In response to a public petition, the Higher Administrative Court has ordered the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to make available the documentation on all dore shipments from the Barrick operated Cotui Pueblo Viejo mine since August 2012. It adds that the details of the dates of the shipments, the amount of minerals exported, destination, transporter and copy of the customs declaration statement also need to be presented on demand.
As reported in Hoy, the Ministry will comply with a request that was placed through the court by a group of Dominican citizens and organizations.
Minister of Industry & Commerce Jose del Castillo Savinon said the Ministry would request the information from the Customs Department and would make it available on request.
In the past the Ministry of Industry & Commerce and Barrick Pueblo Viejo has refused to release the information on the grounds that it was confidential for reasons of security of state.
When Customs ordered an inspection of the twentieth shipment on 13 March, irregularities were found and made public. This Tuesday, 9 April a shipment was detained and eventually was returned to the Cotui plant for lack of compliance with regulations.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/4/11/475484/Tribunal-ordenainformar-sobre-embarques-de-Barrick