Thousands of people marched in Bonao yesterday, Tuesday 25 February demanding that the Environment Ministry give the relevant permission for mining to go ahead in Loma Miranda.
The march received massive support from local residents, businesspeople, shopkeepers, politicians and local authorities who attributed the economic crisis in the area due to the closure of dozens of businesses and the lack of jobs to the closure of the Falcondo Xstrata nickel mine last year and the consequent loss of their income of around RD$40 million a month which they spent in local businesses.
Nine out of 10 of the mayors in the province, Deputy Maria Mercedes Fernandez and Senator Felix Nova Paulino took part in the demonstration that was only rivaled in size by a demonstration on 5 May 1989 when the people of Bonao took to the streets to ask for wage increases and a healthy environment.
The demonstrators asked the Ministry and the President not to declare Loma Miranda a National Park saying that they had a right to work to be able to make an honest living and live in peace.
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