DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

After decades of allowing aggregate mining companies to destroy the area known as the Pomier Caves in San Cristobal, now Minister of Environment Paino Henriquez with the support of President Luis Abinader is backing those who see more value in the touristic and cultural heritage of the caves than in aggregate.

President Luis Abinader took advantage of his annual state of the nation address on 27 February 2025 to announce the government has militarized the area to impede the continuing of the aggregate mining. He said the government is coming to the rescue of the caves and will submit a request for these to be recognized as cultural heritage to the Unesco. He responds to decades of efforts of cave specialist Domingo Abreu, together with others such as Luis Carvajal of the state university UASD, cultural promoter Omar Bros and Ricardo Ripoll...