Archive for November, 2022
Police minimum wage now at RD$20,433
President Luis Abinader ordered an increase to the minimum wage received by a police agent in the Dominican Republic. The wage will now be RD$20,443. This compares to the minimum wage of RD$10,500 paid to police agents at the change of government, in August 2020.
The minimum wage will be increased to RD$25,000, with the additional funds allotted in the 2023 National Budget.
Police agents have also been receiving several perks, including free university education plans, free transport on the Metro, improved medical insurance, and housing plans.
Source: DR1, El Nuevo Diario
Nov 28, 2022
US bombshell prohibition of La Romana sugar stirs major responses
The most impactful news of the past week and over the weekend was the announcement by the United States government that sugar from the American-owned La Romana Sugar Corporation would no longer be accepted in any US port. The note alleged labor issues as the key point. Local reaction was swift, to say the least.
Agriculture Minister Limber Cruz said that there was no evidence of any sort of abuse against workers as alleged in the original note, and he stressed the importance of the US market for domestic sugar. While admitting that “years ago” there were certainly some poor labor practices, these have long since been overcome.
The Central Romana itself was quick to react to the note issued by the Customs and Border Protection agency and published a point-by-point denial at the end of the week. Briefly, the accusations of “forced labor” were dismissed out of hand, as were the ideas of retained salaries, abusive working conditions, and too many working hours.
Referring to the accusation of abuse of worker vulnerability, La Romana noted that workers who are not familiar with Spanish are interviewed and hired by personnel who are fluent in Haitian Creole and French since the vast majority of these workers are from Haiti.
Regarding the question of workers being isolated from urban areas, it was noted that none of the areas that house sugarcane field workers are very far from the urban areas, and services for most needs are provided locally as well.
Salaries are certainly nowhere below average, and, in fact, are one of the biggest incentives to work at La Romana. Pay is made on a weekly basis, and bonuses and other incentives are paid on time and in full.
Other issues such as hours of work, living conditions, and benefits were noted point-by-point, and the company said that anyone can check on these statements.
Diario Libre interviewed workers at Central Romana who rejected the statements that lead to the ban on exports.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Nov 28, 2022
Issues between the UN, US government and the Dominican Republic
The Acento newsgroup has indicated that there are at least five issues that are causing problems between the United Nations, the United States, and the Dominican Republic. The elephant in the room is, of course, Haiti. The neighboring country is currently undergoing a chaotic period where law enforcement and public safety are mere words on paper. Massive and illegal immigration across a nearly open frontier is one instance that causes huge costs to the Dominican government.
President Luis Abinader has stated on both national and international podiums that the Dominican Republic is not the solution to the Haitian crisis.
Combined with the issue of deportations, contraband, and crime, the issues surrounding Haiti are certainly quite prominent. Making matters worse, most Haitians in Haiti are undocumented, creating a major security issue for the Dominican Republic.
Recently, the United States Embassy sent a note to the Dominican Republic questioning an alleged series of questioning for tourists of color from the United States. The embassy says some tourists were bothered by additional questioning by immigration agents. The Ministry of Foreign Relations rejected the accusations saying they were merely anecdotal.
Later on last week, the CNN news network reported massive deportation of unaccompanied minors, and this was also denied quite forcefully.
The Dominican Republic has rejected the construction of a refugee camp on Dominican territory, and Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez noted that it was for this reason that the Dominican government did not sign the Los Angeles Agreement at the Summit of the Americas.
Then there was the most recent move by the United States, whereby the sugar from the La Romana sugar mill is no longer to be allowed into the US, due to alleged labor issues. La Romana sugar mill is known to be the sugar company to offer the best conditions to its workers of the three major operations in the country.
Finally, as a result of the move against the La Romana Corporation, the monthly luncheon held by the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) was boycotted by the Dominican business community with a poor showing of government and business people, leaving the Amcham president Roberto Herrera struggling to find excuses, as the keynote speaker from the US Embassy watched a near-empty room.
José Monegro, executive editor of El Dia, on Twitter, shares his chronology of events leading up to the Central Romana embargo on sugar exports to the United States.
The sequence:
- The United States raises the UN support for military intervention in Haiti.
- It is proposed to look for a third country to receive Haitian refugees so that they do not go to the United States.
- Proposes to the DR to host refugee camps.
- The DR refuses to consider installing refugee camps.
- US Embassy issues a travel advisory warning the DR mistreats American citizens of color by confusing them with Haitians.
- Unicef claims that hundreds of unaccompanied children have been deported.
- The United States says workers are mistreated in sugar mills and bans sugar imports from Central Romana.
Read more in Spanish:
Acento
Nov 28, 2022
Gringo Car Rentals near Puerto Plata | Rent a Car for vacation | Airport Pick-up
Gringo Car Rentals is an American-owned company that offers a fleet of 15 cars/SUVs/jeepetas, such as Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Tahoe, and more, all vehicles are 2011 or newer.
- Run on gasoline
- Automatic gearbox
- Some cars are 4WD
- Camera for reversing
- Fully tinted windows
- Bluetooth
- WiFi box (optional)
- The interior is a combination of textile and leather
- 3rd party insurance is included (full insurance optional)
- 3 days is the minimum rental
- Free delivery/return to the Puerto Plata airport
Prices: Please inquire.
Contact details:
7 days a week between 7 am – 10 pm (DR time)
The office is in Cangrejo (between Sosua and Puerto Plata)
Sabaneta de Cangrejo, Casa Principal 2
WhatsApp: 1 829-983-1538 or 1 714-865-8708 (ask for Robert)
Cabarete Nutrition Club | Weight Loss Consultation
Cabarete Nutrition Club is a new establishment created to help you live a healthy and energetic life, located on the main street of Cabarete, across from Millenium Resort.
Tired of being overweight and having no energy? It takes 21 Days to form a habit… Are you Ready? “It’s not a Diet, It’s a Lifestyle Change”.
Sign up for your individual program!
What you will get is:
• customized meal plan
• one on one coaching
• daily home workouts
• weekly in-person workout
• grocery list
• recipes
• 24/7 online support chat
• prizes
• supplements
Online & Face-to-face consultation.
Contact details:
Whatsapp: 1 647-770-9726
Carr. Principal, Cabarete
next to Supermercado La Rosa
across from the Millenium resort
David’s Tire Shop & Oil Change Center in Sosua
David’s Tire Shop is a long-established business with car specialists in Sosua offering tire and express oil change services to customers. The center is located on the Sosua – Cabarete highway, km 2, next to Sosua Ocean Village.
- Sales of new and used tires
- Wheel alignment and balancing
- Service and sale of complete oil
- Computerized diagnosis and programming of sensors
- Brake service
- Change of shock absorbers
- Sale of automotive batteries
- Nitrogen for tires
- Front-end repairs and much more…
Open every day 8 am – 6 pm
Saturday 8 am – 3 pm
Sunday closed
Contact details:
Carretera Sosua – Cabarete, km 2, Sosua
across from Supermercado US1
Tel: 1 809-571-2500
Map: https://g.page/Davidtireshop00?share
Last updated January 23, 2026 at 4:16 pm