Working overtime on Saturday, the Chamber of Deputies chose to open the National Park system to resort development by passing the Sectoral Protected Areas Bill as submitted by President Hipolito Mejia. The Chamber?s block of PLD deputies, represented by Minou Tavarez Mirabal, as well as Pelegrin Castillo of the FNP and Licelot Marte of the PRSC, objected to the approval. Regardless, it passed with a vote of 104 in favor and 33 against. The proposed legislation, which had already been passed by the Senate, makes changes to articles included in Environmental Law 64-00. The bill has met with strong opposition from national and international environmental organizations, tourism advocates and business and civic society groups. The bill will legalizes the sale of previously protected areas in order and consequently generate billion-peso profits for those involved. The bill is also bad news for Dominicans, who, once hotels are erected on these pristine beaches, may find their access to these previously public places denied, unless they can afford the hotels? prices.
As reported in El Caribe, the bill authorizes the development of recreational areas within the Cabo Rojo-Bahia de las Aguilas area in Pedernales, Playa Blanca in Azua and Guaraguao-Palmillas in La Altagracia, as well as an area of the Dunes of Las Calderas, Peravia, among other areas.
President Hipolito Mejia is expected to sign the bill into law prior to leaving the Presidential office on 16 August.