Today, January 6th, marks the celebration in the Dominican Republic of Three Kings Day. The celebration itself celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ.

This is the final fiesta after Christmas and New Year where Dominicans will party with their friends and families - this weekend beaches throughout the country, (particularly in Sosua) will be jam-packed with many families from Santiago and Santo Domingo making the annual pilgrimage to the North Coast.

Two American Pilots, Kevin Kuranz and Christopher Schmidt who were arrested on December 2 when the plane they were flying en-route from Puerto Rico landed in the Dominican Republic with 300Lbs of Cocaine concealed in the bodywork have been released on bail pending further investigation after a lenghty hearing in Santo Domingo yesterday. Bail was set at $12,160 USD and both pilots ordered to return to the Dominican Republic should the authorities require their presence.

The DNCD (Dominican Drug Agency) working with The U.S. Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized a cargo plane yesterday presumed to have come from Puerto Rico at Las Americas International Airport, Santo Domingo.

145 packages of what is thought to be cocaine and heroin have been recovered as well as $70,000 USD.

The plane's pilot and co-pilot, (both Americans) were arrested as well as the CESA agents (customs officials) that were working at that time.

DNCD President Rolando Rosado witnessed the 'sting' and confirmed "all agents involved in the narcotics shipment will be charged".

 

 

Luperon Airport (POP) - Customs officials stopped and searched a Jet Blue Pilot, Jose del Carmen Martinez and found $819,195 UDS in his possession.  Martinez, who holds an American passport has been taken to the DNCD (Dominican Drug Control Agency) Headquarters in Santo Domingo for questioning and will be formally charged later today.

Dominican President Leonel Fernandez and OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza will host a conference on Climate Change in Santo Domingo today that will be attended by the delegates from the 32 OAS Member States. The conference is scheduled to last until Friday.

On top of the agenda is to "weigh-up the accomplishments and difficulties to advance in the management of water resources, disasters, sustainable forest management, agriculture and tourism" local Economy Minister Temístocles Montas said yesterday.

A minor earthquake/tremor located some 100 miles into the Caribbean Sea, southeast of the Capital, Santo Domingo was reported early on Saturday morning. The tremor measured 5.5 on the Richter scale.

There were no reports or damage to property reported.

American bachata singer Jimmy Bauer (real name Jaime Vargas) has been detained at Santo Domingo Airport after becoming ill just before boarding a plane to the United States.

Authorities from the airport became suspicious when Bauer began to display "strange behaviour" and alerted the DNCD (Dominican Drug Agency). A spokesman for the DNCD said that an X-ray examination of the singer's abdomen showed dozens of similar pellets in his stomach.

Dominican authorities rushed Bauer to a nearby military hospital where 88 pellets weighing over a kilogram were extracted from his stomach. Authorities first belived Bauer was carrying cocaine but after examining the packets they found heroin.

Bauer is now under police guard at a military hospital in the Capital. 

 

Despite the Constitution's law that prohibits the President’s reelection for a following period, as many as 50 PLD party deputies have reportedly joined 23 senators in the effort.

Mario Hidalgo, Deputy of La Vega spoke of how the group feels Leonel is the PLD’s best asset and for which they support his continuing in office.

During the coming days and weeks many of the PLD Deputy's will campaign and promote Leonel's right to stand again.

 

 

 

 

It has reported that Shakira will be playing concerts in the Dominican Republic in April next year. News is Shikira will also team up with Justin Bieber who is also booked to play in the Dominican Republic at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santa Domingo in late April! We'll give you the confirmed dates as soon as they are available!

Tonight sees the long awaited start to the Dominican Winter Baseball season! The opening game features two of the greatest rivalries when Santo Domingo's Leones and Tigres meet at the Quisqueya Stadium.

The two other games will be contested by Gigantes of San Francisco who entertain Águilas of Santiago in the Julián Javier Stadium and Toros of La Romana vs Estrellas of San Pedro in the city’s Tetelo Vargas Stadium.