Forty-five environmental defense and tourism industry organizations have requested that the Chamber of Deputies postpone until after the election the study of a bill passed in the Senate that tampers with the protected areas established by the Environment Ministry and Environmental Law 64-00. If ratified, the action would reduce the protected status of 30% of the national territory to 15%, as it grants access for touristic development of beaches located within the National Park of the East and the Jaragua Park (in the Southwest), as well as areas in the southwestern Bani dunes and along the Costa Azul Panoramic Highway in Macao in the East. Likewise, it authorizes mining exploitation at the Pomier Caves in San Cristobal. The senators, supposedly in the name of pragmatism, removed from the national parks bill practically any area that could be developed touristically or for mining purposes.
The senators blandished a group of Catholic Church bishops, who have supposedly joined the support for the mutilation of the parks law. The bishops allegedly endorsing development versus protection are headed by Monsignor Jose Dolores Grullon, the brother of Sergio Grullon (present Secretary of the Presidency and Hipolito Mejia?s brother-in-law). But even Monsignor Grullon distanced himself from the bill, telling El Caribe newspaper reporters that the bishops have not been informed of the changes made by the senators. Referring to the support, Grullon said, ?That is what they say so that the bill passes in Congress.?
Meanwhile, PLD Deputy Teodoso Ursino Reyes called his fellow deputies to their senses. ?Before the election, we deputies all have lots of political work to do, and we do not have sufficient time, if we are to be honest with ourselves, to study a bill as important as this one,? said Reyes.
Rosa Lamelas of the Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano, the organization that assembles leading environmental groups, went on record to say that making changes such as those proposed by the Senate is dangerous so close to election time, and that the Senate had not considered the impact on the natural resources of the area before making its decision. The group claims that the plan to use 25% of the park areas for commercial development is akin to vandalism and an act national shame, as reported in El Caribe. Hoy newspaper highlights her saying that the Senate decision would be in violation to national laws and several important international treaties and conventions the country has signed. National Hotel & Restaurant Association president Johnny Bernal said the use of National Park areas for tourism development is not necessary as there are many other areas outside of the protected parks where hotel construction is allowed that are still pending development.