s Playa Encuentro, is facing growing turmoil as local surf schools and community businesses push Dominican government agencies to crack down on unregulated vehicle access along its protected shoreline. Stakeholders warn that ongoing illegal driving and parking on the beach is putting visitors at risk, destroying fragile coastal ecosystems, and eroding the area’s hard-won reputation as a top-tier global surfing destination.

    In a formal letter submitted to multiple government bodies including the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Environment, and the Dominican Tourism Police (Politur), local business owners outlined the scope of the problem. Despite long-standing regulations that prohibit all vehicles from entering a 60-meter protected coastal strip, cars, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other motorized vehicles continue to enter and park in this restricted zone on a daily basis.

    Beyond the environmental damage, business leaders emphasize that the uncontrolled traffic creates immediate, life-threatening hazards for the tens of thousands of tourists and local residents who use the beach each year. Surfers moving between the shore and their vehicles, playing children, vacationing families, and casual beachgoers all face constant risk of collision with motorized vehicles on the sand. Ecologically, the repeated vehicle traffic is accelerating erosion of the beach’s natural dune systems and destroying native coastal vegetation that acts as a natural buffer against storms and sea level rise.

    To address the crisis, the coalition of local businesses has put forward a series of concrete demands for targeted, sustained enforcement. These include regular coordinated multi-agency inspections of the protected zone, installation of clear, visible warning signage marking the restricted area, development of designated public parking lots outside the coastal protection boundary, installation of physical barriers to block vehicle access to the sand, and the creation of a permanent collaborative management plan co-developed by local stakeholders and government authorities.

    The group stressed that preserving the ecological and recreational integrity of Playa Encuentro is not just an environmental issue—it is critical to the long-term economic survival of Cabarete’s tourism economy. As one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after surfing locations, the region draws thousands of wave sport enthusiasts and casual tourists annually, supporting hundreds of local jobs across surf instruction, accommodation, food service, and retail. Without swift action to enforce existing protections, stakeholders warn, the area could lose its standing as a world-class surfing destination, putting the entire local tourism industry at risk.

  • Guyana gives Dominican Republic six months to launch Berbice oil project

    Guyana gives Dominican Republic six months to launch Berbice oil project

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – A landmark bilateral energy partnership between the Dominican Republic and Guyana is moving forward, with a clear timeline set for the launch of long-awaited oil and gas exploration activities. Vickram Bharrat, Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, has confirmed that the Dominican Republic has a six-month window to initiate exploration work on the 3,300-square-kilometer Berbice onshore block, with all on-site field operations scheduled to kick off no later than the end of 2026.

    This collaborative energy project traces its roots back to a formal cooperation agreement signed by the two Caribbean nations in 2023, and it forms a core component of a broader regional strategy to bolster collective energy security across the Caribbean. Under the terms of the agreement, the Dominican Republic’s state-owned Dominican Petroleum Refinery (Refidomsa) will secure a 10% equity stake in the exploration project without being required to contribute any upfront capital investment. In the event that commercially viable reserves of crude oil or natural gas are uncovered through exploration, the Dominican Republic will be granted exclusive preferential access to these hydrocarbon resources, helping to stabilize its domestic energy supply for years to come.

    Beyond the initial exploration phase, the bilateral partnership lays the groundwork for a series of ambitious future strategic energy investments. Both sides have already outlined plans to evaluate additional projects, including the construction of a new regional oil refinery, a large-scale petrochemical complex, and other transformational energy infrastructure initiatives that could reshape energy trade and production across the region. The agreement marks a rare example of cross-border energy collaboration that balances economic opportunity for both nations, with Guyana leveraging international partnership to unlock its untapped onshore resource potential and the Dominican Republic securing a long-term path to more stable, affordable energy supplies.

  • Dominican government arranges humanitarian flight from Venezuela after earthquakes

    Dominican government arranges humanitarian flight from Venezuela after earthquakes

    Following the destructive June 24 earthquakes that struck Venezuela, the Dominican Republic has launched a coordinated humanitarian effort to bring its stranded citizens home. In line with direct orders from President Luis Abinader, the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex) has organized a special repatriation flight in close partnership with Venezuelan government officials.

    The chartered flight, which has seating capacity for up to 90 Dominican passengers, is scheduled to depart Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia, Venezuela, in the early morning of June 29. It will arrive at Las Américas International Airport, located near the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. To board the flight, travelers are required to present either a valid Dominican passport or official national identification document.

    For Dominican citizens who lost their identification documents amid the earthquake chaos, support is already in place to help them secure the necessary paperwork for a future trip. A specialized delegation from the Dominican Central Electoral Board (JCE) will begin assisting these undocumented travelers starting June 30, helping to process new identification credentials so they can return home on subsequent repatriation trips.

    Mirex confirmed that a dedicated consular and support mission has already deployed to Venezuela to offer on-the-ground aid to affected Dominican nationals. The ministry has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to safeguarding the safety, security, and general well-being of all Dominican citizens residing or traveling abroad, noting that this repatriation operation is part of its coordinated, citizen-focused consular support framework.

  • Abinader becomes first Dominican president to visit National Zoo in over 20 years

    Abinader becomes first Dominican president to visit National Zoo in over 20 years

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – In a landmark moment for the country’s environmental and public recreational sectors, President Luis Abinader made a historic tour of the Dominican National Zoo this Sunday, marking the first time a sitting Dominican head of state has visited the facility in over two decades. The trip comes just days ahead of the zoo’s 51st anniversary of opening to the public, and served as an occasion to outline ambitious, long-overdue upgrades to one of the capital’s most beloved community green spaces.

    During his walkthrough of the zoo, President Abinader reviewed a full slate of modernization projects crafted to advance four core pillars of the facility’s mission: robust wildlife conservation, accessible environmental education, rigorous scientific research, and welcoming family-friendly recreation. To expand the zoo’s current collection and boost its conservation programming, Abinader proposed adding high-profile, iconic species that have been absent from the facility for years, including African elephants, giraffes, and common chimpanzees. The addition of these species is intended not only to draw more local and international visitors to the site but also to create new opportunities for ex-situ conservation and public learning about threatened megafauna.

    Other key priorities outlined by the president include the long-awaited restoration of the zoo’s aviary, which has shuttered its doors to visitors for more than 20 years. Additional planned upgrades include comprehensive renovations to existing animal habitats to improve animal welfare, expanded investment in assisted breeding programs for vulnerable species, enhanced funding for on-site scientific research, and the installation of interactive QR-code signage that will give visitors on-demand access to detailed educational information about every species housed at the zoo. To further expand the site’s role as a tourism and community hub, Abinader also proposed the development of a new nature-themed park within the National Zoo’s grounds, which would broaden recreational offerings for both local residents and visitors to Santo Domingo.

    Immediately after concluding his tour of the National Zoo, President Abinader traveled to the nearby Dr. Rafael María Moscoso National Botanical Garden, another of the Dominican Republic’s premier environmental and cultural attractions. There, he inspected the completed first phase of the garden’s most extensive renovation project since it first opened to the public, as well as ongoing work on the initiative’s second phase.

    Planned improvements at the botanical garden include the construction of new on-site medical facilities and upgraded security infrastructure, fully renovated main entrance areas, new flexible event spaces for community and private functions, and comprehensive enhancements to the garden’s popular Japanese Garden, a long-time favorite among visitors. Dominican environmental authorities confirmed that additional infrastructure upgrades are already in the planning stages, with the dual goals of strengthening the garden’s native plant conservation work and elevating the overall visitor experience at one of the country’s most frequented outdoor attractions.

  • Leonel Fernández urges Dominican government to lower fuel prices as oil prices fall

    Leonel Fernández urges Dominican government to lower fuel prices as oil prices fall

    PUERTO PLATA — In a pointed address to party leadership over the weekend, former Dominican Republic president Leonel Fernández publicly pressed the current administration to roll back recent domestic fuel price increases, arguing that shifting global oil markets have created room for immediate relief for ordinary consumers.

    Speaking at a gathering of his People’s Force (FP) party in Puerto Plata on Sunday, Fernández laid out the context for his demand: the current government raised domestic gasoline prices earlier this year when global crude spiked to $104 per barrel amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, a move that required the state to step in with fuel subsidies to stabilize markets. Now, however, global benchmark crude has settled at roughly $70 per barrel — exactly the price range the government itself projected for coming years when it drafted the 2026 General State Budget.

    Given this sharp drop in international costs, Fernández argued that Dominican households deserve to see those savings reflected at the pump. He questioned why domestic fuel rates have stayed locked at their current elevated levels despite the retreat in global crude prices, and went further to level a political accusation against the sitting administration: he claimed the government is intentionally keeping prices high to rake in extra public revenue for hidden political objectives.

    Beyond his critique of the administration’s energy pricing policy, Fernández used the party assembly to outline the FP’s coordinated political roadmap ahead of the 2028 Dominican general elections. He called on all party leaders and members to maintain tight unity and disciplined organizational structure, framing the opposition’s goal as preparing to retake national executive power in the upcoming electoral cycle.

  • Dominican Republic deploys new contingent of rescuers to Venezuela

    Dominican Republic deploys new contingent of rescuers to Venezuela

    In a renewed demonstration of cross-border solidarity in the wake of catastrophic seismic devastation in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic has launched a second deployment of elite search and rescue experts to the South American nation, as a core component of Operation Quisqueya Solidaria 2026. The deployment is reinforcing the growing network of international humanitarian response working to address the aftermath of the destructive earthquakes.

    This newest mission brings together highly trained personnel from three of the Dominican Republic’s leading emergency response agencies: the Specialized Emergency and Disaster Mitigation Corps (Cemed), the national Emergency Operations Center (COE), and the country’s Civil Defense. Airlifted by a Dominican Republic Air Force transport plane, the contingent is headed directly to the regions hardest hit by the earthquakes, where they will integrate with existing search and rescue operations to locate missing survivors and expand the scope of on-the-ground emergency aid.

    Ahead of the team’s departure from Santo Domingo, Dominican Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre publicly recognized the depth of skill and unwavering dedication the rescuers bring to the mission. He commended their consistent professionalism and urged the team to uphold the values of discipline and international solidarity as they carry out their work in affected communities.

    Beyond the deployment of search and rescue personnel, this mission forms a central part of the Dominican government’s broader multi-pronged humanitarian response to the Venezuelan earthquake crisis. The government’s support package also includes dedicated assistance for Dominican citizens residing in affected areas of Venezuela, a shipment of critical emergency supplies, and additional targeted support to local communities impacted by the disaster.

  • Authorities seize 421 suspected marijuana plants in Santo Domingo Oeste

    Authorities seize 421 suspected marijuana plants in Santo Domingo Oeste

    A coordinated anti-narcotics sweep conducted by three of the Dominican Republic’s top law enforcement agencies has rooted out a large-scale illegal cannabis cultivation operation in the western reaches of the country’s capital, Santo Domingo, marking a fresh advance in the nation’s ongoing war on drug production and trafficking. The targeted raid unfolded in the La Cuaba neighborhood of Santo Domingo Oeste, with agents from the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD) working alongside officers from the National Police and prosecutors from the Public Ministry to execute the operation.

    Following actionable intelligence, the joint force descended on a private plot of land located along El Limón 2 road in the Pedro Brand district. What they uncovered was a carefully organized illicit growing operation: 421 plants, suspected to be marijuana, were found individually potted in foam cups across the property, with specimens sitting at every stage of the growth cycle from young seedlings to nearly mature crops. Beyond the plants themselves, law enforcement also seized a full suite of purpose-built irrigation and cultivation gear, including large plastic water tanks, chemical fumigation pumps, flexible supply hoses, and even a solar panel that investigators allege was installed to power the illegal farm’s operations.

    In the wake of the seizure, one male individual present at the site was taken into custody for formal questioning. Law enforcement teams are still working to trace the full scope of the operation, including whether additional co-conspirators are linked to the growing site. To confirm the botanical identity and total weight of the seized plants, all contraband has been transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) for comprehensive laboratory testing, with formal results pending to support upcoming legal proceedings.

  • They are asking for more resources for the treatment of people with addictions in the Dominican Republic.

    They are asking for more resources for the treatment of people with addictions in the Dominican Republic.

    On the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, stakeholders across the Dominican Republic have advanced complementary but distinct calls to action around national drug policy, highlighting growing momentum to reframe addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal justice problem.

    Leading the advocacy push is Hogar Crea Dominicano, a leading non-profit dedicated to supporting people struggling with substance use disorders. The organization marked the international observance with two public commemorative events: a community awareness walk through the capital of Santo Domingo, and a solemn floral tribute laid at the iconic Altar of the Fatherland. Beyond these observances, Hogar Crea’s leadership has issued an urgent appeal to the Dominican national government for increased public funding to expand treatment access. The organization says additional financial resources are critical to building new care facilities that can accommodate the growing number of people seeking support for addiction recovery.

    In a repeated, clear message to policymakers and the public, Hogar Crea’s director emphasized that people who use substances should not be marginalized or penalized as criminals, but treated with compassion as patients managing a chronic health condition. This framing aligns with global guidance from the International Drug Policy Consortium, an independent global policy network that has long pushed for reformed drug laws. The consortium echoed the non-profit’s call, stressing that policy should center support for people who use drugs rather than punitive measures that push addiction underground and block access to life-saving care.

    While reform advocates push for a public health-centered approach to addiction, Dominican law enforcement agencies are reaffirming their commitment to cracking down on the supply side of the drug trade. The National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), the country’s lead anti-drug agency, reiterated that it will sustain and intensify targeted operations to dismantle transnational and domestic drug trafficking networks that bring illicit substances into the country. Alongside its enforcement work, the DNCD also issued a public appeal to Dominican families, urging households to maintain open, active supervision of young people and provide consistent guidance to prevent youth substance use before it develops into addiction.

  • Seismic activity is being monitored in the Dominican Republic due to the historical frequency of large earthquakes.

    Seismic activity is being monitored in the Dominican Republic due to the historical frequency of large earthquakes.

    Located on the tectonic boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates, the Dominican Republic has long stood as one of the most seismically vulnerable nations in the Caribbean. Now, leading seismic engineering researchers are expanding targeted monitoring initiatives across the country’s two most dangerous active fault lines to better understand earthquake patterns and strengthen disaster risk preparedness.

    Claudia Germoso, a seismic engineer and research professor at the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC), explains that geological records show large earthquakes in the region tend to strike roughly every 50 years on average. This historical pattern has kept the country’s seismological community on high alert, even as specialists universally acknowledge that precise earthquake prediction remains beyond current scientific capabilities.

    The Dominican Republic’s history of catastrophic seismic events underscores the urgency of this work. In August 1946, the island of Hispaniola (which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti) was hit by the largest earthquake recorded in its instrumental seismic history, an event documented by the National Center of Seismology of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (CNS-UASD) that set a benchmark for the nation’s disaster risk planning.

    Currently, the highest priority for monitoring efforts is the Septentrional fault, a major strike-slip geological fracture running through the Dominican Republic’s northern region. Stretching from the coastal town of Montecristi across the Cibao Valley, through Samaná Bay, and out into the Atlantic Ocean, this horizontal slip fault is classified as the country’s most seismically hazardous geological structure. As part of a new dedicated monitoring project, research teams have begun installing a network of specialized seismic sensors along the fault’s full length. These sensors will capture granular data on small-scale seismic activity, allowing scientists to build a far more detailed picture of how the fault behaves under tectonic pressure. Germoso notes that the deployed monitoring stations are already delivering more accurate recordings of seismic activity, significantly strengthening geological risk assessments for the northern region.

    Monitoring efforts are not limited to the north, however. Researchers are also keeping close watch on the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault, the country’s second major high-risk fault line located in southern Hispaniola. This strike-slip fault stretches from Jamaica across southern Haiti and into southwestern Dominican Republic, running along the edge of the Sierra de Bahoruco before extending into the Caribbean Sea. The fault gained global attention in 2010, when it generated a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people and left widespread destruction across Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, cementing its reputation as a major tectonic threat.

    For planning and construction purposes, the Dominican Republic’s current national seismic code divides the country into two zones: high seismic hazard and moderate seismic hazard, a classification that guides building safety standards across all regions. Germoso emphasizes that continuous investment in scientific monitoring of both major active faults is critical to improving the nation’s understanding of regional seismic activity, and ultimately to more effective disaster risk management that saves lives and protects infrastructure.

    For context, seismic faults are fractures in the Earth’s crust where blocks of crustal rock have shifted relative to one another, driven by constant tectonic plate movement. When stress along these fractures builds up over decades and is suddenly released, the energy release generates the shaking associated with earthquakes and tremors. Both the Septentrional and Enriquillo faults form part of the larger boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates, whose ongoing horizontal movement generates nearly all of the Dominican Republic’s seismic activity.