Dominican Republic Halts GoldQuest Romero Project After Protests; Shares Plunge 19%, Trading Halted

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader ordered an immediate suspension of all activity at GoldQuest Mining’s Romero gold-copper project following large protests over environmental risks to the Sabaneta Dam and local farmland. Thousands marched about 20 km in protest, halting a project still in environmental assessment since 2005 exploratory concessions with no exploitation permit. GoldQuest (GQC) shares dropped over 19% intra-day, prompting a trading halt by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, heightening political risks for small-cap miners in Latin America amid limited global gold supply impact.