El Siglo newspaper reports having had access to an eco tourism project developed by the Ministry of Environment for the Bahia de las Aguilas beach area. The use of the area for hotel development has been debated after President Hipolito Mejia issued a decree expropriating the area for hotel development purposes. According to El Siglo, the Ministry of Environment had developed the "Marco Conceptual para el Desarrollo de la Zona de Uso Publico del Parque Nacional Jaragua en Bahia de las Aguilas," a conceptual framework for the public use of the area. This does not contemplate the construction of hotels. The Ministry is in favor that hotels be located in Oviedo, Cabo Rojo and Pedernales. From there tourists could make day trips to the paradise-like beach. For more on the government’s expropriation decree, see http://www.dr1.com/daily/news022601.shtml The presidential decree has been debated because it violates stipulations in Environment Law 64-00 signed by President Mejia himself on 18 August 2000, shortly after taking office. (7 March 2001)
