PUERTO PLATA.- Several homes and commercial establishments were reduced to ashes by a voracious fire registered in a sector of the municipality of Sosúa. The incident that left losses amounting to more than one million pesos took place in the area known as “La Policlínica” del Batey in Sosúa, where several families, the vast majority of Haitian nationality, were left with only the clothes they had on.
A heartbreaking scene was observed in the place where timid columns of smoke rose from the burned wood of the destroyed houses, whose grave goods were reduced to ashes, and miraculously no people were injured. With tears streaming down his face, master builder Daniel Eladius Methielux, who has been legally residing in the country for 24 years, narrated that all his belongings were burned, including his family’s identity documents. He explained that the accident occurred in the early morning hours when everyone slept and barely escaped alive, burning their savings (cash), clothes, shoes, furniture, and even his immigration permit.
Likewise, the young Kelna Jean stated that she came to the country as a child and became literate here where she formed her family and to survive she had a small clothing and footwear store, which was devoured by the flames. The bricklayer Charles Pierret said that this misfortune leaves them in a very difficult situation since they lost even the food they had bought at the beginning of the current week for the traditional Christmas Eve dinner.
Regarding this sad event, the families who lost everything implore the help of the authorities and people with a good heart, who for charitable donations can contact the phones: (829) 573 3685 and (809) 849 8133.
According to the report by the communicator Wellington De Jesús Martinez, the rapid intervention of firefighters from Sosúa, Puerto Plata Air Base, Montellano, and Cabarete, put down the fire that is presumed could have been caused by an electrical short circuit.
Air Belgium flew its inaugural flight to Punta Cana International Airline on 15 December 2021. The direct and regular flight arrived with sun-seeking passengers from Brussels Airport (Zaventem). The airline is offering two weekly direct flights to Punta Cana every Wednesday and Saturday.
The Belgium airline offers its passengers a full service in its three travel classes: economy, premium, and business.
The airline says the flight is in response to demand from its passengers looking to travel to the Caribbean’s most popular destinations. After a short stop in Punta Cana, the same flight continues to Curacao.
Air Belgium offers direct intercontinental flights from Belgium at competitive fares for business and leisure travelers with a robust Belgian identity.
Air Belgium’s main operational base is located at Brussels Charleroi Airport. Air Belgium also operates from other airports in Belgium and Europe.
Air Canada has resumed its regular flights between Toronto (YYZ) and Santo Domingo (SDQ). The leading Canadian airline is flying to Santo Domingo on Tuesday and Thursdays offering its premium rouge and economy sections. The inaugural flight of this service was on Thursday, 16 December 2021.
The new and direct is part of the reopening of the Canadian market to tourism to the Dominican Republic, after more than 15 months of interrupted air traffic between the DR and Canada due to Covid-19 restrictions.
WestJet had already resumed flights in October, bringing sun-seeking tourists to Puerto Plata. The airline upped its flight frequencies to daily flights from the Toronto International Airport.
WestJet also flies to Punta Cana and has weekly flights to Samana.
Another Canadian airline, Swoop Airline is new this year, bringing tourists from Toronto to Punta Cana International Airport. Swoop is a Canadian ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) owned by WestJet. It officially began flights in 2018.
The inaugural route connecting Toronto Pearson Airport and Punta Cana International Airport arrived on 5 November 2021. The twice-weekly frequency meets the demand for flights from the cosmopolitan Canadian City.
Bert Van Der Stege, Swoop’s commercial and financial officer, says that demand for air travel continues to grow. The company is confident the new air service will be popular with travelers and will support the rebound of tourism in the Punta Cana area.
Air Transat also has scheduled service to Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, and Samana from Toronto, Canada.
Sunwing has plans to return to the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana and Puerto Plata) from Canada in March 2022.
President Luis Abinader attended the reopening of the Senator Resort in Maimón, Puerto Plata on 16 December 2021.
The president of the Senator hotel chain, José María Rossell said the reopening speaks of the confidence placed in this tourist destination. However, he said more flights need to land at the Puerto Plata International Airport to boost the tourist destination.
Rosell said the company invested US$100 million to purchase the old facility and another US$40 million in remodeling.
The US Embassy in the Dominican Republic announced that effective 27 December 2021, the passport security surcharge fee is increasing by US$20. Passports for children will now be US$135, passports for those renewing will be US$130. Adults who apply in person will be charged US$165.
The US Embassy is encouraging US citizens to renew their passports by mail through Domex, the local delivery service. The criteria for the Domex service is that the person is in possession of the previous US passport book. Also that the person must be at least 16 years old when the most recent US passport was issued. Also that the most recent US passport was issued less than 15 years ago. And that the previous US passport was issued under the current legal name of the applicant.
The US Embassy says that most approved passports are turned to the applicant in 4-6 weeks from the date of application.
To renew the passport by mail/courier and how to pay the passport fees, see US Embassy
