Community protests reported in Luperón and Cabo Rojo

In Luperón, Dominican Republic, residents of the El Estrecho Debajo sector staged a protest by blocking the road connecting their community to La Isabela Histórica. The demonstrators used rocks and debris to halt traffic, demanding that the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) accelerate stalled road construction works. Residents reported that the lack of progress has left dirt sections exposed, causing dust that leads to respiratory issues, and noted that the sporadic presence of heavy machinery has prevented the project from reaching the asphalt stage.

In Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, thousands of people marched to protest the proposed Esencia megaproyecto on the coast. Organized by the Coalición Defiende Cabo Rojo, the demonstration included environmental, community, and religious groups. Participants expressed concerns regarding the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the development. Bishop Angel Luis Ríos Matos of the Diocese of Mayagüez joined the march, stating the movement was a defense of the ‘common home’ and the natural state of the land.