After President Mejia’s meeting yesterday with former President Joaquin Balaguer, he said the construction of sports venues for the Pan American Games would continue in Mirador del Este Park. Mejía said there is no turning back on the commitment. The Listin Diario newspaper revealed that the construction violates the Environment Law. In June, Minister of Environment Frank Moya Pons said on TV that he did not recommend the use of the park for the sports venues. He has not referred publicly to the topic since. The government is building facilities for archery, field hockey, gymnastics, handball, weight lifting, soccer, ping pong, tennis, and a 4,000-person amphitheatre. President Mejia says Balaguer has the right to think and act as he wants, but that he, Mejia, is obliged to fulfill the commitments made to the Games. He said the installations would not take more than 5% of the park area. The Games are slated to open in Santo Domingo on 18 July 2003.
