AGP Executive Report

Regional Funding: The United States announced more than US$340 million for Caribbean and Central American programs, including support for digital connectivity, port security and efforts to combat transnational crime. The Dominican Republic joined 15 Caribbean countries at the talks. Extraditions: Acting President Raquel Peña ordered three Dominican citizens extradited to the United States on separate cases involving alleged cocaine trafficking, murder and fraud. Air Links: Breeze Airways plans to start year-round, twice-weekly flights between Tampa and Santo Domingo on June 18, 2027, adding to new competition on the route. Tourism: Tourism Minister David Collado promoted the country in Houston, meeting with more than 200 travel industry representatives as the government seeks to grow visitors from a priority U.S. market. Public Health: Health officials urged dengue prevention despite 396 confirmed cases through epidemiological week 39, a level they say remains below the expected threshold. Culture Abroad: President Luis Abinader said funding for a Dominican House of Culture in Italy will begin in January 2027, with the center intended to connect diaspora youth with Dominican traditions.

Haiti and Security: A UN report details how Dominican ammunition was diverted to Haitian gangs, as the Security Council renewed sanctions targeting gang weapons and financing. President Luis Abinader also discussed Haiti’s crisis with Vatican officials. Public Finances: Non-financial public-sector debt rose by more than US$6 billion in eight months, exceeding the country’s full education budget. Tourism: The country welcomed 9.24 million visitors from January to September, up 7.5% year over year; officials are promoting golf tourism, and Breeze Airways plans to add Santo Domingo to its network in 2027. Environment: The government presented a regional declaration to develop sustainable ways to manage and reuse sargassum. Culture: RD Fashion Week opened with a tribute to designer Leonel Lirio’s 40-year career. Legal: Spanish prosecutors say a new complaint over alleged abuse of two former employees at Julio Iglesias’s properties in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas may be heard in Madrid. Iglesias denies the allegations.

Italy Partnership: President Luis Abinader and Italian officials signed a cooperation declaration covering trade, investment, security and infrastructure, as Abinader pitched the Dominican Republic as a regional business hub. Public Finances: Government debt rose US$6.1 billion in the first eight months of 2026, exceeding the education ministry’s annual budget. Energy and Environment: Scientists and UASD are urging the planned removal of power barges from a protected area in Azua, citing marine deaths, pollution and community complaints. Travel: Aerodom expects 1.9 million international seats this winter, up 4.9%, with eight new destinations; Breeze Airways also plans to add Santo Domingo to its network in 2027. Diplomacy: The Dominican Republic was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council for 2027–29. Legal Affairs: Spanish prosecutors now support a court examining abuse allegations by two former employees against singer Julio Iglesias, who denies them; the alleged events took place at properties in the Dominican Republic and Bahamas. Telecoms: Indotel secured about RD$44 million in Swedish funding for spectrum planning and satellite-service regulation.

Air Travel: Breeze will launch twice-weekly Tampa–Santo Domingo flights in June 2027. American Airlines is reportedly closing its Santo Domingo reservations and customer-service office, though its ticket-sales center will remain open. Regional Cooperation: The Dominican Republic hosts more than 20 countries today and Friday for talks on regulatory reform, including AI and simpler public services; it will host the Caribbean Investment Forum in 2027. Health: A new report highlights cancer patients’ waits of up to three months for diagnosis and the steep cost of treatment, which can rise from about US$12,000 in early stages to US$30,000 in advanced cases. Tourism & Economy: The country is on track for a record 12.4 million visitors this year, with arrivals topping 9.2 million through September. Education & Culture: Fundación Cortés has brought its arts, literacy and mental-health program to the DR, starting with activities for 115 students and community members. RD Fashion Week opens today, with a tribute to designer Leonel Lirio’s 40-year career. Church: Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán succeeds Francisco Ozoria as Santo Domingo’s archbishop and assumes the military ordinary role.

Municipal Services: The government delivered 50 more garbage trucks to municipalities, bringing its total under the program to 100. Worker Safety: The Labor Ministry warned Dominicans to verify overseas job offers, citing reports of people recruited for civilian work in Russia who later faced risks linked to the war. Cost of Living: A study found nearly four in ten workers live in working poverty, with household earnings too low to cover basic costs. Public Services: About half of eligible Dominicans have renewed their national ID cards; the old cards expire in March 2027. A proposed “Mirabal Law” would coordinate state services to protect women from violence. Diplomacy: President Luis Abinader promoted investment in Rome and highlighted the country’s democratic record in Prague. UN Role: The Dominican Republic won another term on the Human Rights Council, in an uncontested vote criticized by rights groups for lacking competitive races.

UN Role: The Dominican Republic won a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2027–29, though rights groups criticized the election of 15 members without competitive races. President Luis Abinader also highlighted the country’s democratic progress in Prague. Clean Energy: The government signed an agreement with IRENA to speed renewable-energy development and support the regional goal of tripling capacity by 2030. Healthcare: Cancer patients can wait up to three months for diagnosis, specialists warn, delaying treatment and leaving more people to arrive at clinics with advanced disease. Weather and Safety: The COE placed eight provinces, including Santo Domingo, under green alert for rain and storms. Several earthquakes were also recorded, including a 3.9-magnitude tremor near La Romana. Tourism and Economy: The country is on track for a record 12.4 million visitors this year, while remittances reached $9.49 billion through September. Regional Security: A UN experts’ report says ammunition diverted from Dominican military and police stocks reached Haitian gangs.

Santo Domingo: The capital’s 27 de Febrero Boulevard is set for a major renovation, with new sidewalks, shade, lighting and safer tunnel routes. The project aims to create a continuous pedestrian link between Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln avenues by August 2027. Tourism: The Dominican Republic welcomed 9.24 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 7.5% year over year, and is on track to top 12.4 million by year’s end. Diplomacy: President Luis Abinader traveled to Prague for the Forum 2000 democracy conference, with further meetings planned in Italy and at the Vatican. The country was also re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council for a term beginning in January 2027. Trade and investment: DP World is expanding its Dominican port, air-cargo and logistics network to strengthen the country’s role as a regional trade and manufacturing hub. Economy: Remittances reached US$9.49 billion through September, a 6.5% increase from the same period last year. Security: A UN experts’ report links ammunition diverted from the Dominican Republic to Haitian gangs, intensifying scrutiny of weapons controls.

U.S. Shooting: Dominican Oscar Belgal, shot by an ICE agent in New York, remains in detention with a bullet lodged in his neck; his lawyers say he urgently needs surgery and has not received adequate food or medical care. Regional Ties: In Rome, President Luis Abinader and Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez discussed energy, tourism and consular cooperation, including possible Dominican purchases of Venezuelan fuel. They also proposed a baseball series between the countries. Food Security: At the World Food Forum, Abinader called the Dominican Republic’s removal from the FAO Hunger Map his proudest achievement, citing undernourishment below 2.5% in 2025. Arms Diversion: A UN report says 908,001 rounds were diverted from Dominican police stocks in 2024, with some ammunition linked to gangs in Haiti; investigators could not determine how much crossed the border. Agriculture: The opposition PLD urged the government to present a plan for rice producers after it repealed a decree protecting domestic production from U.S. imports. Digital Government: A new decree requires coordination and technical review of major state technology investments to reduce duplication and strengthen data security.

Abinader in Rome: President Luis Abinader is attending the World Food Forum and is set to receive FAO’s Agricultural Medal for efforts to combat hunger. His planned meeting with Pope Leo XIV may be disrupted by the pontiff’s scheduled surgery. Haiti Security: A UN experts’ report says Dominican military and police ammunition reached Haitian gangs, including 400 Mawozo, raising questions about controls on state stockpiles and cross-border trafficking. Economy and Power: The IMF projects 3.7% growth for the Dominican economy in 2026, while state electricity distributors face mounting losses as energy purchases rise and distribution failures persist. Regional Cooperation: ECLAC’s 41st session in Santiago de los Caballeros ended with calls to turn regional agreements into practical development policies. Cycling: The Caribbean road championships in Santo Domingo brought regional medals, including under-23 gold for Trinidad and Tobago’s Jadian Neaves and a women’s elite road-race victory for Dominican rider Raquel Restitullo.

UN Seat: The Dominican Republic is poised to win a three-year seat on the UN Human Rights Council, alongside Brazil and Uruguay, in an uncontested Latin American and Caribbean slate. Cycling: Santo Domingo’s Caribbean championships brought a Dominican victory: Raquel Restitullo won the women’s elite road race, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Jadian Neaves took U-23 gold. Air Travel: Arajet carried 158,407 passengers to and from the country in September, ranking second behind JetBlue and ahead of American Airlines. Energy: Regional officials meeting in Santo Domingo called for long-term grid planning as electricity demand across Latin America and the Caribbean is projected to rise 156% by 2050. Health: A new high-cost medicines fund is set to provide full coverage for 13 treatments, with about 6,447 patients expected to benefit. Road Safety: Motorcyclists account for 70% to 80% of traffic deaths in the Dominican Republic, the country’s traffic-safety directorate says. Tourism: Bayahíbe and La Romana led hotel occupancy in September at 78%, ahead of Bávaro-Punta Cana’s 56%.

Air Travel: Arajet carried 158,407 passengers to and from the Dominican Republic in September, ranking second behind JetBlue and ahead of American Airlines. Tourism: Bayahíbe and La Romana led the country in September hotel occupancy at 78%, well above Bávaro-Punta Cana’s 56%. Health: A proposed high-cost medicines fund would provide full coverage for 13 treatments, worth up to RD$16 million per patient annually, and could benefit about 6,447 people. Road Safety: Motorcyclists account for 70% to 80% of traffic deaths, Digesett’s spokesperson said, citing risky driving, poor vehicle maintenance and road conditions as key concerns. Energy: A new IRENA partnership launched in Santo Domingo aims to turn regional renewable-energy plans into projects and investment. Migration Oversight: Amnesty International is demanding an independent investigation into the death of a young man during an immigration operation in the Dominican Republic.

Migration and Rights: Amnesty International is demanding an independent investigation into the October 3 death of a young man of possible Haitian origin during a migration operation in Punta Cana. Separately, the Migration Directorate said it detained 2,336 foreign nationals and deported 1,846 in one day. Fuel and Health: Premium gasoline rises RD$5 to RD$358.10 per gallon and optimal diesel RD$12 to RD$318.10 for the week, while the government is making more than 400,000 free flu shots available at over 1,350 centers. Public Funds: President Luis Abinader says RD$2 billion recovered from corruption will fund 40 sports projects nationwide. Regional Energy: Santo Domingo hosted the region’s OLACDE energy forum, where leaders called for closer cooperation on energy security and sustainable planning; a new magazine also spotlights investment ties between Guyana and the Dominican Republic. Dominican Diaspora: A U.S. judge blocked the deportation of Oscar Bergal, a Dominican man shot by ICE agents in the Bronx, as officials and New York leaders dispute the circumstances of the shooting.

Migration and Rights: Amnesty International called for an independent investigation into the death of a young man of possible Haitian origin, reportedly shot during a migration operation in Punta Cana on Oct. 3. The Migration Directorate, meanwhile, said it detained 2,336 foreign nationals and deported 1,846 in one day. Dominicans Abroad: A Dominican man was shot by ICE during an arrest in New York’s Bronx while a five-year-old was in his car. Federal officials said agents feared he was driving toward them; a judge has blocked his deportation as the incident draws protests and calls for an investigation. Government: President Luis Abinader said RD$2 billion in recovered corruption funds will finance 40 sports projects nationwide. Prices: Premium gasoline rises RD$5 and optimal diesel RD$12 per gallon for the week, while other listed fuel prices remain unchanged under government subsidies. Public Health: More than 400,000 free flu vaccine doses are available at over 1,350 centers, with priority for older adults, pregnant women, young children and people with chronic conditions. Trade: Shipping company Accordia is adding Caucedo to its Florida–Dominican Republic route, expanding cargo options on the country’s south coast.

Bronx Shooting: Newly released surveillance video shows plainclothes federal agents approaching Oscar Belgal’s car shortly before an ICE agent shot the Dominican national in the neck. A 5-year-old child was in the vehicle but was not hurt. DHS says Belgal rammed vehicles and drove toward officers; a federal judge has blocked his immediate deportation while his legal challenge proceeds. Haiti Arms Trail: A UN report says ammunition linked to Dominican military and police stocks was found with Haiti’s 400 Mawozo gang. Dominican lawmakers are calling for an investigation into how it crossed the border and who may be responsible. Human Trafficking: The Dominican Republic advanced to Tier 2 in efforts to combat trafficking, according to a recent report. Tourism: The country has welcomed 9.2 million visitors this year, with September arrivals topping 533,000 as officials highlight Puerto Plata’s recovery.

Bronx Shooting: NYPD body-camera footage shows officers tending to Oscar Belgal, a 28-year-old Dominican man shot by ICE in New York, after the encounter. Police say an agent fired seven rounds; Belgal’s five-year-old son was in the car but unharmed. DHS says agents did not know the child was there and alleges Belgal drove at officers. The shooting is under investigation. Human Trafficking: The Dominican Republic moved up to Tier 2 in the U.S. trafficking assessment, which cited more investigations, labor inspections and victim-protection efforts. Ammunition in Haiti: Dominican authorities are investigating how ammunition of Dominican origin cited in a UN report reached Haiti; its route and any responsibility remain unknown. Rice Industry: A USDA report says the Dominican Republic has narrowed its rice-production cost gap with the U.S., crediting improved yields, irrigation and farming practices. Consumer Alert: Pro Consumidor warned buyers to stop using recalled electric balloon pump model 406198 over overheating and fire risks.

Dominican Diaspora: A Dominican man was shot by a U.S. immigration agent during an arrest operation in New York. He was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries; a 5-year-old in the car was unharmed. The shooting prompted protests, and officials have not explained what led the agent to fire. Regional Diplomacy: At the ECLAC session in Santiago de los Caballeros, Venezuelan and Dominican foreign ministers agreed to work toward gradually restoring bilateral ties. Trade: Dominican-Brazilian trade reached US$1 billion in 2025, but remains heavily tilted toward Brazilian exports, the countries’ chamber of commerce warned. Tourism: The Dominican Republic welcomed about 9.24 million visitors through September, while officials highlighted Puerto Plata’s recovery. Energy: The government plans to tender more than 2,500 megawatts of power generation and battery storage projects by 2028.