Fw: NOUVELLES DE LA REPUBLIQUE DOMINICAINE (Lundi 31 mars 2025)

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Mar 31, 2025, 8:59:51 PMMar 31
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NOUVELLES DE LA REPUBLIQUE DOMINICAINE (Lundi 31 mars 2025)

 

LA REPUBLIQUE DOMINICAINE : Ce pays, a-t-il opté pour le dialogue, le progrès et la modernité

ou l'anarchie, le sous-développement et l’avilissement ?

 

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Email :  interme...@yahoo.com

 

 

Haiti doesn’t make guns, so how are gangs awash in them? 

(NYT; Sunday, March 30, 2025)

Although Haiti is awash in illegal firearms, many of the weapons pass through or are seized in the Dominican Republic, which shares a porous border with its neighbor. Dominican ports, especially Haina, have intercepted major arms shipments destined for Haiti, including high-caliber rifles and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition, often hidden in cargo from the United States. Dominican authorities, supported by U.S. resources, have stepped up inspections and arrested both smugglers and complicit officials, including police officers linked to trafficking. Still, traffickers continue to exploit the route through the Dominican Republic, making it a critical chokepoint in efforts to curb the flow of weapons fueling Haiti’s gang violence.

(Acento; SIN; El Dia; Friday, March 28, 2025)

More than 4,200 people were killed in Haiti between July and February, largely due to crimes committed with firearms trafficked illegally into the country, despite a UN arms embargo. The UN reports that gangs have gained control over much of Port-au-Prince, enforcing their own rule and using sexual violence and fear to dominate communities. In response, police operations have intensified but also resulted in increased civilian casualties and a sharp rise in extrajudicial killings by law enforcement.

Haiti asks to activate the Dominican-Haitian Commission and reopen the airspace

(LD; Monday, March 31, 2025)

Fritz Alphonse Jean, president of Haiti’s Transitional Council, called for the reactivation of the Dominican-Haitian Bilateral Mixed Commission and the reopening of airspace between the two countries, particularly to Cap-Haïtien. He emphasized the need to resume dialogue and improve cooperation on security and trade issues, especially following the completion of the controversial irrigation canal that halted talks in 2023. Jean also expressed that Haiti’s recent decision to restrict imports via Dominican borders is a security measure and should have been preceded by mutual coordination.

(LD; Monday, March 31, 2025)

Fritz Alphonse Jean, president of Haiti’s Transitional Council, stated that the country’s ongoing crisis benefits criminal networks involved in arms, drug, organ trafficking, and money laundering, with ties extending to the U.S. and Europe. He emphasized the need for international support, including financial resources and job creation strategies like nearshoring, while also warning of a potential humanitarian crisis if mass deportations of Haitians from the U.S. occur. Jean affirmed efforts to restore stability through elections in November 2025 and expressed appreciation for regional cooperation, especially with the Dominican Republic.

 

(El Caribe; El Dia; Saturday, March 29, 2025)

Despite being on the ground since mid-2024, the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) has failed to curb the growing violence and control of armed gangs in Haiti, particularly in Port-au-Prince. With the capital nearly 85 percent dominated by gangs, public institutions are relocating or shutting down, and civilians are suffering from displacement, extortion, and inhumane conditions in makeshift camps. As self-defense groups emerge and elections approach, widespread insecurity threatens to derail Haiti’s path toward political stability and constitutional reform.

(LD; El Caribe; El Nacional; La Informacion; Monday, March 31, 2025)

Haiti is experiencing a widespread mental health crisis due to relentless gang violence, displacement, and a collapsed healthcare system, leaving many citizens in untreated psychological trauma. Psychiatric patients, especially women and displaced individuals, suffer in silence without access to care or medication, while makeshift camps and destroyed facilities worsen their vulnerability. As violence continues and the healthcare system deteriorates, experts warn of rising depression, suicide risk, and untreated mental illness across a population already living in fear and despair.

 

DR Government defends actions during protest in Friusa; blames infiltrators

(DL, DL-2; LD; El Caribe; El Día; Monday, March 31, 2025)

The Dominican government stated its commitment to upholding fundamental rights and maintaining public order following disturbances during a march in Friusa, in the province of La Altagracia. The march had been authorized, and the organizers adhered to the agreed routes and terms. However, according to government spokesperson Homero Figueroa, a group of infiltrators, seeking to draw attention, exceeded the agreed-upon limits of the march, causing disruptions that required police intervention to restore order and prevent further incidents. While the government guaranteed the right to peaceful protest, it stressed this must be in compliance with prior agreements with the authorities to ensure the protection of both protesters and the general public. 

 

(LD; El Dia; El Nacional; CDN; Monday; March 31, 2025)

The U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic issued a security alert for its citizens due to a nationalist march scheduled in Friusa, Bávaro, urging caution and avoidance of large gatherings. Dominican authorities deployed 2,500 security personnel to ensure the protest, organized by the group Antigua Orden Dominicana, remained peaceful. The group’s leaders stated their goal is to affirm Dominican identity in the area, while U.S. officials reminded citizens that even peaceful demonstrations could escalate unexpectedly.

 

Angelo Vásquez, leader of Antigua Orden Dominicana, stated that the March 30 protest in Friusa was mostly peaceful and met its goals, despite isolated disturbances. He blamed the chaos on infiltrators attempting to provoke unrest and derail the movement. The organization reiterated its commitment to peaceful mobilization and announced future marches advocating for stricter immigration control and national sovereignty. 

 

  • Editorials and commentary on “The March”
    (El Caribe; Acento; DL; DL-1;DL-2; Monday, March 31, 2025)
    El Caribe editorial criticizes the recent anti-immigration march in Bávaro, noting that it was marked by disorder, incitement to violence, and a troubling lack of response from authorities. It argues the march projected a negative image of the Dominican Republic, lacked a clear patriotic purpose, instead promoting anti-Haitian sentiment tied to private interests. The piece warns that it oversimplifies the complex migration issue and ignores those truly responsible for enabling illegal immigration. It urges a more comprehensive, responsible approach that aligns with the government's position that the Haitian crisis requires an international -not Dominican- solution.

 

Diario Libre editorial: “The Friusa march, initially organized under the banner of sovereignty and patriotism, devolved into chaos due to a mix of provocation, poor planning, and egos overpowering leadership. What was meant to be a peaceful protest turned violent with confrontations, tear gas, and disorder, largely because of the decision to divert the march to unauthorized areas. Santiago Matías (Alofoke), a central figure in the event, was blamed by witnesses for leading the deviation from the agreed-upon route, contributing to the unrest.”

 

Diario Libre opinion:  “the homeland as a daily practice” Diario Libre director Anibal de Castro states that the true essence of patriotism lies not in grand declarations but in the daily practice of good citizenship. He added that the idea of Dominican identity is a shared moral responsibility to act with civility, respect, and decency, fostering inclusivity and mutual respect. Dominican culture transcends superficial representations like folklore or tourism. It is a living heritage that should inspire responsible social behavior and strengthen the nation's image and that real patriotism, therefore, is built in everyday actions, like keeping the streets clean, respecting lines, ultimately promoting a just and compassionate society. Being Dominican, in this sense, is an ethical commitment to the collective well-being.

 

Diario Libre commentary: “Intolerance as a Bargaining Chip” The Dominican Republic has avoided the extreme intolerance seen in other nations, where societal division has led to hostile environments. However, the growing threat of intolerance, which has caused other nations to spiral into social unrest, is beginning to cause impact. The Dominican Republic stands out from countries like Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, where deep polarization has eroded social peace. The article calls for Dominican leaders to resist voices seeking to profit from division and to stand firm against the growing intolerance. 

U.S. Government notifies Congress it will dissolve USAID before July 1
(LD; DL; RNN; DL, El Día; Monday, March 31, 2025)
The U.S. government informed Congress of its plan to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) by July 1, 2025, transferring certain functions to the State Department. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that while foreign aid can advance national interests, USAID had deviated from its original mission, and the government intends to refocus its programs to better serve the U.S. The move is expected to face legal challenges, as the agency was created by Congress, and its closure without legislative approval could lead to lawsuits. 

 

 

World Health Organization to cut back 20 percent of its budget
(DL, Monday, March 31, 2025)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is facing a significant financial setback following the U.S. withdrawal and will reduce its budget by 20 percent in response. The decision comes after the U.S., announced its departure from WHO and halted crucial foreign aid programs, including healthcare initiatives. This withdrawal has left a $600 million dollar gap in the WHO's revenue, prompting the agency to make cuts in overall operations.  The WHO's Executive Board has already revised its budget for 2026-2027 from $5.3 billion dollars to $4.9 billion dollars, and now an even further reduction to $4.2 billion dollars, a 21 percent decrease. 

 

 

In Colombia, a criminal network provided illegal documents to Dominicans
(LD, Monday, March 31, 2025)
Colombian authorities dismantled a criminal network involved in supplying fake documents to Dominican migrants, allowing them to travel to the United States. Three individuals, including a public official, were arrested. The main suspects, Ingrid Katerin Villar Pedrozo and Gerson Puentes, face charges of conspiracy, human trafficking, and falsifying public documents. José María Romero, an official at the National Civil Registry, was also arrested for his role in accessing the system to input false information. This network operated between November 2021 and March 2025, providing fraudulent documents to make Dominican nationals appear as if they were born in Colombia.

 

 

U.S. officials review social media to grant visas and other benefits, is this new?
(DL, Monday, March 31, 2025)
U.S. immigration officials seek public and federal agency feedback on a proposal to collect social media usernames of individuals applying for benefits such as green cards or citizenship, to comply with an executive order issued by President Trump. The announcement alarmed immigration and free speech advocates, as it appears to expand government surveillance to individuals already legally in the U.S. and not just those seeking entry into the country. However, immigration officials have been monitoring social media for over a decade, at least since the second term of the Obama administration, and it increased during Trump’s first term. The new proposal aims to require individuals to provide their social media usernames when applying for U.S. citizenship, green cards, asylum, and other immigration benefits. 

 

Social Media Trending Topics

  1. The recent post published by the White House has sparked various reactions and conversations. According to data from the Hootsuite platform, the post generated 90.6 percent negative sentiment and 9.2 percent positive sentiment. In this regard, some people have expressed approval of the use of a #GhibliStyle image to depict the arrest of Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, a previously deported fentanyl trafficker. There has also been positive feedback about the White House’s message emphasizing that immigration enforcement remains strong. On the other hand, many criticized the use of a Ghibli-style image to represent Basora-Gonzalez’s arrest in the context of immigration policy. Some users also expressed concern about the White House using OpenAI’s image generation tool for political purposes.

  2. The hashtag #Friusa has gained traction on social media in the Dominican Republic after a protest took place on Sunday, March 30, where Dominican citizens expressed their discontent over the high concentration of Haitian immigrants in the El Hoyo, Friusa area. The protest, aimed at raising awareness of this concern, turned confrontational when clashes occurred between the participants and the authorities. Participants reported being mistreated by police officers, while the police justified their intervention as a necessary measure to maintain public order. @NoticiasRNN; @HomeroFigueroG; @RDSomosPueblo; @HomeroFigueroaG
  3. The hashtag #Navarrete has gone viral on social media following the femicide of Mari Esther Moya, a 28-year-old woman shot and killed by her ex-partner. According to the victim's mother, the perpetrator had been stalking Mari Esther and had taken her phone after she refused to continue the relationship. Reactions on social media have sparked a conversation about gender-based violence and femicides in the Dominican Republic. Find out what people are saying on social media here: @DeUltimoMinuto; @SomosPuebloMedia; @ListinDiario; @TelenoticiasRD

 

 

More about media outlets:

 

Independent Media: 

  • De Último Minuto: Provides national and international coverage on economy, entertainment, sports, technology, and opinion. Founded by Santiago Matías (Alofoke).
  • Somos Pueblo Media: Covers politics, economy, corruption, environment, technology. Known for amplifying Dominican citizens' voices and public concerns.
  • Almomento.net: A pluralistic media outlet that identifies itself as not responding to corporate or political interests. It seeks to inform Dominicans with its content.
  • El Pregonero: Covers local and international news related to Dominicans abroad, politics, economy,technology, and justice.
  • 7días.com.do: It identifies as independent, innovative, and impartial in news presentation and topic selection; part of the ACD Media group.
  • Grupo de Medios Panorama (GMP):  covers a wide range of topics. Has national reach and airs in several states in the United States.

 

Dominican Government Twitter Handles: 

 

 

 


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