Sosua Beach Bar's Closing?

[Chris]

Should Robert start a list of the dr1ers who want to be notified in time so that they can lie in front of the bulldozers?

No Ken, I do not think that is what is going on here. But I do think that people are generally concerned and worried, especially in the light of the Cabarete incident. What makes things a little difficult, is the absolute lack of real and trustworthy information about the Cabarete Incident, and also the Casitas. You may know that the rumors are flying in the streets about bulldozing the Casitas possibly tonight.

So, what I think is happening here, is that people generally are concerned and have no ability to distinguish between fact, fiction and rumor - as there are no reliable facts. Also, there is concern for the owners and people trying to make a living from the tourist trade in Sosua - call us 'bleeding heart liberals' or whatever is the correct terminology in this case.

But I'm sure we all know life must go on....

With any change comes uncertainty - in this case, the bulldozers first and now the rumors. It is not a good situation.

 

[toneloc24]

Should Robert start a list of the dr1ers who want to be notified in time so that they can lie in front of the bulldozers?

Not interested in lying in front of bulldozers or lighting candles or marching on downtown Sosua or tree (or casita) hugging. Honestly just looking for facts.

Who's right or wrong in this matter is highly subjective. Someone owned the land in Cabarete, maybe there was dual ownership based on fraudulent business practices. Is that out of the question in the DR? Houses and businesses were razed, and apparently without notice. Some people had rightful ownership, others not. Apparently, something happened outside Cabarete.

It would be interesting what your outlook on things would be if it happened to your property, accidentally, of course. Because it could never to you in the DR, right?

Can someone on the ground please report the facts on the alleged Sosua Beach situation? Way too many opinions of why, and heresay. I just want not to have to walk through an AI on the way to the beach.

 

[Ken]

Can someone on the ground please report the facts on the alleged Sosua Beach situation? Way too many opinions of why, and heresay. I just want not to have to walk through an AI on the way to the beach.

No new hotels are being constructed. When you go to the beach from Sosua, you start at the La Roca restaurant and walk down a street that is lined with shops. On your right are those constructed by the hotel, on the left are casitas selling items for sale to tourists, such as cheap Haitian paintings, jewlery, things made of wood, etc. It is my understanding that the owners of these shops have long known they are on private property and at risk.

Between the beach and the highway is a long string of casitas serving as gift shops and beach bars. They are well liked by some visitors and not by others. There are too many and for that reason they tend to be too aggressive when they spot visitors they think have money. The hotel that adjoins the beach is a bit more upscale than the others in Sosua, and they have hopes of attracting even more upscale visitors when they complete the casino/convention hall that is now well along in construction. All those casitas do not fit into their plans. Consequently some or all may be gone, but you will still be able to use the beach and get to it by walking down the same street that you do now.

 

[xamaicano]

They are well liked by some visitors and not by others.

I have mixed feelings about this, on one hand I like hanging out at one particular bar which was a great location for people watching. However, on the other hand it is a pretty annoying walk to get there.

 

[Danny W]

It seems pretty fair to say that at this moment in time many facets of the Dominican infrastructure are up for grabs. National parks, beachfront property, tax free autos - you name it. It's nothing new. I don't see many Taino Indians running around town, and I don't think there were this many Jews in Manhattan 400 years ago. It's just a shame that such a beautiful country with so many wonderful people is such a mess. I'm not taking sides, but I don't think anyone chiming in on this subject has any confidence that things are being handled in an honorable fashion. Of course we gringos love the peso being in the toilet. We're all big fish in a small pond.- D

 

[Lambada]

Should Robert start a list of the dr1ers who want to be notified in time so that they can lie in front of the bulldozers?

Bulldozers bulldozing, condo rules changing, & tear gas in Cabarete. It is all a concern, isn't it?

 

[Tor]

I'l guess the plan is to close down the public acess to the beach, and build AI's all around it. When that happens, Rocky will not be able to walk to the beach at all, and he will not have any guests neither in the resturant or the hotel.

 

[Rocky]

Public access

I'l guess the plan is to close down the public acess to the beach, and build AI's all around it. When that happens, Rocky will not be able to walk to the beach at all, and he will not have any guests neither in the resturant or the hotel.

I doubt that the public access to the Main beach in Sosua could ever be blocked off, nor do I think anybody has planned to do so.
If it did ever come to be, there would still be New beach, Casa Marina Beach, Larimar beach, the General's beach and Playa Chiquita.
I have been optimistic about Sosua's future for as long as I've been here and I have seen a lot of progress, mostly for the good.
The community spirit amongst the English speaking community has grown in leaps and bounds.
Never have we seen so many residents willing to help out complete strangers and come to the rescue of other ex-pats in times of need.
Those who have contributed to making Sosua a better place to live or visit are optimistic people. There are of course those who would waste their lives away crying in their drinks about how this or that is wrong, how Dominicans are no good, gossiping about others, and just generally being negative about anything and everything.
Menwhile there are those who see the glass as half full instead of half empty.
These are the people who help make Sosua the wonderful slice of paradise that it is.

 

[Argo]

Who is next??

I'l guess the plan is to close down the public acess to the beach, and build AI's all around it. When that happens, Rocky will not be able to walk to the beach at all, and he will not have any guests neither in the resturant or the hotel.

I wonder if the American, British, Italian clubs know that they will be next?

That bech sounds like it might become just like on the South Coast where I vist, 12 foot concrete walls and men with guns keeping you off the beach unles you are a guest at hotel?

A>

 

[Escott]

This is getting HILARIOUS. How about just saying "THE SKY IS FALLING" or just scream "FIRE" and get it all over with. Stop beating the war drums and just get it off of your chest!

While I don't know what happened on Cabarete Kite Beach and don't know what is going to go on at Sosua Beach, life is just like it was last week or last month here in town for those of us that live here. As a matter of fact I like life even more than last week or last month. I am pretty sure I will like it more next week also!

BTW: I rent a couple of condos out and am booked into March of next year so I feel no panic even if I don't get another rental. I sell NOTHING to NOBODY so I have really not much to gain here other than just trying to cast the proper light on things as I see it. There are others here with something to gain and others here that prey on people coming down and moving to the DR but I don't make a dime off of anything other than renting one condo.

Scott

 

[KateP]

For my Spanish speaking friends, this appears in Diario Libre today:

"Sosua. Los terrenos del parque del municipio de Sos?a fueron vendidos a una empresa hotelera para la construcci?n de un centro de convenciones, informaron las autoridades municipales.

Los terrenos, ubicados en la parcela n?mero 1 del Distrito Catastral 2, del municipio de Sos?a, fueron vendidos por la empresa Coralillo, S.A al Hotel Sos?a Oceanfront, seg?n el s?ndico municipal, Celso de la Cruz. El monto de la venta no fue revelado.

El ejecutivo municipal dijo que los terrenos donde se encontraba el parque fueron declarados de utilidad p?blica, pero el Estado nunca los pag? a su antiguo propietario, Thomas Phillips, (fallecido), cuyos familiares y socios crearon la empresa Coralillo S.A.

De la Cruz explic? que esos terrenos adem?s incluyen la entrada a la playa Sos?a, de donde se desalojar? a decenas de casetas.

La construcci?n del centro de convenciones fue aprobada por la Sala Capitular del Ayuntamiento de Sos?a mediante la resoluci?n 8-2003, emitida el 17 de febrero del a?o 2003.

La resoluci?n ratific? tambi?n la creaci?n del Patronato pro Parque, integrado por el S?ndico, el presidente del Ayuntamiento, los dos consultores jur?dicos del Cabildo, el Club Rotario, las iglesias Cat?lica y Evang?lica, entre otras entidades.

La se?ora Sonya Uribe, abogada de la empresa Starz Resort, una operadora de hoteles que tiene a cargo la construcci?n del centro de convenciones, dijo que el tribunal de tierra de Puerto Plata anul? el decreto que declar? de utilidad p?blica los terrenos del parque, por incumplimiento de pago de parte del Estado.

Los terrenos fueron declarados de utilidad p?blica en el gobierno de Salvador Jorge Blanco (1982-86), pero el Estado no los pag? a su due?o"

- Cornelio Batista, Diario Libre

Anyone have time to translate this?

Thx!

 

[Ken]

For my Spanish speaking friends, this appears in Diario Libre today:

Anyone have time to translate this?

Thx!

in brief, Starz resorts has purchased the Sosua park and the access road to the beach from the town government of Sosua.

 

[Argo]

This is getting HILARIOUS. How about just saying "THE SKY IS FALLING" or just scream "FIRE" and get it all over with. Stop beating the war drums and just get it off of your chest!

While I don't know what happened on Cabarete Kite Beach and don't know what is going to go on at Sosua Beach, life is just like it was last week or last month here in town for those of us that live here. As a matter of fact I like life even more than last week or last month. I am pretty sure I will like it more next week also!

BTW: I rent a couple of condos out and am booked into March of next year so I feel no panic even if I don't get another rental. I sell NOTHING to NOBODY so I have really not much to gain here other than just trying to cast the proper light on things as I see it. There are others here with something to gain and others here that prey on people coming down and moving to the DR but I don't make a dime off of anything other than renting one condo.

Scott

Scott

Sorry, did not mean to get your nuts in a knot, I was just comparing to what I have witnessed on my visits to Boca Chica

The Hamaca will in no way allow non guests on thier beach, no condition if they arrive by air land or sea

I was understanding this is what people are saying about Sosa and was expressing my unhappiness about the situation current

A>

 

[Ken]

The Hamaca will in no way allow non guests on thier beach, no condition if they arrive by air land or sea

A>

60 meters back from the high water line is open to all in the DR. But I don't doubt that there are hotels whose guards tell people they can't enter. But if a person is willing to press the issue, I believe he will win. Why not post a question in the Legal section based on what you have observed at the Hamaca and get the opinion of Fabio Guzman, our legal expert?

 

[Escott]

Scott

Sorry, did not mean to get your nuts in a knot, I was just comparing to what I have witnessed on my visits to Boca Chica

The Hamaca will in no way allow non guests on thier beach, no condition if they arrive by air land or sea

I was understanding this is what people are saying about Sosa and was expressing my unhappiness about the situation current

A>

No one was ever talking about closing Sosua Beach. Only talk was about the casitas right behind the beach that will be closed but they have had over 2 years notice now and expect it although they won't be happy about it. The government proposed a few years ago to build a mall where they can locate in closer to the Highway. These people would have to pay rent in that case and probably wouldn't go for that.

They have been selling their rights to these casitas for years for 10k US dollars mas o meno and just sell their rights and not the land which isn't owned by them. This land is in private hands and will at some point be developed into something.

This is a really nice and relaxing place to be at this time and none of these posts affect the daily lives of anyone other than that ones that were in places that they shouldnt have been in. One guy talked about tear gas and NO ONE I KNOW CAN VERIFY that it is a fact. Did they use tear gas, I don't know but so far only one person has said that they did and a friend of mine who rented space in this area never mentioned that to me so who really knows.

Scott

 

[Jane J.]

Good eye, Kate!

Anyone have time to translate this?

Here you are:

Sosua's park has been sold to a hotel company to build a convention center, according to the municipal authorities.

The land, located at Lot No. 1 of Cadastral District 2, in the municipality of Sosua, was sold by Corallilo, SA to Sosua Oceanfront Hotel, according to Mayor Celso de la Cruz. The price of the sale was not revealed.

The town official said the land on which the park lay was declared for public use, but the State never paid the owner, Thomas Phillips (deceased), whose family and colleagues operate the Corallilo company.

De la Cruz explained that the land involved in the sale also included the entrance to Sosua beach, from where dozens of casetas are to be removed.

Construction of the convention center was approved by Sosua's authorities by way of Resolution 8-2003, issued on 17 February 2003.

This resolution also provided for the creation of the "Pro-Park Council," which includes the cooperation of the mayorship, the town hall president, both legal consultants, the Rotary Club, the Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church, among others.

Sony Uribe, a lawyer for Starz Resort, the hotel operator overseeing the construction of the convention center, said that Puerto Plata's court annulled the decree that had declared the park for public use, by reason of non-payment by the State.

The land had been declared for public use during the 1982-86 governemnt of Salvador Jorge Blanco, but the State did not pay its owner.

 

[Escott]

So let me see if I get this right.

The land was privately owned. They tried to sell the land and rights to make it public but the state never paid thus making that a non issue and it remained in private hands.

It was then sold to the Company doing all that developement in the area and they have legal authority to use their lands as they see fit and remove the casitas. They have since given legal notice to leave but no one has left.

I would say that is they WEREN'T able to use their land in the way they wanted to it would be an unlawful taking of private property and not the other way around.

Scott

 

[Jane J.]

If Tommy Phillips wanted to give the park to the town, how strange that the government would have to pay for it.

Just so we're all clear, this article is referring to the casetas on the road, NOT the ones on the beach.

 

[Jane J.]

Dirty bastards

From today's news:

President Mej?a submitted another 143 sale contracts of state-owned lands, while the Senate hurriedly approved 34 deals to do with public property and 37 more pensions. The properties referred to are mainly apartments in government-sponsored projects and land-title sales.

The Senate still has more than 5,000 contracts for the cession of state-owned lands pending final decision. Vasquez announced that the Upper House would have to approve the pending contracts in blocks of 1,000 at a time.

So this is going on all over the country, basically.

Windeguy, I suppose they could feasibly block that entrance (there would still be the Charamicos side and the middle stairs from which to access the beach) but I highly doubt that would make good business sense. Even though Casa Marina is an AI right on the beach, you can still access their beach, or you could anyway - is this still true?

 

[GreyGhost]

Sosua or no Sosua

This is very complexing!! I am visiting from the US next week! I am planning to stay in Sosua for 5 days,

1-- should I make other plans?

2-- who wants to deal with corrupt anarchy BS on their Vacation?

3--It is sad that the people in the DR have to deal with this over and over! Maybe in our lifetime you will have a President working for the people! Be proud as a Dominican! Your leaders make it hard for you to enjoy life and prosper!

4-- any alternatives to go or this is not going to be a problem?