PUERTO PLATA.- An infinite number of citizens flocked to La Puntilla on the local boardwalk of Puerto Plata to admire the majestic ship “Odyssey of The Seas” which is one of the largest tourist cruises in the world.
In the area of the Colonial San Felipe fortress, a large crowd of people from all social classes got together, as well as hundreds of visitors from peripheral communities and other provinces of the country. The vessel owned by the Royal Caribbean International company docked at the Taíno Bay terminal at 8:10 in the morning from Cococay in the Bahamas, after setting sail from its home Port in Miami’s Fort Lauderdale.
The “Odyssey of The Seas” cruise ship is 348 meters long by 41 meters wide and has 16 decks, has a capacity for 4,805 passengers as it accommodates 2,137 cabins and a crew of 1,551 people. The aforementioned ship left Puerto Plata late afternoon on Thursday, December 30, with the presence of the crowd of Puerto Plata citizens seeing it off with shouts and lit cell phones.
Source: Puerto Plata Digital
Jan 3, 2022
The Emergency Operations Center (COE) reports that the Christmas and New Year safety operation “Awareness for Life 2021-2022” ended with 16 deaths for traffic accidents, alcohol intoxication, and food poisoning, 31.25% less than in 2020.
Another 15 deaths occurred outside the COE operation realm, for a total of 26 deaths over the holidays.
For the second phase of the holiday safety operation, for the New Year celebrations, there were 102 traffic accidents (from 2 pm on 30 Dec 2021 to 6 pm on 1 January 2022). 81 of these accidents involved motorcyclists. As a consequence of the traffic accidents, six persons died. 124 persons were directly involved in the traffic accidents. The COE reports 250 alcohol intoxications, yet no deaths for alcohol intoxication. 16 food poisonings are reported.
For the first phase of the operation, 122 traffic accidents were reported (from 2 pm on 23 December 2021 to 6 pm on 25 December 2021). There were 5 deaths in the road accidents, 150 persons were directly affected by the traffic accidents. There were 301 alcohol intoxications, no deaths for these, and 101 food poisonings.
The authorities report an additional 15 fatalities for reasons other than traffic accidents, alcohol intoxications, and food poisonings.
The authorities report 12,222 assistance cases were provided to some 4,712,000 domestic travelers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
The provinces that registered the most cases were: Santo Domingo 14.7%, National District 11.6%, Santiago 11.1%, and Duarte (San Francisco de Macorís) 6.25%.
The Transit Safety and Land Transportation Agency (Digesett) carried out roadblocks on the Duarte highway from Santiago, on the Coral highway from Punta Cana, and in the south from Baní, on the Sanchez highway, to ensure the safety of the return of thousands of people who traveled to the interior for the holidays.
Source: DR1, COE
Jan 3, 2022
Tourists returning from a vacation in Samana as of 1 January 2022 paid less for the return drive. The Ministry of Public Works and Communications announced the new lower tolls are in effect as of 1 January 2022 at the toll stations Autopista del Nordeste (Juan Pablo ll) and Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico toll stations.
The announcement follows the termination of the contract of the Dominican government with the builders and operators of the controversial Samana road. President Luis Abinader had said there would be an overall reduction of 20% in tolls when announcing the rescission of the contract with Autopistas del Nordeste consortium on 9 December 2021. Traffic on the road is estimated to increase 5%-10% with the reduction of the tolls.
As per the new rates, cars and SUVs will pay RD$400 at the Catey toll station, or RD$185 less. RD$200 at the Guaraguao toll, or RD$36 less. RD$60 at the Marbella toll, or RD$3.00 less.
Source: DR1, ListinDiario
Jan 3, 2022
