Santo Domingo.- Deputy Juan José Rojas, representative of the province of Santo Domingo for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), submitted a resolution to the Chamber of Deputies by which he requests President Luis Abinader to instruct the Ministry of the Interior and Police to arrange the extension of the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages in grocery stores, grocery stores with sales and grocery stores until 1:00 am during the entire Christmas period and establish days without time restrictions on the 24th, 25th and December 31, as well as January 1.
The legislator based the initiative on the economic and social importance of the grocery store in Dominican culture. Rojas highlighted that the grocery store is one of the essential pillars of the popular economy, as it supports thousands of jobs, allows the circulation of immediate capital, facilitates neighborhood credit, promotes microbusiness and supports community commerce.
“Grocery stores and grocery stores are a daily source of income for families, entrepreneurs and microentrepreneurs. Their dynamism strengthens the local distribution chain, moves inventories, generates daily sales and keeps the local microeconomy alive,” he expressed.
Deputy Juan Jose Rojas indicated that it would be a temporary measure, during the Christmas and organized season, in which citizen order is preserved. For this reason, the resolution urges that the Ministry of the Interior and Police maintain the criteria for supervision, operational control, inspection and corrective measures when there is a risk to public safety.
“We ask the President to authorize this flexibility while maintaining controls. The local economy can be strengthened without sacrificing public order: if there is alteration, the Ministry maintains its power to regulate and sanction,” he stated.
The congressman explained that Christmas is the most active commercial period for micro, small and medium-sized businesses, and that grocery stores are a direct part of that economic fabric that guarantees daily income, community employment, food supply and commercial activity in the neighborhoods.
Rojas pointed out that this request seeks to multiply the Christmas economic flow, support community entrepreneurs and boost local commerce, allowing neighborhoods to participate in seasonal benefits without exclusion.
“The country is activated from local communities. When a grocery store sells, a family gets paid; when a family gets paid, the economy moves. That is the real basis of Dominican economic dynamism,” he said.
The deputy reiterated that this is a direct request to the President of the Republic, formulated responsibly, with a security focus and with respect for the regulatory authority.
The resolution was received and will be sent to the corresponding commission for study.
