Carib Scope

标签： Dominican Republic

多米尼加共和国

  • Abinader announces restoration plans for historic Agua y Luz Theater

    Abinader announces restoration plans for historic Agua y Luz Theater

    A decades-long wait for revival is coming to an end for Santo Domingo’s iconic abandoned Agua y Luz Theater, after Dominican President Luis Abinader greenlit a public bidding process for its full restoration and transformation into a cutting-edge cultural and tourism destination. The official announcement came at a special luncheon Abinader hosted at the National Palace, bringing together leading figures from the Dominican artistic community to discuss the landmark cultural infrastructure initiative.

    Tourism Minister David Collado shared details of the approved plan with reporters following the meeting, confirming that the scope of work covered by the bidding includes full structural restoration, interior remodeling, and the installation of a permanent new roof. This critical addition will allow the venue to host events year-round, regardless of inclement weather that would disrupt open-air or uncovered performances.

    Collado outlined the timeline for the project, noting that the pre-construction administrative and bidding evaluation phase is projected to last roughly three months. As soon as the evaluation process concludes, authorities will move swiftly to award the contract and kick off renovation work on the site.

    During the gathering with artists, President Abinader opened up about the personal inspiration behind the project. Before taking office, he visited a prominent performance venue in Nashville, Tennessee, where he experienced the power of a permanent, dedicated space for showcasing live country music. That visit planted the seed for his vision: to create a similar enduring home for Dominican artists and a wide range of domestic cultural events.

    According to Collado, the government’s overarching goal is to reimagine the Agua y Luz Theater as a dynamic, lively entertainment hub that draws both local audiences and international tourists. The venue will follow the popular model that integrates immersive live performances with authentic cultural experiences, designed to deepen visitors’ connection to Dominican creativity and heritage. The initiative will be carried out in close partnership with leading national tourism and cultural institutions, with the ultimate aim of boosting Santo Domingo’s standing as a cultural destination and enriching the capital’s offerings for both arts enthusiasts and nightlife seekers.

  • Abinader and Collado Inaugurate Second Phase of Santo Domingo East Boardwalk

    Abinader and Collado Inaugurate Second Phase of Santo Domingo East Boardwalk

    Senior government leaders in the Dominican Republic have formally opened the final phase of a sweeping waterfront redevelopment project along the capital’s eastern coast, capping off a public investment initiative designed to boost local quality of life and national tourism. On Wednesday, President Luis Abinader joined Tourism Minister David Collado in Santo Domingo to inaugurate the second phase of the Santo Domingo East Boardwalk reconstruction, bringing the multi-stage transformation to an official close.

    The full revitalization effort has carried a total public investment price tag of more than 685 million Dominican pesos, with the second and final phase alone accounting for 314.4 million pesos in spending. The completed project stretches 4.1 continuous kilometers along the Avenida España coastal corridor, running from the Dominican Naval Base in the north to the Las Américas Highway in the south. In total, the redevelopment has delivered more than 237,000 square meters of new public recreational and green space for local communities and visitors.

    Speaking to attendees at the inauguration ceremony, President Abinader underlined the far-reaching benefits the project will deliver for three key local sectors: tourism, public recreation, and urban development across Santo Domingo East. He framed the newly renovated boardwalk as a world-class, accessible public gathering space that will serve both long-term residents of the area and the thousands of domestic and international tourists who visit the Dominican capital each year.

    For his part, Tourism Minister David Collado noted that the boardwalk project is not an isolated initiative, but a core component of the Ministry of Tourism’s national strategy to restore and modernize waterfront and coastal public spaces across every region of the Dominican Republic. Collado emphasized that integrated coastal development serves dual purposes: it strengthens community connection to public natural spaces, while also expanding the country’s tourism infrastructure to attract more visitors and drive long-term economic growth.

    The comprehensive infrastructure intervention included a wide range of public works beyond new green and recreational space. Construction crews built new pedestrian sidewalks, dedicated bicycle lanes, internal access roads, and landscaped central medians along the corridor. The project also added 11 new public parking areas, multiple open recreational plazas, new public urban furniture, upgraded stormwater drainage systems, and modernized electrical infrastructure to support public operations and safety along the boardwalk.

    The inauguration ceremony drew a broad cross-section of public and community stakeholders, including municipal and provincial government leaders from the Santo Domingo East region, senior national government officials, and representatives from local business, community, and tourism sectors. Attendees framed the completed project as a landmark public investment that will deliver tangible benefits to the region for decades to come.

  • Banco BHD reports RD$200 million internal fraud, says customer funds are safe

    Banco BHD reports RD$200 million internal fraud, says customer funds are safe

    A major Dominican financial institution has moved swiftly to contain fallout from a high-value internal fraud scheme, after uncovering unauthorized lending operations worth more than 200 million Dominican pesos (approximately $3.5 million). Banco BHD, one of the country’s leading banking groups, has publicly commended the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office and National Police for their rapid, professional response to the incident, which unfolded through a multi-stage investigation starting earlier this year.

    The illicit activity was first detected during a routine internal compliance review launched by the bank in March, according to official statements from the institution. The probe quickly traced the irregular transactions to a current employee, who investigators allege engineered a scheme to create fraudulent credit lines for external third parties. In exchange for processing these unauthorized loans, the employee is accused of receiving personal financial kickbacks. Following the confirmation of wrongdoing, Banco BHD immediately dismissed the employee from their position and moved forward with formal prosecution referral. Multiple external parties that allegedly received the misappropriated funds are also currently the subject of active investigation by law enforcement.

    In April 2026, Banco BHD submitted a formal criminal complaint to the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the National District Prosecutor’s Office, officially opening the public legal process. Consistent with regulatory requirements, bank leadership also notified the Superintendency of Banks of the Dominican Republic, the country’s top banking regulator, immediately after discovering the fraud, and has committed to full ongoing cooperation with all government authorities involved in the case.

    In a public statement reassuring stakeholders and customers, Banco BHD emphasized that all financial losses stemming from the scheme have been fully absorbed by the bank’s internal reserves. Institution representatives noted that the total loss amounts to only a minimal share of the bank’s annual net earnings, and stressed that no customer deposits or held funds have been impacted by the fraud. The bank reaffirmed its longstanding zero-tolerance policy for any form of unethical or fraudulent conduct within its operations, and restated its core commitment to maintaining full transparency, strict accountability, and the highest possible standards of corporate governance for all its activities across the Dominican Republic.

  • JetBlue to suspend Newark flights to the Dominican Republic starting July 8

    JetBlue to suspend Newark flights to the Dominican Republic starting July 8

    Low-cost U.S. carrier JetBlue Airways has made a strategic announcement that will reshape its trans-Caribbean route network: starting July 8, 2026, the airline will permanently suspend nonstop services connecting Newark Liberty International Airport to two major Dominican Republic gateways, Las Américas International Airport near the capital Santo Domingo, and Punta Cana International Airport, the country’s top tourist hub. The company cited persistently low profitability on both routes as the core driver behind the decision.

    This route cut is not an isolated adjustment, but rather a key piece of JetBlue’s broader company-wide network restructuring initiative. The overarching goal of this overhaul is to boost overall operational efficiency and reallocate limited resources to high-demand markets that promise stronger long-term financial returns. Contrary to common assumptions that weak travel demand drags down route performance, JetBlue confirmed that both Newark-Dominican Republic routes maintained solid passenger occupancy even as they failed to hit the carrier’s financial targets.

    Industry analysis sheds light on the counterintuitive performance gap: over the most recent 12-month period, the Newark-Punta Cana route alone posted an average load factor of nearly 87%, a figure that actually outpaces JetBlue’s average load factor across its entire global network. This data points to underlying structural pressures rather than low traveler interest as the main causes of poor profitability. Industry observers highlight that steep airport operating costs at Newark Liberty International Airport, combined with cutthroat competitive pressure on routes to popular Caribbean leisure destinations, have eroded margin far more than the airline initially projected.

    JetBlue added that the decision also aligns with ongoing adjustments to address two ongoing industry-wide challenges: persistent aircraft fleet constraints that limit the carrier’s ability to expand or sustain underperforming routes, and broadly elevated operating expenses across major U.S. airport hubs. In an internal memo shared with staff, the airline emphasized that multiple routes operating out of Newark have failed to deliver the level of financial performance required to justify retaining them in the network, framing the adjustment as a necessary step to strengthen the company’s overall financial position going forward.

  • Ángel Martínez sentenced to suspended jail term

    Ángel Martínez sentenced to suspended jail term

    In a legal ruling handed down Tuesday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, prominent local broadcaster Ángel Martínez has been convicted on charges of defamation and slander against sitting congressman Sergio Moya, widely known by the nickname “Gory” Moya. Presiding Judge Clara Luz Almonte delivered the verdict, which handed down a three-month suspended prison sentence to Martínez and ordered him to pay 2 million Dominican pesos in civil restitution to the legislator.

    The conviction was grounded in Articles 21 and 22 of Law 53-07, the country’s landmark legislation addressing high technology crimes and digital offenses. This regulatory framework specifically imposes criminal and civil penalties for the distribution of defamatory, insulting content through electronic channels and digital social platforms, reflecting the Dominican Republic’s legal efforts to address harmful speech spread through modern digital communication tools.

    Beyond the suspended prison term and monetary award, the court’s ruling formalized the requirement that Martínez compensate Moya for lasting harm done to the congressman’s public image and professional reputation. The legal case originated from a series of unsubstantiated accusations the broadcaster made against the legislator, which ultimately led to the defamation suit that concluded this week.

  • Santiago de los Caballeros launches plan to modernize tourist horse-drawn carriages

    Santiago de los Caballeros launches plan to modernize tourist horse-drawn carriages

    In the Dominican Republic’s northern city of Santiago de los Caballeros, local municipal authorities have launched a groundbreaking new initiative designed to protect one of the city’s most cherished cultural legacies while addressing longstanding concerns over animal care and worker livelihoods. Titled “Tourist Carriages: Tradition, Well-Being and Protection”, the project marks a balanced approach to preserving a centuries-old iconic attraction that draws cultural tourists to the city, while updating outdated operating practices to meet modern animal welfare standards and support the generations of coachmen who rely on the trade for income.

    The program was formally introduced by Iris Cepín de Rodríguez at a public launch event, where she framed the initiative as a necessary response to the dual nature of horse-drawn tourism in Santiago. “The horse-drawn carriages of Santiago are part of our cultural identity and history, but they also represent an important social and urban challenge,” Cepín de Rodríguez noted. To address these challenges, the project establishes a clear set of binding rules for all operators, including designated authorized routes, mandatory regular veterinary check-ins for all working horses, strictly regulated work hours, specialized training for carriage drivers, and enforceable penalties for any documented cases of animal abuse.

    Deputy Mayor Mariana Moreno outlined the key structural changes the program will roll out to reduce strain on working animals. A core adjustment is the implementation of shorter, more manageable routes and structured, limited operating hours that cut down on overwork. Looking ahead, the municipal government also plans to gradually introduce electric or motorized support systems to further reduce the physical burden on horses. Beyond animal welfare, the initiative includes a dedicated social assistance component designed to support coachmen and their families, many of whom have long struggled with economic instability and limited access to health resources.

    Veterinarian Horacio Ceballos reported that the first phase of animal care has already been completed in the Bella Vista neighborhood, where more than 20 working horses received essential preventive care including vitamin supplements and deworming treatments. Another key welfare adjustment being rolled out is a shift in working schedules that prohibits horses from operating during the hottest midday hours, when heat exposure poses a major health risk to the animals.

    The multi-stakeholder project has brought together a cross-disciplinary team of experts to ensure its success, including legal specialists to draft and enforce regulations, experienced veterinarians to lead animal care, urban planners to map safe, appropriate routes, and sustainability specialists to guide the transition to lower-impact operations. Local tourism bodies VISIT Santiago and the Santiago Tourism Cluster have also thrown their support behind the initiative. Municipal leaders emphasize that the program’s ultimate goal is to deliver shared benefits: safeguarding a beloved cultural tradition for future generations, ensuring humane living and working conditions for the horses at the heart of the attraction, and lifting economic outcomes for the coachmen who keep the tradition alive.

  • Dominican government prepares to tax Netflix, Airbnb and other digital platforms within 60 days

    Dominican government prepares to tax Netflix, Airbnb and other digital platforms within 60 days

    The Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII) is moving forward with a long-discussed plan to level the playing field between international digital service providers and local businesses, announcing it will table a formal proposal to apply the country’s 18% Tax on the Transfer of Industrialized Goods and Services (ITBIS) to foreign platforms operating within its borders within the next two months.

    Major global services including streaming giant Netflix, short-term accommodation marketplace Airbnb, and social media leader Facebook are among the entities that would fall under the new tax rule, DGII Director Pedro Urrutia confirmed during a recent industry gathering hosted by the National Organization of Commercial Enterprises.

    Urrutia emphasized that the core goal of the initiative is to establish uniform tax obligations for all businesses offering services to consumers in the Dominican Republic, eliminating the current competitive advantage that un-taxed foreign digital operators hold over domestic enterprises. Crucially, he added that the affected multinational companies have already signaled they are prepared to comply with the new requirement once a clear legal framework is put in place.

    The proposed tax would apply to a wide range of online transactions carried out by these foreign firms, including paid user subscriptions, short-term rental bookings facilitated through digital platforms, and digital advertising services sold to local clients. Right now, DGII technical teams are conducting a thorough review of the country’s existing Tax Code to determine whether current legislation already grants the agency authority to implement the tax, or if new congressional legislation will be required to move forward.

    This effort marks the resurrection of a 2025 policy attempt that ultimately failed: the original regulation, laid out in Decree 30-25, was later repealed by the Dominican government. Despite that earlier setback, Urrutia made clear the agency remains committed to advancing the policy, noting that foreign digital companies have no logical claim to tax exemption in the country. The DGII intends to finalize formal collection agreements with affected platforms regardless of whether legislative amendments are required, he added.

    Beyond the new digital tax proposal, the DGII is also pursuing broader systemic reform to modernize and simplify the Dominican national tax system. A key focus of these ongoing reforms is an overhaul of the country’s Simplified Tax Regime (RST), with the dual goal of easing compliance burdens for small and medium taxpayers and strengthening the overall competitiveness of the domestic business environment without sacrificing government revenue.

  • Punta Cana to welcome LatinoSan 2026 for first Caribbean edition

    Punta Cana to welcome LatinoSan 2026 for first Caribbean edition

    The Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic is set to enter the regional history books when it welcomes policymakers, experts and stakeholders from across the hemisphere to the VII Latin American Sanitation Conference, better known as LatinoSan 2026, scheduled to run from June 2 to 4, 2026 in the coastal resort hub of Punta Cana. This milestone marks the first time the conference has been hosted by a country from the Caribbean region, opening new opportunities to center the unique water, sanitation and hygiene challenges faced by small island and coastal developing nations of the area.

    First launched in 2007, the landmark triennial forum has grown into the region’s most prominent gathering focused on advancing universal access to clean water and functional sanitation. Every three years, it draws a diverse cross-section of attendees, including cabinet-level government ministers, senior public officials, leading academic researchers, representatives from multilateral international organizations, and civil society advocates working on the ground to expand access to basic services. The core mission of every LatinoSan gathering is to foster collaborative dialogue around cutting-edge, actionable solutions that can close persistent access gaps across Latin America and the Caribbean.

    For the 2026 iteration, event organizers are targeting tangible progress that will shape regional policy for years to come. They anticipate the conference will produce renewed political commitments from participating governments, drive meaningful regulatory reforms to strengthen sanitation systems, and unlock targeted investment plans designed to deliver on the global goal of universal, equitable access to safe sanitation services for all communities.

    Centered on the overarching theme “Innovation, Inclusion and Resilience: Sanitation that Drives Health, Equity and Sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the 2026 conference agenda will cover a broad range of pressing topics spanning the full sanitation ecosystem. Discussion tracks will address the divergent sanitation needs of urban centers and isolated rural communities, examine gaps and opportunities in governance and sustainable financing frameworks, explore strategies to build climate-resilient sanitation infrastructure, and unpack the interconnected relationships between sanitation systems, the Caribbean’s tourism sector, biodiversity conservation, and the fast-growing blue economy.

    The event will be hosted at the Convention Center of the Barceló Bávaro Palace in Punta Cana, with co-organizing leadership from the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Public Health and the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA). The Inter-American Development Bank is providing key institutional and financial support for the conference. Confirmed senior leaders attending the opening and core sessions include Dominican Republic Health Minister Víctor Atallah and INAPA Executive Director Wellington Arnaud.

  • Dominican Republic takes co-presidency of global transport decarbonization coalition

    Dominican Republic takes co-presidency of global transport decarbonization coalition

    LEIPZIG, GERMANY – At the Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF) held in Leipzig this week, the Dominican Republic officially stepped into the co-presidency of a landmark global climate initiative: the Ministerial Declaration on “Towards Resilient and Low-Emission Transport Systems for People, Development and the Planet.”

    First launched at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, this declaration unites nations around a coordinated global push to decarbonize the transport sector, an industry responsible for more than one-fifth of all global carbon dioxide emissions. The initiative fills a critical gap in global climate action, bringing together national governments, international organizations, and local stakeholders to align policy, investment, and innovation toward cleaner mobility systems.

    Leading the Dominican delegation at the summit, Sara González Troncoso reaffirmed the Caribbean nation’s ambitious domestic climate targets for the transport sector. By 2035, the country has committed to cutting transport energy consumption by 25%, while ensuring that at least 33% of all energy used in the sector comes from renewable sources and sustainable biofuels. These targets position the Dominican Republic as a leading emerging economy in the transition to sustainable mobility.

    As the new co-president of the initiative, the Dominican delegation presented its detailed 2026–2027 work roadmap to the ITF summit audience. Key priorities laid out in the plan include establishing a permanent secretariat to support the coalition’s daily operations, expanding membership to bring in more nations and stakeholder organizations from across the Global North and Global South, and working to ensure progress in low-emission transport is formally recognized and tracked in the 2028 UNFCCC Global Stocktake, the global assessment of climate action progress.

    The appointment underscores the Dominican Republic’s growing global profile in sustainable mobility policy. The country is already a signatory to the Global Memorandum of Understanding for Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, and it is advancing transformative urban transport projects in its capital, Santo Domingo. Through partnerships with the Sustainable Urban Mobility Program and the global MobiliseYourCity platform, the nation is building clean bus rapid transit corridors, expanding its metro network, and developing new urban cable car systems to expand affordable, low-emission mobility for all residents.

  • Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez reaffirms support for Bolivia’s democratic institutions

    Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez reaffirms support for Bolivia’s democratic institutions

    During a recent virtual meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council, the Dominican Republic made a clear, firm stand on the unfolding political crisis in Bolivia, officially rejecting all efforts to destabilize the country’s constitutional order and reaffirming its unwavering support for the democratic mandate established by Bolivian voters in the 2025 general election.

    Speaking on behalf of the Dominican government at the regional body’s session, Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez opened his remarks by voicing profound alarm over the intersecting political, social and humanitarian crises currently roiling Bolivia. He pointed specifically to ongoing disruptive actions including widespread road blockades, widespread interruptions to critical public services, and frequent violent clashes between rival groups, emphasizing that these destabilizing acts place the heaviest burden on Bolivia’s most marginalized and vulnerable communities, who lack the resources to cushion themselves against the chaos.

    Álvarez went on to underscore the full democratic legitimacy of current Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz and his administration, noting that the government took power through a transparent, widely recognized electoral process. He stressed that no matter how deep political and social divides may run in the country, all disagreements must be channeled through established democratic institutions, rather than through force, intimidation, or overt attempts to overthrow the constitutional order.

    The Dominican foreign minister also extended tangible solidarity to Bolivian households that have been pushed into hardship by widespread shortages of essential goods, including food, fuel, and life-saving medication, all of which have been exacerbated by the ongoing unrest. He commended the current Bolivian government for its active efforts to open inclusive dialogue with diverse social and economic sectors across the country, framing these outreach efforts as clear proof that negotiated, mutually acceptable solutions are within reach when all parties are committed to prioritizing national stability over partisan gain.

    Additionally, Álvarez recognized the critical humanitarian support provided by Argentina and other partner nations that have worked to speed the delivery of emergency aid supplies to vulnerable populations in Bolivia. He characterized this cross-border assistance as a powerful model of constructive hemispheric cooperation that serves the shared interest of protecting civilian well-being across the region.

    In closing, the Dominican Republic reiterated its core position that open dialogue, respect for democratic institutions, and collective regional solidarity are three irreplaceable pillars for restoring calm to Bolivia and safeguarding both the fundamental rights and long-term well-being of the Bolivian people.