Stephora case delayed, monorail deal sealed in Dominican Republic.

Justice: Stephora case postponed, family still awaiting answers

Santiago, March 2026. The court in Santiago has postponed to May 28, 2026, the hearing on coercive measures in the case surrounding the death of Stephora Ann-Mircie Joseph, a 14-year-old girl.

The decision was taken due to the absence of several defendants, some of whom are currently outside the country, while another had not yet secured legal representation.

The case stems from the teenager’s death during a school outing organized by Collège Da Vinci at Hacienda Los Caballos.

According to investigation findings, surveillance footage shows the victim falling into an unmarked swimming pool, calling for help without immediate intervention from adults present at the scene.

Several school officials have already been formally charged and placed under financial bail conditions.

The victim’s family continues to demand justice, pointing to what they describe as a lack of supervision and negligence during the activity.

The upcoming May hearing, to be presided over by Judge Job García, is expected to determine the next legal measures in the case.

Infrastructure: $29 billion contract awarded for Santo Domingo monorail

At the same time, Dominican authorities have awarded the first phase of the Santo Domingo monorail project to the National Consortium for Integrated Mobility (CNMI).

The contract, valued at approximately 29 billion Dominican pesos, covers detailed engineering work and the construction of key infrastructure components.

Launched in September 2025, the tender process was conducted under a competitive and transparent framework, with two consortiums participating.

CNMI was selected after achieving the highest technical score and presenting the most competitive financial offer.

Authorities highlighted the implementation of transparency mechanisms, including a citizen oversight committee and the involvement of university experts in the evaluation process.

The government agency FITRAM confirmed that the procedure complied with principles of legality and fair competition.

The official contract signing is expected to take place once all required guarantees are submitted.

Soraya Ades.