The Presidency released Decree 14-99 that changes the limits of the National Park of the Redonda and Lim?n Lagoons along the eastern coast of El Seibo province. This impoverished town primarily lives off revenues from those in transit to doing the illegal boat trip to Puerto Rico. Residents had hoped for clearance so that investment in tourism projects could take place to provide new ways for making a living. They claimed that community and business leaders of the adjacent province of La Altagracia, where Punta Cana and B?varo are located, had impeded the development of their area. The decree reduces the protected area from 107.7 square kilometers to 28.14 square kilometers. A government officials committee made up by Omar Ram?rez, director of Parks; Colonel Radham?s Lora Salcedo, Forestry director; Ernesto Reyna, environmental advisor to the President; Bolivar Troncoso, director of ecotourism and environment for the Ministry of Tourism; Jose Mart?nez Guridi, deputy minister of Agriculture; and provincial governor Bienvenido Mejia and deputy Melo Medina gathered in Miches to explain to the community the scope of the new decree. Government Bienvenido Mej?a announced the government will invest RD$100 million in development projects in 1999. These the construction of 12 schools, a slaughterhouse, a cultural center and library, the completion of the free zone park installations where more than 2,000 persons will be employed. Also highways, rural roads, rural clinics and sports facilities will be built and the completion of bridges is promised. Governor Mej?a said that funding for the projects is included in the 1999 National Budget.
