The DR Is Doing a LOT Right...

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The Dominican Republic is having a moment.

And if you’ve been paying attention — really paying attention — it’s hard to deny that a lot of what this government is doing is directionally correct.

But direction and execution aren’t the same thing.
Momentum doesn’t mean immunity.
And progress doesn’t mean perfection.

Let’s talk about both.

First — a quick frame (because this matters)

Before I get into policy, infrastructure, or economics, I want to address something directly.

I’m not a “passport bro.”
I didn’t move here chasing cheap beers or a “chica.”

I’ve been married to my wife, who immigrated from DR at age 12, for nearly 16 years. We made a deliberate decision to raise our family here, build our future here, and invest here.

My kids are half Dominican by birth — and fully Dominican by life.

That means I’m not commenting from the outside.
I have a vested interest in this country getting things right — because my children’s opportunities depend on it.

So when I talk about what’s working and what needs improvement, it’s not criticism for clicks.
It’s commitment.

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A Big, Underrated Win: Sentencing Guidelines & Deterrence

One of the most important developments — and one that didn’t get nearly enough attention — is the change to sentencing guidelines coming into effect this August.

This is a huge step forward in deterrence.

I’ve talked about corruption before — sometimes controversially — and this matters because enforcement isn’t just about investigations or headlines. It’s about real consequences.

Stronger, clearer sentencing:

• Raises the cost of corruption

• Signals seriousness to investors

• Builds institutional credibility

This is the kind of quiet reform that doesn’t go viral — but absolutely compounds over time.

It deserves recognition.

Energy: LNG, Power Generation, and the Grid Reality

Let’s talk energy — and first, a quick translation.

LNG = Liquefied Natural Gas.

It’s natural gas cooled into liquid form so it can be transported efficiently. For countries like the Dominican Republic, LNG matters because it:

• Is cleaner than oil and coal

• Is more reliable for baseload power

• Reduces dependency on volatile fuel sources

The DR has made real progress here:

• LNG terminals

• New generation capacity

• Renewables layered in

That’s all positive.

But here’s the nuance most people miss:

The grid — transmission and distribution — is the hard part.
Those investments are coming, but they lag generation by years.

So yes:

• Reliability will improve

• Capacity is expanding

But also yes:

• There will still be blackouts

• Not everywhere improves at the same pace

The small mind sees a blackout and says, “Same old same old.”
The sophisticated mind understands that infrastructure upgrades are sequenced, uneven, and cumulative.

Progress doesn’t mean instant results.

Education: The Missing Pillar No One Wants to Name

Here’s where I’m going to be blunt.

With all the reforms and focus of the government, education consistently fails to show up as a top-tier initiative.

And that fuels a dangerous perception — that an uneducated population is easier to control.

Whether or not that’s the intent, the absence speaks loudly.

You cannot scale:

• Manufacturing

• Nearshoring

• Advanced services

…without human capital.

Education isn’t a “nice to have.”
It’s the fuel for every other ambition.

And if this gap isn’t addressed meaningfully, it becomes the bottleneck that quietly caps long-term growth.

The Drum I Keep Beating: Investment-Grade Credit Rating

I want to be very clear here.

I have been beating this drum relentlessly, and I’ve had to fight off a lot of pushback from people who insist corruption or education should be the top priority.

They matter. They absolutely matter.

But investment-grade credit rating is the unlock.

Here’s why:

Once the Dominican Republic reaches investment grade:

• Massive pools of institutional capital can legally invest

• Foreign direct investment accelerates

• Lending becomes cheaper and more stable

• Infrastructure financing expands dramatically

Entire classes of investors are currently barred from touching speculative-grade economies — not because they want to, but because they’re not allowed to.

Investment grade changes that overnight.

The Alarming Part: Tax Reform Is Coming (And It Has To)

If 2028 is the real target — and this administration has signaled that it is — then tax reform is not optional.

And it’s not a “later” conversation.

This means:

• Broadening the tax base

• Reducing informality

• Improving compliance

• Simplifying enforcement

Not just raising rates — restructuring the system.

This will be:

• Politically painful

• Unpopular in the short term

• Absolutely necessary

There is no credible path to investment grade without it.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Moment Matters

Look — here’s the thing.

President Abinader is focused on many of the right priorities.

And when you zoom out, the momentum is real:

• Tougher sentencing

• Anti-corruption signaling

• Electricity reform

• Deportation enforcement

• Labeling Haitian gangs as terrorist organizations

• Military cooperation with the United States

• Projected 5% GDP growth in 2026

• One of the strongest macro stories in Latin America

The Dominican Republic has now surpassed Mexico in GDP per capita on a cost of living basis (PPP).

That matters.

Cities like Punta Cana, Santiago, and others are booming — not in theory, but on the ground. Anyone who’s spent time here or followed my content has seen it.

This is what a country in transition looks like.

And transition is messy.

Grid investments don’t mean zero blackouts.
Reform doesn’t mean instant trust.
Growth doesn’t happen automatically.

But trajectory matters.

Bottom Line

The Dominican Republic is doing a lot right.

But the next phase isn’t about announcements — it’s about:

• Execution

• Sequencing

• Political courage

If you’re watching this country with a sophisticated lens — as an investor, parent, entrepreneur, or long-term resident — this is one of the most important moments in its modern history.

This is exactly the kind of deeper analysis we unpack inside the DR Inner Circle — a community for people who want to move beyond surface-level takes and understand what’s actually happening beneath the headlines.

I’ll be breaking all of this down live on YouTube this Friday, answering questions and going deeper into what this means for:

• Families

• Investors

• Businesses

• And the country’s future trajectory

See you there.

— Jamie