President Danilo Medina was in Barahona, Bahoruco and Independencia provinces over the weekend of 5 and 6 October where he met with the artisans who work at the La Filipina larimar mines. He spoke of how a country brand can be created with the mining of the stone that is only found in this location. He said this was comparable to lapis lazuli in Chile, which is in great demand with tourists. On Sunday 6 October, he met with artisans who belong to the Cooperativas de Artesanos de Larimar and Cooperativa de Extractores de La Filipina.
In Barahona, the President also met with the producers of gourd lamps.
President Medina traveled to Boca de Cachon, on the western side of the Enriquillo Lake where a government housing development is under construction to house families displaced by the rising waters of the Enriquillo Lake. The plan is for the houses to be ready by January 2014.
www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2013/10/6/294824/Facilitaran-la-industrializacion-del-larimar-en-la-region-Suroeste
www.presidencia.gob.do/comunicados/el-gobierno-facilitara-extraccion-e-industrializacion-del-larimar