Puerto Plata’s Deputy Tourism Minister Cesar Jose de los Santos lamented last week’s ambush of a busload of US tourists on their way to Paradise Island, as reported in the Listin Diario. The vacationers were reportedly returning from a day of snorkeling on the sand bar near Punta Rucia in the province of Puerto Plata. De los Santos said that the Puerto Plata region has demonstrated itself to be one of the safest destinations in the country, where the level of delinquency is comparatively low. The deputy minister said that while the assault is a major concern for the authorities, he stressed his belief that it was an isolated event that occurred in a remote area, such as is the highway from Punta Rucia to Villa Elisa, in Monte Cristi. He said that the assailants, whom he described as amateurs, did not have Uzi guns as was reported, but rather “chagones” (homemade shotguns). He said that the authorities of Puerto Plata and Monte Cristi are looking to capture the thieves in the conduction of their investigation and are taking all measures to avoid a repeat incident.