Joaquin Geronimo, president of the National Council of Urban Affairs (CONAU) told El Caribe yesterday that it is unconceivable that the government go ahead with the construction of the underground metro while leaving all the misery of the Ozama river environs above ground. He told El Caribe newspaper that the Resure plan calls for relocating the dwellers of the La Cienaga and Los Guandules slums built in vulnerable river banks to a million meter housing development in San Luis. He said that they have identified the funding, but the project is pending the decision of President Fernandez. Geronimo admitted that his department had not been consulted when the Fernandez government decided to give priority to the underground metro megaproject.
The European Union is also participating in the Saneamiento Ambiental de Barrios Marginales (Sabamar) urban renewal project that will benefit the indigent residents in the Ozama River area.