Former President Joaquín Balaguer said he opposes the plan to develop Saona Island presented by Santo Domingo senator Milagros Ortiz Bosch (today Vice President-elect) and Hato Mayor senator Ivan Rondón. A bill in the Senate seeks to grant municipality status to the island. The municipality status would permit the development of the island that is today protected as part of the National Park of the East. The project opposed by the National Hotel & Restaurant Association that is of opinion that Saona Island should continue being a protected natural reserve. Balaguer was responding to a request for his opinion contained in a letter from Rafael Blanco Canto, president of the Hotel Association. The senator of La Romana, Enrique Martinez, also opposes the project. The island is visited by thousands of tourists from all around the country that pay a fee that is collected by the National Department of Parks. (6 July 2000)
