Archive for August, 2023
Government to inject RD$15 billion into Pedernales highway
Works Minister Deligne Ascencion revealed that the Abinader administration is dedicating RD$15 billion to rebuild and expand the highways linking the southwestern area known as the Deep South.
This major effort is part of the plan to put the region on the international tourism map, especially the area of Pedernales and the Bahia de las Aguilas. As the minister toured the area between Enriquillo and Pedernales, accompanied by reporters and the head of the Public–Private Alliance, Sigmund Freund, he noted that much of the road network will be completed by the end of 2023, when the first of the cruise liners docked at Cabo Rojo are scheduled to arrive.
The government officials also toured the sites of several hotels that were under construction. All this is part of the administration’s stated goal of revitalizing the border area.
Source: DR1, Listin Diario
Aug 2, 2023
Sunfarming Food & Energy to build 50 Mw photovoltaic agro-energy complex
The National Energy Commission (CNE) approved the German-owned Agro-energy and Innovative Complex for Photovoltaic Energy Generation and Agricultural Production Sunfarming Food & Energy 50 Mw to operate in Peravia province. The CNE release does not specify the farm produce of the new venture.
Edward Veras, executive director of the CNE, signed for the Dominican government, and Andreas Lorenz for Sunfarming Dom. Rep. Invest, SRL, the concessionaire company in charge of developing the agro-energy complex.
The venture is located in Cerro Gordo area, Monte Andrés section, Baní municipality, Peravia province. It will have the capacity to feed 50 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to the national electrical grid.
The concession is granted for 25 years from the date of the signing.
Source: Dr1, Sun Farming
Aug 2, 2023
The Dominican fence will change security efforts on the border with Haiti
The 164-kilometer fence the Ministry of Defense reports it is building along the Dominican-Haitian border is destined to change the situation of border security according to the Dominican military. Border physical barriers are being built in sections of the five border provinces – Pedernales, Independencia, Elías Piña, Dajabón, and Montecristi.
The military authorities say that 883 military, 28 pick-ups, 20 buggies, and 48 motorcycles are allocated for the patrol of the fence. These will be reinforced in August by 500 additional military, and another contingent of 1,300 in November, announced Dominican Army deputy commander, General Angel Camacho Ubiera, deputy commander of the Dominican Army, in a report in Diario Libre.
Camacho Ubiera spoke during the wrap-up of a recent symposium on “Security and frontier defense.” The authorities analyzed the major challenges to national security in the current geo-political scenario. Issues such as drug and human trafficking, and illegal arms trafficking were among those discussed.
The fence stretches in sections from the Atlantic coast of the island to the Caribbean coast. Camacho Ubiera called the construction historic. Previously, there were no physical borders, except on the main road checkpoints.
General Camacho Ubiera says with the fence in place, criminal groups will have a more difficult time carrying out their operations.
He said the Army is remodeling all of its installations along the border with Haiti and the government is making available funds for equipping the troops.
The announcements come at a time with muckraking online news portal Somos Pueblo has alerted of irregularities in the contracting of border technology for the fence with Canadian-Haitians.
Source: DR1, DiarioLibre
Aug 2, 2023
US Senate discusses Haiti on 3 August 2023
The Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Senator Bob Menéndez has convened for a Thursday, 3 August 2023 meeting to focus on the crisis in Haiti.
During the hearing, US Assistant Secretary of State, Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols, is scheduled to testify before the special meeting of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss the ongoing socio-economic and political situation in Haiti.
Marcela Escobari, the assistant administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean with the United States Agency for International Development is also scheduled to testify during the meeting. She is expected to address possible next steps for a collective response.
In a new development, Kenya in Africa has come forth to volunteer to send a contingent of 1,000 troops to reinforce the Police in Haiti. Kenya is a country that at home is confronting serious social unrest.
The official US Senate website confirmed Thursday’s meeting, indicating it will focus specifically on reviewing the situation in the Western Hemisphere, with an emphasis on the crisis in Haiti and steps the international community can implement to bring support and stability to the region.
Source: DR1, Haiti Libre
Aug 2, 2023
Ban on capturing turtles
The Presidency of the Dominican Republic has ordered a 10-year ban on the capture of turtles. Tourists can contribute by not purchasing arts and crafts with turtle shells. The presidential order is in Decree 285-23.
Source: DR1, Presidency
Aug 2, 2023
Last updated January 23, 2026 at 4:16 pm