Dayanara Borbón, coordinator of Acción Rápida in New York, expressed her frustration over the recent statements of the Dominican consul Jesús Antonio Vázquez, known as Chu. In the Dominican Republic, Vázquez mentioned coordinated actions, safe investment guides and orientation days. However, Borbón qualifies this as outrageous, as the reality for hundreds of Dominicans is the opposite.
More than 323 affected have invested around $17 million, equivalent to over $1 billion in Dominican pesos, in apartments promised by the real estate company INDISARD. None have been delivered, leaving families in ruin. This scam highlights vulnerabilities in the real estate sector that impact the Dominican diaspora.
Lack of consular support despite promises
Borbón denounces the absence of assistance from the consulate, Ombudsman, ProConsumidor, Real Estate Registry and Ministry of Housing. None of the entities have supported the victims. “Coordinated actions are dead letter”, she affirms, citing Article 5 of the 1963 Vienna Convention, which obliges to protect the interests of nationals abroad.
Protests and demands for regulation of coordinated actions
Unfruitful meeting with the consul
The group of Acción Rápida met with Vázquez in his office, but there were no advances on what was promised. Instead, the consul supports real estate fairs in New York without adequate supervision, which Borbón sees as legitimizing risks. “From listening to acting there is a chasm”, sentences the leader.
- Initiation of lawsuits in the US and DR.
- Protests to demand regulation of real estate companies operating from abroad.
- Denunciation of cases being diverted to Borbón’s personal phone without consent.
Context of real estate scams in the diaspora
Statistics from the Dominican Central Bank indicate that remittances exceed $10 billion annually, much of which is destined for real estate investments. Cases like INDISARD are not isolated; in 2023, ProConsumidor reported dozens of similar complaints for non-delivery. Experts in international law urge greater consular scrutiny to prevent frauds that erode patrimonies.
The victims claim real prevention, not speeches. While fairs continue without control, the diaspora demands that coordinated actions move from words to concrete actions, assuming responsibility for the pain of hundreds.
