The community of Quita Sueno in Haina is accusing the Falconbridge mining company of pollution that they say has caused serious health problems. Local residents are claiming that the Nafta fuel stored in three tanks belonging to the company in Haina have caused skin infections, hoarseness, headaches, allergies and an increase in the incidence of cancer, and heart and lung diseases.
The diseases were on the rise but the link was not made until a series of university studies established that the Nafta fuel was the cause. Since then, community representatives led by Fausto Eduardo Delgado of the Quita Sueno Block of Community Organizations have launched a campaign to stop the company from “poisoning” the environment. Delgado was motivated to act after his father died of cancer and his seven-year old son got a skin rash all over his body, which his doctor said was caused by pollution.
In a report in Diario Libre, the Ministry of Public Health’s Deputy Minister of Environmental Health Luis Felix Roa said he was not aware of the case. He added, however, that they have worked with other cases of pollution in Haina, mentioning a battery manufacturer that was eventually closed down.
As reported in Diario Libre, Falconbridge has sold the fuel storage facility to another company, but a judge ordered the hearing of a case against some of the company’s managers for violation of Environment Law 64-00. In 2013, Falcondo Xstrata Nickel recognized the damage that the pollution was causing and announced an emergency plan.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/ciudad/en-quita-sueno-la-gente-vive-pesadilla-FX3257272
Protestan en Quita Sueño de Haina por gases contaminantes de la empresa Falcombridge
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/04/05/414237/un-tribunal-manda-a-juicio-a-4-ejecutivos-de-falcondo
