Ecological issues continued to make headlines in Santo Domingo as the nation becomes more concerned about the importance of preserving the environment, while deriving economic benefits from its natural resources. At the top of the debate were two beautiful areas in La Romana – Isla Catalina and the Boca del Río Chavón.
The Minister of Tourism expected to put an end to the controversy on Catalina by inviting the press to come and see for themselves the work being undertaken to expand the beach on the nine kilometer island to make room for an expected 7,500 visitors a week.
Attending the press conference were Claudio Silvestri, president of Premier Hotels and Giogio Sabbi, representative of Costa Cruise Lines. Mr Silvestri explained that the expansion is to better accommodate the increase in visitors which this year are expected to number 94,000, from October to May 1996, and another 150,000 from October to May of 1997.
The conflict has environmentalists questioning whether the island can receive such a large number of visitors without its natural beauty being affected. The Listín Diario’s environmental reporter, Geraldino González, has been using the front page of the newspaper to say that he thinks the island is in danger.
Isla Catalina was leased for the exclusive use of Costa Cruise Line’s passengers, now arriving three days a week, in 1992 when Andrés Vanderhorst was Minister of Tourism. It is said that the Costa Cruise Line is charged US$5 for each tourist that lands.
The Ministry of Tourism has repeatedly denied that the current work is harming the beach. The Ministry indicated that the only area affected was 150 meters long and 20 meters wide, removing rocks for a plaza and improving the sanitary facilities.
The island is used by the Italian cruise line as a day stop in a “Caribbean paradise” thrice weekly. Costa has made a minor investment by constructing a floating bridge, bar, restaurant and public lavatories.
Following the allegation by the Listin Diario that the work on the beach was harming the coral, the Navy stopped the new construction. The newspaper also said that experts from the National Botanical Gardens feel that the island cannot handle the huge volume of visitors without substantial damage to its flora and fauna.
Nevertheless, on Tuesday, 16 January, the Listin Diario reported that President Balaguer had authorized the restarting of the work on Catalina, entrusting its overseeing to the Ministry of Tourism and the Navy.
The Ministry of Tourism insists, based on a report by its Ecotourism Commission, that the Isla Catalina has not suffered an ecological onslaught as maintained by the press.