The deputy minister of the Ministry of Environment, Roberto Sanchez, says that if outgoing President Hipolito Mejia goes ahead with his announced intention to sign the Sectoral Protected Areas Bill into law, the ministry may seek the opinion of the Supreme Court to declare the law in violation of the Constitution, as reported in El Caribe today.
As approved by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the bill removes the protected status from significantly delicate areas, and sanctions their use for the development of hotel and mining projects, many of which have already been authorized by Presidential decree.
President Mejia has said he would sign the bill ?because I am still the President.? President-elect Leonel Fernandez opposes the bill as passed in Congress, as have tourism, business, environment, church, foreign government, scientific and civic society groups in the Dominican Republic and abroad. These sectors have asked that the Sectoral Protected Areas Bill be opened up to in depth discussions by world experts. They advocate the need to preserve the balance between development and the environment and that the bill needs to be an instrument for sustainable national development.
Sanchez told El Caribe that the bill as approved in Congress indicates the presence of covert interests, as even areas that no one had bid for were removed from park land protection, such as Estero Hondo and Estero Balsa in Monte Cristi. Sanchez identified Santiago businessman Jose Armando Bermudez and Spanish businessman Juan Jose Hidalgo (of Air Europa) as two of those who made known their interest in developing certain properties within the protected park areas.
Citing local press reports, the Miami Herald writes that the Central Romana Corporation is among the private owners of land within the protected zones. Central Romana Corporation is described as a sugar growing and processing company owned by the Fanjul brothers of Florida. To read the complete story, see:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/8729030.htm