AGP Executive Report

Copyright & Cybersecurity: IFPI backed Operation LUMEN, a coordinated Latin American crackdown led by Peru’s INDECOPI that targets 317 stream-ripping and malware-linked domains; Dominican Republic’s ONDA is among the participating agencies, with ISPs blocking access and the sites drawing 15M visits a month on average. Tourism & Business Travel: SDQ MICE 2026 in Santo Domingo brought 50 international buyers to spur 1,000+ B2B meetings, while Asonahores says MICE visitors can spend up to three times more than typical tourists—about US$538/day versus US$179.48. Arts & Culture: Daymé Arocena brings “Alkemi” to The Wallis (music blending Afro-Cuban/Afro-Caribbean rhythms with neo-soul, jazz, electronic and Latin pop), and a Dominican-linked “In the Heights” screening highlighted Hispanic culture through the story of a Dominican character. Sports & Media: CONCACAF Nations League coverage includes Dominican Republic vs. Nicaragua, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. spoke to Dominican TV about his 2026 struggles and expectations tied to his massive contract.

CONCACAF Nations League: The Dominican Republic is set to host Nicaragua in Group A action in Santiago, with the wider regional schedule shaping up as teams chase Gold Cup spots. Music & Media: Operation LUMEN is expanding across Latin America, and the Dominican Republic is named among countries blocking 317 stream-ripping and piracy-linked domains tied to millions of monthly visits. Local Arts & Culture: The Ministry of Tourism-backed “The Crown Comes Home” welcomes Miss World 2026 Joheirry Mola back to Santo Domingo with live music and performances at Faro a Colon. Sports Spotlight: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tells Dominican TV he believes his $500M extension was paid for what he’s already accomplished—not for a future home-run target. Legal/Entertainment Industry: Communicator Ángel Martínez was sentenced to a suspended one-year term and ordered to pay RD$2 million for defamation and insult tied to statements about Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful. Tourism & Lifestyle: Casa de Campo’s Unlimited Golf package returns, offering unlimited rounds on Pete Dye courses plus a full resort stay bundle.

Baseball Spotlight: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. told Dominican TV he’s defending his massive 2026 contract by saying the money was for what he already accomplished—“They didn’t pay me because I’m going to hit 40 every year.” Sports Injury Update: Orioles rookie catcher Samuel Basallo (concussion) was placed on the IL, while infielder Jackson Holliday is set for wrist surgery—Basallo is Dominican. Tourism & Meetings: Santo Domingo’s hotel association launched SDQ MICE 2026 with 50 international buyers and a push for 1,000+ B2B meetings, including tours of the Colonial City and Punta Cana. Arts & Music: Retro Jazz marks its 15th anniversary with “Gala del Cancionero Dominicano,” a symphonic concert at the Eduardo Brito National Theater featuring Dominican classics reworked through jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. Beauty Queen Homecoming: Miss World 2026 Joheirry Mola returns to Santo Domingo for “La Corona Vuelve a Casa” at Faro a Colon with live music and performances. Culture in Motion: YEИDRY’s “Como Agua” debut gets a spotlight, blending Dominican rhythms with her mixed Italian upbringing. Local Justice: A Dominican court sentenced communicator Ángel Martínez to a suspended year and RD$2 million compensation for defaming Interior Minister Faride Raful, with restrictions on further public statements.

Luxury Tech & Hospitality: LEA amplifiers are powering a discreet, networked smart-villa audio setup at Punta Minitas Villa in Casa de Campo, with DSP tuning across living areas, spa, gym, cigar lounge, and outdoor landscape coverage. Film & Language: Rider’s annual Pragda Spanish Language Film Festival brings contemporary Spanish-language movies to the community through a library-led, grant-supported program. All-Inclusive Spotlight (DR): Viva Resorts by Wyndham is pitching Dominican Republic stays as “fun from morning to night,” with sports, fitness classes, dance lessons, and specialty activities built into the all-inclusive model. Sports (Regional): CONCACAF Nations League play begins with a Swiss-style format; the Dominican Republic is listed among the early power-ranking top five. Music Milestone: Retro Jazz marks its 15th anniversary with a symphonic concert in Santo Domingo featuring a 30-piece orchestra and jazz-funk-orchestral reworkings of Dominican classics. Culture on Screen (DR production): Residente’s feature directorial debut Porto Rico is in production in the Dominican Republic, with Bad Bunny leading and a major international cast joining. Legal/Media: Communicator Ángel Martínez was sentenced to one year suspended imprisonment and ordered to pay RD$2 million after pleading guilty to defamation and insult against Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful. Travel & Events (DR): Master of the Ocean kicks off in Cabarete with multidisciplinary competition across kitesurf, wing foil, surf, SUP, and windsurf.

Dominican Arts & Culture Spotlight: Retro Jazz marks its 15th anniversary with “Gala del Cancionero Dominicano,” a 10 October symphonic concert at Santo Domingo’s Eduardo Brito National Theater, pairing a 30-piece orchestra with jazz, funk, blues and Afro-Caribbean takes on merengue, bachata, bolero and folklore. Film & Pop Culture: Residente’s feature directorial debut, “Porto Rico,” is now in production in the Dominican Republic, with Bad Bunny leading and a major international cast including Viggo Mortensen, Edward Norton, Rubén Blades and more. Sports as Culture: The Dominican Republic is listed among Concacaf’s “first five out” in men’s regional power rankings as Nations League play reshapes the road toward the 2027 Gold Cup and beyond. Arts in Motion: Master of the Ocean 2026 kicks off in Cabarete, spotlighting Dominican flair across kitesurf, wing foil, surf, SUP and windsurf. Community & Learning: A Latinx Music program at UNC expands via a partnership with Greeley Central High School, bringing Latin American music performance into classrooms.

Punta Cana MICE Buzz: Meetings Today LIVE! brought nearly 70 planners to Punta Cana (Sept. 20-23), with hosted appointments and a stay at the newly opened Moon Palace The Grand–Punta Cana. Cabarete Water-Sports Spotlight: Master of the Ocean (Sept. 16 onward) kicked off in Cabarete with Dominican flair across kitesurf, wing foil, surf, SUP, and windsurf—after weather forced schedule tweaks. Sports & Dominican Pride: Marileidy Paulino turned heads with a 48.73 in the 400m at Athlos London, while Felix Bautista’s return to MLB action was confirmed after shoulder surgery. Local News: Indomet warned of hot, humid conditions plus afternoon downpours and thunderstorms across multiple provinces, with a cyclone area under monitoring. Arts, Culture & Community: A Dominican embassy presence helped bring merengue and bachata to Seoul’s Latin American Festival, and Dominican heritage food and performances were featured at Hispanic Heritage Month events in the U.S. Crime Update: Dominican national Elvys Nicanor Nunez Valerio pleaded guilty in a U.S. grandparent impersonation money-laundering scheme targeting elderly victims.

Sports & Culture Spotlight: Cabarete’s Master of the Ocean 2026 kicked off with Dominican flair, bringing international kitesurfing, wing foil, surf, SUP, and windsurf athletes—after rain and shifting winds forced schedule tweaks—plus heat wins featuring Dominicans like Joselito del Rosario and Francis Gonzalez. Arts, Entertainment & Travel: The Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana opened in Cabeza de Toro as the brand’s first Dominican Republic property, an adults-only, wellness-forward all-inclusive with 467 rooms and swim-out suites. Music & Community: The National Police confirmed two deaths and five injuries in the Los Coquitos shooting tied to urban artists “Diddy Glow” and “Cotuí,” correcting earlier online numbers. Film & Media (DR-linked): A Dominican-born MLB star, José Ramírez, is profiled in a story tracing his rise from humble Dominican street baseball to 1,000 RBIs. Weather Watch: Indomet warned of afternoon downpours and thunderstorms in multiple provinces, with a cyclone area under monitoring.

Cultural Spotlight (Dominican diaspora): Chicago’s Dominican Culture Street Celebration spotlights “El Son de Antonio Keka,” a Santiago tradition that began as friends gathering to listen to Son and now draws dancers across borders, including a performance at the Copernicus Center. Arts & Entertainment (Punta Cana hospitality): Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana opens in Cabeza de Toro as the brand’s first Dominican Republic property—an adults-only, all-inclusive with 467 rooms, swim-out suites, five pools, and a wellness-forward program. Local Arts/Community (Hispanic Heritage): La Fiesta del Pueblo returns with music, dance, and a Unity Walk, featuring Dominican Republic food vendors and performances that celebrate Latin American heritage. Sports (Dominican athletics): Marileidy Paulino wins the 400m at Athlos London, clocking 48.73, while Keely Hodgkinson takes the 800m in a superhero-style suit—another high-profile moment for Dominican track on the international stage. Public Safety (Boca Chica): National Police confirm two deaths and five injuries in the Los Coquitos shooting where artists “Diddy Glow” and “Cotuí” died, correcting earlier online figures. Weather Watch: Indomet warns of afternoon downpours and thunderstorms across multiple provinces, plus a cyclone-monitoring update and heat advisories.

Athlos London 2026 (Track & Field): Keely Hodgkinson shook off hamstring worries to win the women’s 800m at the all-women’s Athlos meet in London, clocking 1:56.40 in a superhero-style hooded suit—while Dominican runner Marileidy Paulino took the 400m in 48.73, setting an Athlos meeting record. Dominican Culture in the U.S.: Chicago’s Dominican Culture Street Celebration spotlights “El Son de Antonio Keka,” a Santiago tradition of Son music and partner dance that’s now drawing new audiences at the Copernicus Center. Merengue Goes Viral Abroad: Russian singer Regina Roskina is turning heads in Moscow with Dominican merengue performances, including a viral clip singing Miriam Cruz in Spanish. Local Arts & Hospitality: Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana opened in Cabeza de Toro as a new adults-only, all-inclusive resort—adding a fresh entertainment-and-wellness destination to the Punta Cana scene. Weather Watch: Indomet reports downpours and thunderstorms across multiple provinces, with hot, humid conditions and cyclone monitoring underway. Public Safety (Music Scene): A Dominican court paused the Jet Set nightclub collapse trial (236 deaths) for a week as evidence continues.

Public Health & Environment: A new study flags “plastic pollution hotspots” across Latin America, naming the Dominican Republic among seven countries where imported plastic and weak waste systems are driving dangerous leaks into communities. Music & Culture: Dominican merengue keeps going global—Russian singer Regina Roskina has gone viral for performing Miriam Cruz in Spanish, spotlighting the genre on Moscow stages. Arts & Travel: Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana opens in Cabeza de Toro as a 467-room, adults-only all-inclusive with swim-out suites, multiple pools, and a heavy wellness focus. Film & Community: A Dominican Culture Street Celebration in Chicago spotlights “El Son de Antonio Keka,” bringing the Santiago tradition of son and partner dance to the Copernicus Center. Sports (DR connection): Marileidy Paulino wins the 400m at London’s Athlos meet, while the week also includes coverage of Dominican MLB closer Félix Bautista’s reinstatement after injury. Local News: National Police confirm two deaths and five injuries in the Los Coquitos, Boca Chica shooting tied to artists “Diddy Glow” and “Cotuí.”

Athletics Spotlight: Dominican sprinter Marileidy Paulino won the women’s 400m at London’s Athlos meet in 48.73, setting an Athlos record and edging Henriette Jaeger. Music & Culture: A viral clip has Russian singer Regina Roskina performing Dominican merengue in perfect Spanish, boosting international attention on Dominican artists like Miriam Cruz. Local Arts & Travel: Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana opened in Cabeza de Toro as an adults-only resort with 467 rooms and a wellness-forward concept—another sign of the DR’s growing entertainment-and-leisure pull. Court Update: A Dominican court granted a one-week recess in the Jet Set nightclub collapse trial that followed the 2025 disaster killing 236 people. Public Safety & Music Scene: Dominican National Police confirmed two deaths and five injuries in the Boca Chica shooting where urban artists Diddy Glow and Cotuí died, correcting earlier online figures. Scam Warning: A Dominican Republic–linked grandparent fraud money-laundering case in the U.S. saw a Perth Amboy resident plead guilty, with proceeds routed back to the DR. Arts Residency: Cayo Levantado Resort launched Atelier Yubarta, a new artist residency tied to marine life and Dominican cultural heritage.

Nightlife Court Update: A Dominican court postponed the Jet Set nightclub collapse trial by one week, with the hearing set to resume Sept. 25, after evidence tied to alleged prior knowledge by owners. Resort & Lifestyle: Hyatt Vivid Punta Cana opened in Cabeza de Toro as the brand’s first Dominican Republic property—an adults-only, 467-room all-inclusive with swim-out suites, multiple pools, and a major wellness program. Arts & Culture Abroad: Chicago’s Dominican Culture Street Celebration spotlights “El Son de Antonio Keka,” bringing the Santiago tradition of Son music and dance to the Copernicus Center. Music Spotlight: YEИDRY (Dominican Italian singer) released her debut album Como Agua and will perform Sept. 19 at The Ford with Lido Pimienta in “Pan-American Sounds.” Creative Residency: Cayo Levantado Resort launched Atelier Yubarta, a Piñero-Ministry of Culture residency for contemporary artists rooted in marine life and Dominican heritage. Sports With Dominican Pride: Marileidy Paulino won 400m at Athlos London, while Keely Hodgkinson took the 800m in a superhero-style speedsuit. International Merengue Viral Moment: Russian singer Regina Roskina is drawing attention for performing Dominican merengue, including Miriam Cruz repertoire, in Moscow. Film/Global Awards: Oscars 2027 international submissions list includes India’s selection of Marathi film Gondhal.

New Music & Culture: Dominican Italian singer YEИDRY (born in Santo Domingo) released her debut album Como Agua, turning her immigrant story into a genre-bending mix of pop, reggaeton and R&B. Merengue Goes Global: Russian singer Regina Roskina is going viral for performing Dominican merengue—spotlighting Miriam Cruz in perfect Spanish—and shows how Dominican sounds are growing in Moscow. Local Arts & Craft: Cayo Levantado Resort in Samaná launched Atelier Yubarta, a Piñero-Ministry of Culture artist residency tied to the island’s ecosystem and heritage, with visual artist Nina Francesca Castillo Díaz as the first resident. Film & Screen Power: Cameras are rolling in the Dominican Republic on Residente’s feature debut Porto Rico, with Bad Bunny leading alongside Viggo Mortensen and Edward Norton, plus a major international cast. Arts Roundup (Travel/Entertainment): A new Punta Cana family-focused Lopesan all-inclusive opens with a water-park and wave pool, while ProUsuario warns Dominican online sellers about fake-transfer scams. Sports Spotlight: Dominican clubs Portmore United and Cibao FC played key roles in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final-four race.

Dominican Arts & Culture: Manny Cruz marked 10 years in merengue with the new single “Nieve en Verano,” featuring Juan Luis Guerra, and framed the release as proof that faith and hard work make “nothing… impossible.” Music Spotlight: YEИDRY (Dominican Italian) and Lido Pimienta (Colombian Canadian) team up at The Ford in Los Angeles for “Pan-American Sounds,” with YEИDRY’s debut album “Como Agua” dropping the day before. Film & Screen Culture: Cameras are rolling in the Dominican Republic on René “Residente” Pérez Joglar’s feature debut “Porto Rico,” starring Bad Bunny, Viggo Mortensen, and Edward Norton, with a major supporting cast including Rubén Blades and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Local Arts Calendar: A Dominican Republic–linked “Fall 2026 Arts Roundup” highlights upcoming music, dance, visual arts, and film events, including new exhibitions and jazz programming. Arts + Society: ProUsuario RD warned sellers about fake transfer scams tied to the Emmanuel Contreras case—urging buyers to verify funds before handing over items.

Film & Music: Cameras are rolling in the Dominican Republic on René “Residente” Pérez Joglar’s feature debut, Porto Rico, starring Bad Bunny with Viggo Mortensen and Edward Norton, plus new cast additions including Rubén Blades and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Sports & Culture: A new report spotlights how MLB’s Dominican pipeline may rely on informal pre-signing deals with boys as young as 11–12, raising concerns about schooling disruption and exploitation. Local Arts & Governance: President Luis Abinader will lead a virtual CNM session to advance the selection of Supreme Court judges, part of the judiciary’s ongoing evaluation process. Community & Safety: ProUsuario RD warns of a scam where “fake” transfer receipts pressure sellers to hand over items before funds clear. Tourism & Lifestyle: Lopesan Splash Cove Resort opens in Punta Cana with a water park, wave pool, and eight pools—part of a major Punta Cana expansion. Fashion & Identity: A Dominican-rooted singer, Yendry, releases her debut solo album Como Agua exploring migration and healing.

Santo Domingo Book Fair: Panama lands as guest country of honor at FILSD 2026, bringing a packed lineup of literature, film, dance and orchestral music to the Plaza de la Cultura (Sept. 24–Oct. 4), with about 600 events and major author and workshop programming. Baseball & exploitation: A new Fortune investigation spotlights MLB’s Dominican talent pipeline, alleging informal deals with boys as young as 11–12, disrupted schooling, and financial exploitation tied to unregulated baseball academies. US policy spotlight: The US again lists the Dominican Republic on its FY2027 Majors List for drug transit, with coverage noting the designation is based on geography and commerce, not a stated counternarcotics “failure.” Fashion & culture abroad: Caribbean Fashion Collective turns NYFW streets into a runway, with island brands and bold Caribbean pride taking over Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. Local arts: Hackensack’s Ruth Bauer Neustadter Gallery (HACPAC) announces Gustavo Rojas: Towards the Future, a digital painting exhibit running Oct. 2–Nov. 14, 2026. Sports entertainment: ProPublica-style reporting on MLB’s Dominican pipeline echoes in fresh Dominican MLB coverage, while a separate report flags social media-fueled child abuse risks.