Santo Domingo residents protest infrastructure neglect

Residents in several sectors of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, have launched protests to demand improved infrastructure and basic services. In La Ureña, community members are protesting the deplorable state of their streets, which they claim have been neglected for up to 30 years. The lack of paving has resulted in extreme dust during dry periods and deep mud during rains, hindering emergency services, commerce, and student mobility. Local leaders have warned of potential road blockades if the government and the Ministry of Public Works do not begin repairs.

In the Villa Liberación sector, residents are reporting environmental hazards due to a contaminated stream and inadequate drainage systems that cause flooding. They are also calling for the completion of a stalled childcare facility and the creation of recreational spaces for youth.

Meanwhile, in the Las Flores community, residents marched to demand that the government declare specific lands as public utility to allow for the construction of a primary school and high school. The community has been operating out of rented facilities for years, and the protest follows recent attempts by a private company to demolish a perimeter wall on the intended site.