Spanish businessman Juan Jose Hidalgo of the Globalia consortium, which has bought an area of land within the limits of the National Park of the East, is to face questioning from the Environment Ministry’s attorney general, Jose Trinidad Sena, this morning. An inquiry into the affair was ordered by Environment Minister Frank Moya Pons, who voiced his wish to “take all necessary measures to protect the park, in keeping with current legislation.” The attorney is waiting for confirmation from the deputy minister on protected areas and biodiversity with regards to the land in question, in order to determine the parcel of land’s status. Trinidad Sena said that if it is within the park, the legal restrictions would have to be observed. Earlier in the week, Hidalgo presented proof of the sale and his ownership of the land, including an authorization letter signed by President Hipolito Mejia, in which the President dismissed the protests against the proposed development of the site by environmental campaigners and hoteliers.
Nevertheless, Environment Minister Frank Moya Pons appears to be standing firm against the plans. The architect in charge of the development reportedly said that he would not spend $100,000 on a legally required environmental impact assessment “for it to end up in some filing cabinet,” but later contradicted himself when he told a reporter the assessment was complete. Hidalgo, as reported in El Caribe, had said that if they had to do the assessment, they would. The proposed development, known as Gran Palace Bayahibe Beach Resort, is to have 1,050 rooms, according to Hidalgo, and is being met with staunch resistance by a group of 39 tourism companies and environmentalists, who have targeted Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar in their letter-writing campaign.
In an advertisement published today in several morning dailies, Hidalgo defends his right to do so on grounds that the six hotels that exist in the area were the result of exclusions to the park areas made by decree during the late President Joaquin Balaguer administration. Despite Law 64-00 setting new rules for development of national parks with its passing on 18 August 2000 by President Mejia himself, Hidalgo went ahead to purchase the 24-A lot on 28 October 2000. Shortly after, President Mejia issued Decree 850-00 dated 7 November 2000 that authorized the expropriation of the lot from the National Park land.