Environmentalists say that many of the lots that are being legitimized by the Bahia de las Aguilas government deal have protected area status and should not be developed. The Academy of Sciences says that the government deal violates the Constitution if it authorizes development works in Bahia de las Aguilas.
At a press conference held yesterday, Tuesday 19 February at the UASD, the president of the Academy of Sciences Milciades Mejia said that the power of attorney 7-13 of 15 January 2013 signed by President Danilo Medina includes a significant part of the National Jaragua Park with Bahia de las Aguilas and almost all the coastline and other vulnerable areas, within Lot 215A. In the press conference to announce the deal, Minister of Environment Bautista Rojas Gomez had said the government would not touch protected area land.
At the Academy of Sciences event, former Minister of Environment Max Puig also rejects the deal. “To say that one has to hand the property to a mafia, land that they have illegally or irregularly acquired titles to, is to recognize that the state has no capacity whatsoever. It is the worst of possible arguments, said Puig. He said the deal undermines the Medina government’s credibility. He said the government had other options, such as expropriating the land that is beyond the Bahia de las Aguilas boundaries. “One does not have to expropriate land in the Bahia de las Aguilas area because those are state lands,” he said.
www.elcaribe.com.do/2013/02/20/advierten-que-medina-violaria-constitucion
http://diariolibre.com.do/noticias/2013/02/20/i372232_mapa-muestra-parcelas-areas-protegidas.html