In a column in today’s Diario Libre, Friday 21 March, economist Pedro Silverio writes that environmental resources such as Loma Miranda should not be mined because preserving the environment is leaving reserves for the future generations. Silverio says that the government has overextended itself by taking on debt that will need to be repaid by future generations. He advocated leaving these environmental resources untouched as a reserve for the future.
In its mining proposal for Loma Miranda, Xstrata Nickel Falcondo says it will exercise responsible mining practices and will only affect a part of the mountain. Environmentalist Jose Manuel Mateo says that there is no way to mine in part of the mountain without damaging the ecosystem because of the environmental linkages.
Falcondo argues that the government is planning to build the San Juan-Santiago highway through national park areas, and that this will be more damaging than their proposed mining in Loma Miranda. Environmentalists are also expected to oppose the San Juan-Santiago highway that will open up mining activities in national park areas.
Environmentalists point to the company’s negative track record in the nearby Loma La Peguera.
The Chamber of Deputies has approved a bill that would turn Loma Miranda into a national park, granting it protected area status that would prevent any mining from taking place in the area. The Senate is debating the bill, but the pro-mining Medina administration has continued to support the company in its bid. The director of Mines, Alexander Medina, is a former Falcondo employee.
www.diariolibre.com/opinion/2014/03/21/i535101_loma-miranda-pero.html
www.diariolibre.com/ecos/2014/03/21/i534841_afirman-que-loma-miranda-puede-ser-desmembrada.html
www.theaureport.com/pub/na/gold-carpet-treatment-promised-for-miners-in-the-dominican-republic-alexander-medina