AGP Executive Report

CAC Games Update: USA-born T&T tennis player Dillon Beckles was eliminated in the men’s singles quarterfinals at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, falling 4-6 3-6 to Colombia’s Juan Sebastian Gomez. Dominican Sports Pride: Dominican judoka Esmeralda Damiano won gold in -70kg judo, while fellow Dominican Maikor Louis added bronze in -73kg; Francesca Pigozzi also took bronze in women’s water skiing tricks. Regional Medal Push: Venezuela added medals in rowing and open water, including a bronze in men’s short rowing pair and silver plus double bronze in the 3km open water finals. Public Justice Access: The Attorney General’s Office inaugurated a Comprehensive Justice Access Center in Bahoruco, including units for victims of gender-based and domestic violence. Tourism & Trade: Tourism Minister David Collado said recovering the Russian market is a priority, citing air connectivity limits; meanwhile, the U.S. imposed new tariffs on 60 countries, including the Dominican Republic, under forced-labor claims. Local Safety: Civil Defense continues searching for a man missing after he fell into the Caribbean Sea near España Avenue by the Juan Carlos bridge. Economy & Daily Life: Former President Danilo Medina criticized rising food costs, saying families are cutting meals; Father’s Day shopping reports slower sales than in past years. Crime & Enforcement: DNCD and the Public Ministry carried out raids in the east, arresting nine and seizing more than 3,580 grams of narcotics.

Santo Domingo 2026 Sports: The XXV Central American and Caribbean Games are in full swing, with Haiti officially opening its participation and marching behind flag-bearers Welington Ceneus and Ava Soon Lee. Local Health & Infrastructure: President Luis Abinader inaugurated the renovated Hacienda Estrella Municipal Hospital in Santo Domingo Norte, pledging better services for more than 60,000 residents. Migration Enforcement: Two Dominicans were arrested in Barahona for allegedly transporting 11 Haitians in irregular status; authorities seized cash and said the Haitians will be processed and repatriated. Public Safety & Transport: DNCD and the Public Ministry carried out raids in the east, arresting nine and seizing thousands of grams of drugs. Law & Rights Debate: Lawyer Eduardo Saint-Hilaire warned that parts of the new Penal Code could restrict freedom of expression and chill reporting. Medical Breakthrough: Cedimat performed the Dominican Republic’s first coronary intravascular balloon lithotripsy procedure for severely calcified coronary lesions. International Pressure on Trade: The U.S. launched a forced-labor trade investigation covering 60 economies, including the Dominican Republic and several Caribbean neighbors. Games Spotlight: Cabarete is ready to host surfing events, while Guyana’s archers and taekwondo athlete Ceili Peterson were named flag-bearers at the opening ceremony.

Santo Domingo 2026 Sports: Venezuela grabbed the first gold of the Games in Santo Domingo, with César Amaris and José Guipe winning men’s short rowing pair in Bonao’s Presa de Rincón (6:48.30). Open Water Spotlight: Paola Pérez repeated gold for Venezuela in the 10km open-water race at San Souci beach, finishing in 2:18:25.0. Local Housing & Rights: President Luis Abinader delivered 1,000 property title certificates in Los Frailes, saying the move gives legal security to more than 4,000 people and helps families access formal financing. Public Safety & Crime: DICRIM arrested an alleged homicide suspect in Punta de Villa Mella, recovering a white Honda Fit tied to the killing; three other alleged accomplices remain at large. Drugs Crackdown: DNCD and the Public Ministry carried out raids in the east, arresting nine and seizing over 3,580 grams of narcotics plus phones and scales. Road Safety Push: Movido warned that road deaths keep rising due to weak enforcement of mobility and traffic laws, calling for stronger controls and education. Weather Alert: Indomet warned of hot conditions with Saharan dust and isolated downpours, urging hydration and sun protection this Father’s Day weekend.

Central American & Caribbean Games (Santo Domingo 2026): The 25th edition kicks off in Santo Domingo with the first medals set for Saturday, as 22 sports begin action across venues nationwide, with organizers touting the Games’ 100-year milestone and major logistics push. Sports — Water Polo: Colombia booked the men’s water polo final after beating Mexico 16-11, setting up a gold-medal match against the winner of Puerto Rico vs. Cuba. Local Economy & Politics: The People’s Force warns of inflation, tighter cash liquidity, and rising quasi-fiscal debt, saying Central Bank figures through mid-July show pressure on households and small businesses. Seismic Safety: A Dominican civil-society group and technical experts highlighted the country’s seismic vulnerability, urging stronger earthquake education and building assessments. Trade — Forced Labor Tariffs: The U.S. moves ahead with new Section 301 forced-labor tariffs affecting 60 economies, with Dominican Republic imports among those facing higher duties. Agriculture — Cuba Eggs Deal: Santo Domingo resumes egg exports to Cuba, using a new maritime transport subsidy to keep shipments moving despite logistics hurdles. Culture & Lifestyle: Cardi B shares videos from a Dominican countryside trip as her kids show off Spanish.

Central American & Caribbean Games: Santo Domingo 2026 kicks into its first full day of competition Saturday, with finals and the first medals in six sports, while action begins across 22 disciplines and thousands of athletes from 37 countries descend on venues nationwide. Local Transport for the Games: OMSA is running a free “Connection service to the Parque del Este” route from Metro’s Concepción Bona station (July 24–Aug 8) and has 400 buses lined up for athletes and volunteers. Security Push: The National Police will deploy 500+ officers to protect Games venues, tourist zones, and high-traffic areas, coordinating with multiple agencies under a unified plan. Lawmakers Move on Culture: The Senate approved a Cultural Heritage Protection and Acquisition bill to safeguard Dominican tangible and intangible assets, plus other measures including a “Tomato Capital” designation for Azua. U.S. Tariffs & Forced Labor: The Dominican Republic issued Decree 502-26 to block imports linked to forced labor after the U.S. imposed a 12.5% tariff on Dominican goods. Passports at Airports: Citizens can now renew passports at five airports, including Las Américas and Punta Cana, supporting the rollout of biometric passports. Tech & Connectivity: Cathay Pacific adds Santo Domingo to its network via Madrid, boosting long-haul options for travelers. Earthquake Report: A 5.2 tremor was felt across the country late Thursday night with no reported damage or injuries.

Forced-Labor Tariffs Hit DR: The U.S. will add a 12.5% tariff on Dominican Republic imports starting Friday, as part of a broader forced-labor crackdown covering 60 economies under Section 301. Central American & Caribbean Games Spotlight: With the Santo Domingo 2026 opening ceremony set for July 24, the DR is pitching the Games as a tourism and luxury investment boost, citing RD$5 billion in venues and infrastructure and an expected 300,000 visitors. Sports, With Respect for Tragedy: Organizers say Venezuela will wear black crepe and Guyana will fly its flag at half mast during the Games after recent disasters. Local Justice Update: The Second Instruction Court ordered the PGR to pay over RD$7.5 million for failing to meet a court order to return seized assets. Pageant Countdown: Miss Universe Dominican Republic held its preliminary round with 35 candidates, setting up the final battle for the crown. Health & Emergency Prep: A drill at the Aquatic Complex tested emergency response plans for injuries during the Games.

US Tariffs on DR: The U.S. will start applying an additional 12.5% tariff on certain Dominican products from 12:01 a.m. Friday, with a limited in-transit exception—another blow as Washington expands forced-labor-related duties. Economy Watch: The Dominican economy grew 6.4% year-on-year in June, the strongest monthly expansion so far in 2026, led by mining, construction, free-zone manufacturing and services. Central American Games Build-Up: Santo Domingo 2026 is set to open Friday, with a DR delegation of 710 athletes out of 1,022 total, competing in 40 sports; organizers also ordered a 1:00 p.m. workday cutoff in Greater Santo Domingo to ease traffic. Diplomacy: The Dominican Republic recalled its ambassador to Nicaragua for consultations after Ortega said there will be no more elections. Security: A man accused of transporting 243 kilos of cocaine in Pedro Brand was ordered into three months of preventive detention. Aviation & Tourism: Puerto Plata’s Gregorio Luperón airport won its fourth ASQ award, while the CLAC aviation summit in Santo Domingo focused on boosting regional air connectivity. Sports & Culture: Jaylen Brown was spotted playing baseball in the Dominican Republic; Cardi B shared her kids’ countryside vacation in the DR.

Democracy Watch: The Dominican Republic condemned Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s claim that Nicaragua will hold no more elections, calling it a rejection of representative democracy and urging Managua to guarantee competitive, periodic voting. Sports Logistics for Santo Domingo 2026: Sky High Dominicana says it will fly in more than 1,435 athletes and delegation members for the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games, using Embraer 190 and Boeing 737-700 aircraft and extra arrangements for sports equipment. Climate & Energy Costs: ADIE warns climate change is already hitting the economy—about 1% of GDP annually, potentially rising to 10% in extreme events—and urges resilience upgrades for the national electricity system. Public Oversight: President Abinader created a Citizen Oversight Commission for the DO Sostenible solid-waste trust to monitor execution and publish recommendations. Justice System: The Senate approved Penal Code amendments, while prosecutors seek pretrial detention in a RD$12 million armored truck heist case in Monte Plata. Transit & Games Ready: The Santo Domingo Metro launched a commemorative rechargeable CAC Games card, and the opening is set for July 24 at Estadio Félix Sánchez.

Anti-Corruption Oversight: President Luis Abinader created a Citizen Oversight Commission for the DO Sostenible Trust to monitor solid-waste projects’ financial and physical execution, with public reports and an ethics commitment from members. Education Reform: Abinader says education will become a State policy to prepare students for AI, automation, and new technologies after a national consultation drew over 7,000 participants; Minerd also confirmed the 2026-2027 school year starts August 24. Santo Domingo 2026 Prep: The Games kick off July 24–Aug. 8, with medical coverage expanded by DAEH (70 ambulances, 300 staff) and transport plans rolling out; Cuba continues to build its delegation for the event. Migration & Accountability: DGM launched an internal probe after a viral video showed Haitian migrants being transported on a motorcycle by immigration agents in San Juan de la Maguana. Weather & Health: Air quality is expected to worsen from Canadian wildfire smoke plus Saharan dust, with hazy skies and hotter conditions through the weekend. Sports & Culture: Abinader inaugurated Porto Town Center in Arroyo Hondo, while Jaylen Brown visited the DR and Marileidy Paulino drew attention with a champion photo exhibition.

Central American Games Logistics: Santo Domingo 2026 organizers will ban public parking inside the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center and restrict entry to pre-identified operational vehicles, while enforcing no-stopping rules on key surrounding avenues. Anti-Corruption Push: The Dominican Republic is set to host the International Anti-Corruption Conference in December after a major improvement on the Corruption Perceptions Index, though experts warn judicial delays still block real sanctions. Education & Tech Skills: MESCYT and Casio signed an agreement to expand training in AI, robotics, science, math and other future-focused skills for teachers and students. Road Safety Training: Intrant graduated 58 more “Traffic Guardians” from its high school driver-safety program, bringing total trainees to 620. Food Security Milestone: FAO says the Dominican Republic has dropped below the 2.5% undernourishment threshold and is now off the World Hunger Map. Metro Safety Incident: EMT says a person entered the tracks at Juan Pablo Duarte station, triggering emergency protocols and an immediate platform evacuation. International Cooperation: DR and Chile signed an agreement to jointly investigate human trafficking, migrant smuggling and money laundering. Sports Tourism Boost: Asonahores highlights the CAC Games as a major tourism and economic multiplier for the country. Business/Real Estate: eXp Realty will hold its first Latin America eXpcon in Medellín in Spanish, listing the Dominican Republic among its CALA markets. World Cup Piracy Crackdown: The US DOJ seized 1,000+ domains used for illegal World Cup 2026 streaming, warning many illicit sites also carry malicious software.

Central American Games Countdown: Water polo kicked off at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center and badminton starts July 23 as Santo Domingo 2026 officially begins competitions, with over 5,000 athletes across 40 disciplines and about RD$9 billion invested in venues, logistics, and security. Migration Enforcement: The General Directorate of Migration opened a preliminary probe into agents in San Juan de la Maguana over a viral motorcycle transport incident involving an irregular Haitian migrant, citing alleged road-safety protocol violations. Human Trafficking Cooperation: The Dominican Attorney General and Chile’s prosecutor’s office signed an agreement to form a joint team targeting human trafficking, migrant smuggling, money laundering, and other organized crime. Food Security Milestone: The FAO removed the Dominican Republic from the global hunger map after undernourishment fell below 2.5%, with Abinader pointing to programs like school feeding and social support. Public Safety & Justice: The Chamber of Deputies’ police reform bill review is set to get more time, as the Interior and Police commission says the Penal Code overhaul needs deeper study. Culture & Film: Dominican documentary “BORU” keeps racking up international awards, including a Best Documentary win at LA Docs.

Central American & Caribbean Games Prep: Santo Domingo is gearing up for the 25th CAC Games, with the official “Santo Domingo 2026” app now live and free Metro/Teleférico/OMSA bus rides ordered for the full event period (July 24–Aug. 8), while the government says all renovated sports pavilions are handed over and ready. Haiti Security: Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez urged faster full implementation of UN-backed mechanisms as the Dominican Republic backs renewal of the Haiti Gang Suppression Force mandate at the UN Security Council. Penal Code Push: The Chamber of Deputies approved controversial Penal Code amendments in second reading, sending the bill to the Senate under a tight legislative deadline, with deputies and sectors split over real estate fraud sanctions and broader changes. Police Reform: Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful reiterated the push for National Police transformation, citing body cameras and training of thousands of agents to curb abuses. Economy & Prices: The Central Bank set Tuesday’s dollar at RD$57.29 buy / RD$60.14 sell and the euro at RD$65.75 buy / RD$69.65 sell. Sports Spotlight: Rafael Nadal’s Punta Cana tennis and Zel Hotels venture continues to grow sports tourism, while Italian golfer Stefano Mazzoli won the Corales Puntacana Championship. Public Health: SNS reported a record 25.39 million specialized services delivered in the first half of 2026. Hotel Theft Case: Fitness influencer Paymi Marte alleges US$7,900 was stolen from her InterContinental Real Santo Domingo room; Dicrim and hotel authorities are involved.

Haiti Security Talks: U.S. UN envoy Mike Waltz warned that Haiti’s gang violence is spilling into the Dominican Republic, citing arms trafficking and drug smuggling as regional threats. Local Governance & Justice: The Dominican Senate approved a bill creating a National Institute to manage seized assets, with funds earmarked to strengthen actions against gender-based and domestic violence. Public Safety & Health: Police in the Bronx arrested a clinic founder, saying a 27-year-old died after an “anti-aging” injection of an unknown substance; the case is tied to an unlicensed practice claim. Trade & Agriculture: The U.S. temporarily suspended Dominican mango imports after phytosanitary protocol issues, though officials say most exports already left and new compliance steps are planned. Sports & Santo Domingo 2026: Cuba arrived with a baseball roster aiming to end a 12-year gold drought at the Santo Domingo 2026 Games. Tourism & Community: Puerto Plata temporarily closed Paseo Doña Blanca for restoration work through Aug. 5. Transport Sector: Union leader Juan Hubieres accused Senator Antonio Marte of trying to control public transport corridors, escalating a dispute over route rights. Digital Crackdown: U.S. authorities seized 1,000+ domains used to illegally stream World Cup matches, including hundreds tied to the Dominican Republic.

Central American Games Countdown: Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico were among the first delegations to arrive at the Central American Village in Santo Domingo as the 2026 Games move toward their July 24 opening, with water polo starting competition on July 20 and Comipol coordinating traffic and security around venues. Traffic Relief in Greater Santo Domingo: President Luis Abinader inaugurated the Plaza de la Bandera underpass, a 1.2-kilometer tunnel meant to ease congestion at one of the capital’s busiest intersections and improve access to the southern region. Penal Code Reform Debate: The Penal Code overhaul is back in Congress with amendments, but sectors are pushing for more changes—business groups and political leaders warn about ambiguous provisions that could affect legal certainty and freedom of expression. US Mango Import Suspension: The U.S. suspended Dominican mango imports after inspectors said key phytosanitary protocol issues weren’t corrected, including how pheromone traps are used. Public Transport Free for Games: From July 24 to Aug. 8, state-run public transport (OMSA buses, Metro, and the Santo Domingo cable car) will be free to help spectators reach main venues. Sports Spotlight: Italian golfer Stefano Mazzoli won the Corales Puntacana Championship in Punta Cana for his first PGA Tour title, while Marileidy Paulino kept rolling in the Diamond League ahead of Santo Domingo 2026.

PGA Tour Spotlight: Stefano Mazzoli of Italy won the Corales Puntacana Championship in Punta Cana, firing a final-round 6-under 66 to finish 20-under and edge Todd Clements and Gordon Sargent by one, earning his first PGA Tour title and a PGA Tour card through 2027. Baseball (Local Connection): Pirates rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez, signed out of the Dominican Republic, keeps rolling after a two-run homer helped Pittsburgh beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-1, putting him among the fastest starts in MLB history. Public Safety & Health: A Dominican Republic shipment of 1,749 vaccines reached Venezuela, including pentavalent hepatitis B and polio, as health officials said the aid will support thousands. Justice & Rights: Dominican Liberation Party leader Johnny Pujols warned Penal Code reform contains ambiguous provisions that could affect freedom of expression and legal certainty, urging a deeper review. Infrastructure: President Luis Abinader inaugurated multiple projects in Los Alcarrizos, including a Los Alcarrizos solid waste transfer station and school expansions. Transport Update: The Los Alcarrizos cable car Line 2 resumes Monday after scheduled maintenance, with buses covering the route during the shutdown.

Penal Code Overhaul: The Chamber of Deputies approved in first reading 32 modifications to 24 articles of the Penal Code reform, including tighter rules on sharing audio/images without consent, reduced penalties for perjury and defamation, and limits on when media and online expressions can be sanctioned. Public Safety & Preparedness: A seismic engineer urged Dominicans to prepare now for earthquakes—identify safe spots, secure heavy furniture, check structural vulnerabilities, and use “drop, cover, and hold on” during shaking. Humanitarian Return: Health Minister Víctor Atallah and the Dominican Emergency Medical Team returned from a 12-day Venezuela mission, treating 2,502 people after the earthquakes. Sports (Santo Domingo 2026 pipeline): Puerto Rico won the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup Centrobasket Qualifiers; the Dominican Republic beat the Virgin Islands for bronze and secured a berth for AmeriCup 2027, with Cesarina Capellán named among the tournament’s top performers. Tourism & Connectivity: Southwest announced new nonstop Caribbean routes from Nashville and Columbus, including Saturday service to Punta Cana. Local Justice Protests: Families again took to the streets demanding answers in deaths linked to National Police officers, including cases in San Cristóbal and Santo Domingo East.