$$$$ talks....
I am old enough to have seen $$$$ make less than desirable changes in some places along the NJ coastline. Yes, just like RD, NJ has Public Trust Doctrine that guarantees access to the Ocean. But some towns/developers have done things to put up "road blocks". For example, no on-street parking and $200 parking fines, enacted and enforced specifically to keep those riffraff surfers from THEIR ocean. Money talks. Legal battles have been won in the states thanks to environmental groups like Surfrider but its a constant battle against some (not all) with $$$$ and the attitude that goes with it. Someone builds an exclusive complex, then next thing they want is an exclusive beachfront.
I don't think the forces behind this kind of thing in DR are all Dominicans, most likely foreign $$$$.
Look I am sensitive to the need for jobs but you can not kill the golden goose in the process.