Lifestyles attempts to privatize Playa Cofresi

AlterEgo

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South Coast
New attempt to privatize Playa Cofresí, generates discontent in Puerto Plata

Posted on:
October 5, 2017
By:
The National
e-mail:
drafting [@] elnacional.com.do

Entrepreneurs and residents of the exclusive tourist and real estate area of ​​Cofresí claim to live in fear and concern for the future of this enclave, due to the pretensions of privatizing this popular beach that, through the control of access, has made twice and is rumored which will try again the chain Lifestyle Holidays Travel Club.

The claimants, who asked not to disclose their names for fear of reprisals, said that the company, led by Markus Wischenbart, has proposed to prevent the free use of the seashore 1.8 kilometers long, from Punta Guarapita to Punta Cofresí, to use it to the exclusive enjoyment of its clientele.

"We make the public complaint that this is a latent interest in Lifestyle executives, who are determined to privatize a spa that must remain available to the public without any restriction and without undermining the image of the tourist activity of the zone north the country, "they said.

They remember that the first intention of appropriating the beach was almost two years ago, when the town hall and local authorities even had to intervene and paralyze the construction of a wall that, under the pretext of remodeling a restaurant, the hotel chain intended erect a few meters from the public good.

"The second attempt was only a few weeks ago, when they wanted to place a wall of gigantic stones to block the traffic. The protests and the great social pressure that we deployed forced the people of Lifestyle to remove the rocks, but we have a permanent fear because this company seems to have influences on some government officials, "they said.

computer translated from: http://elnacional.com.do/nuevo-intento-privatizar-playa-cofresi-genera-descontento-en-puerto-plata/
 

champ

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Dec 2, 2006
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It’s the people and corporations like lifestyle that corrupt the government officials with payoffs, they are the ones that should be jailed 
 

windeguy

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Well at least it seems that so far Lifestyle has failed in their illegal efforts.

Hopefully the government will not be paid off regarding Cofresi.

And their structures less than 60 meters from the high tide point in Cabarete?
 

NALs

Economist by Profession
Jan 20, 2003
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Isn't that beach already private?

Maybe not legally, but I think it can only be reached through the Lifestyle resorts.

Anyway, much more important than legally privatizing the beach is improving it with new white sand. Of all the beaches on the north coast devoted to tourism, this has to be one of the ugliest and biggest disappointment. At the very least tourists expect the bluish/green color seen in Playa Dorada and even at Long Beach in Puerto Plata itself. The water simply doesn't look nice at Cofresi, not what people expect of a Caribbean island beach.
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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Isn't that beach already private?

Maybe not legally, but I think it can only be reached through the Lifestyle resorts.

Anyway, much more important than legally privatizing the beach is improving it with new white sand. Of all the beaches on the north coast devoted to tourism, this has to be one of the ugliest and biggest disappointment. At the very least tourists expect the bluish/green color seen in Playa Dorada and even at Long Beach in Puerto Plata itself. The water simply doesn't look nice at Cofresi, not what people expect of a Caribbean island beach.

Putting white sand on the beach is an amusing point. And that would be done how often? The sand color and water color are what they are on the north coast.
 

champ

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the water is bad is because LIFESTYLE runs there raw sewage directly onto the public beach of cofresi
 

Caonabo

LIFE IS GOOD
Sep 27, 2017
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Putting white sand on the beach is an amusing point. And that would be done how often? The sand color and water color are what they are on the north coast.

You are absolutely correct, as that is the big difference between the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and various inlets or bahías.
 

Caonabo

LIFE IS GOOD
Sep 27, 2017
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the water is bad is because LIFESTYLE runs there raw sewage directly onto the public beach of cofresi

Is there documentation of this allegation? I'm surprised that there would not have been more public outcry if true.
 

zoomzx11

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Jan 21, 2006
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Really? I would think that might be bad for building up their "repeat" business.

Not if there is good tidal flow.

Have any idea of what the costs are of treating sewage?
Lots cheaper to just dump it in the ocean.
Going on in South Florida for ages.
Take a look at Playa Grande if you want to see what happens when these resorts grab the public beaches.
 

champ

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Dec 2, 2006
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it sewer trough comes out at the end of liestyle beach where the public beach is,pictures will follow asap
 

Caonabo

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Sep 27, 2017
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Not if there is good tidal flow.

Have any idea of what the costs are of treating sewage?
Lots cheaper to just dump it in the ocean.
Going on in South Florida for ages.
Take a look at Playa Grande if you want to see what happens when these resorts grab the public beaches.

Ewww. For future reference, which way does the tide flow in that area?
 

NALs

Economist by Profession
Jan 20, 2003
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Putting white sand on the beach is an amusing point. And that would be done how often? The sand color and water color are what they are on the north coast.


The beach and the water at Playa Dorada and Long Beach in Puerto Plata look nicer after they changed the original golden sand with the whiter one. The way the sunlight reflects on whiter sand does wonders to the color of the sea.

The sand used to rejuvenate PD and LB isn't pearl white as in Punta Cana, but its white enough to produced a desirable change.
 

Cdn_Gringo

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Apr 29, 2014
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Lifestyles uses numerous septic systems/holding tanks and regularly empties them with an ongoing arrangement with a contractor.

I know the pipe champ refers to and although I have never felt inclined to see where it comes from, I'm betting it is from somewhere outside lifestyles and I do not think it's a human waste outlet as there is no effluent smell. The amount of crap produced in just one day at Lifestyles would easily overwhelm the tides ability to wash it away fast enough unless the pipe extended far out into the water past the two points of the little bay.

Me thinks someone is just smacking their gums to hear them make noise.
 

Kipling333

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Jan 12, 2010
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There must be some attractions for living on the north coast but it is hard to see from reading the constant reports here of problems in Sosua ,Atlantic beaches, all the murders reported by DV8 ,the road problems and the constant rain and closing of public beaches . Don't you all think it would be better living in Juan Dolio for example or in Bani .
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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There must be some attractions for living on the north coast but it is hard to see from reading the constant reports here of problems in Sosua ,Atlantic beaches, all the murders reported by DV8 ,the road problems and the constant rain and closing of public beaches . Don't you all think it would be better living in Juan Dolio for example or in Bani .

Absolutely not.
 

Ecoman1949

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Oct 17, 2015
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Expect more pressure from LHVC to privatize or incorporate the beach between their property and Ocean World. Here’s the problem. LHVC Cofresi is busting at the seams literally. Both beaches at the LHVC Cofresi resort are small by Playa Dorada standards and overcrowding is a problem during high season. LHVC tried moving into Playa Dorada to please their golfers and access a much better beach. They encountered opposition from the other resort owners. They were forced to vacate and remove their sign from the main Playa Dorada road. They have property interests in Costambar, another area with a nice beach. Now they are building in Cabarete. Again the motivator is access to a much nicer beach area. The pattern is obvious and they have deep pockets and the government’s ear.