DR1 Daily News, 11 April 2005: Protest over beach road privatization
Cabarete community members are gathering national and international support to impede that the access road to Playa El Encuentro, the country's leading surfer beach, be closed off to public access in Puerto Plata. Members of the community protest the show of force and influence that has lead to the illegal privatization of the coastal Camino Viejo access to Playa El Encuentro. Ricardo Ripoll, president of the Association of Surfing of Puerto Plata (ASPP) and coordinator of the Movement Costa del Camino Viejo are seeking national and international support to put an end to the closing of the road. In a notice to the press, Ripoll says that the attempt is in violation of the Dominican Constitution, Environmental Law 64-00 and citizen rights.
The release to the press, signed by Ripoll and Sylvain Aurenche, secretary of the ASPP, explain that since 2000 Hideaway Beach Resort has attempted to privatize this community road and has used contacts with persons of influence in Puerto Plata to successfully close the road on three occasions. They highlight that as of August of last year, armed guards have closed off the road access not only of the Camino Viejo, but of the entire area of Cabo Macoris.
Ripoll explained that since then Hideaway Beach Resort has not allowed anyway who is not a guest at the complex to enter the beach.
Mickey Gough, also spokesman for those who are fighting for surfers and the general public's right to the road, says that so far they have exhausted all proper channels on the local and regional level, including municipal governments, the Ministry of Tourism, Bienes Nacionales and the regional press and have only been met with a series of stall tactics. "We realize now that we must launch a press blitz to the national and international levels to bring pressure to bear on the higher ups," he writes.
Gough says that very good footage of revealing confrontations with Hideaway Beach Resort manager Lluigui Jimenez is available, of the community consensus meeting and the general documental coverage of the extent of the blockage and the tourist/sports activity in the affected area. They also have available documents from several associations and the municipal government backing the initiative including the unanimous resolution passed by the Ayuntamiento Distrito Municipal de Cabarete ordering Hideaway to open the road.
The Association of Surfing of Puerto Plata denounces that this has damaged the image of the Dominican Republic abroad, especially among surfers. DR1 contacted Hideaway Beach management for their side of the story, but did not receive a reply.
Those interested in supporting the movement for free access of the 6.5 kilometer Costa del Camino Viejo pathway to Playa El Encuentro can call 809 805-2436 or write to aspp2@hotmail.com
Anyone who is in Cabarete that is familiar with what has happened there, please let us know more details.
Cabarete community members are gathering national and international support to impede that the access road to Playa El Encuentro, the country's leading surfer beach, be closed off to public access in Puerto Plata. Members of the community protest the show of force and influence that has lead to the illegal privatization of the coastal Camino Viejo access to Playa El Encuentro. Ricardo Ripoll, president of the Association of Surfing of Puerto Plata (ASPP) and coordinator of the Movement Costa del Camino Viejo are seeking national and international support to put an end to the closing of the road. In a notice to the press, Ripoll says that the attempt is in violation of the Dominican Constitution, Environmental Law 64-00 and citizen rights.
The release to the press, signed by Ripoll and Sylvain Aurenche, secretary of the ASPP, explain that since 2000 Hideaway Beach Resort has attempted to privatize this community road and has used contacts with persons of influence in Puerto Plata to successfully close the road on three occasions. They highlight that as of August of last year, armed guards have closed off the road access not only of the Camino Viejo, but of the entire area of Cabo Macoris.
Ripoll explained that since then Hideaway Beach Resort has not allowed anyway who is not a guest at the complex to enter the beach.
Mickey Gough, also spokesman for those who are fighting for surfers and the general public's right to the road, says that so far they have exhausted all proper channels on the local and regional level, including municipal governments, the Ministry of Tourism, Bienes Nacionales and the regional press and have only been met with a series of stall tactics. "We realize now that we must launch a press blitz to the national and international levels to bring pressure to bear on the higher ups," he writes.
Gough says that very good footage of revealing confrontations with Hideaway Beach Resort manager Lluigui Jimenez is available, of the community consensus meeting and the general documental coverage of the extent of the blockage and the tourist/sports activity in the affected area. They also have available documents from several associations and the municipal government backing the initiative including the unanimous resolution passed by the Ayuntamiento Distrito Municipal de Cabarete ordering Hideaway to open the road.
The Association of Surfing of Puerto Plata denounces that this has damaged the image of the Dominican Republic abroad, especially among surfers. DR1 contacted Hideaway Beach management for their side of the story, but did not receive a reply.
Those interested in supporting the movement for free access of the 6.5 kilometer Costa del Camino Viejo pathway to Playa El Encuentro can call 809 805-2436 or write to aspp2@hotmail.com
Anyone who is in Cabarete that is familiar with what has happened there, please let us know more details.