Diario Libre newspaper investigative reporters disclose that the official title documents for the disputed plot of land 24A where Grupo Globalia announced construction of a 96-cabaña luxury beach front hotel apparently were tampered with. The newspaper shows the documents with smudges from “liquid paper” and typed over.
Likewise, in its follow up of the story, El Dia carries statements by former National Parks director Omar Ramirez who clarified that the certification authorizing the construction cited by the head of Globalia, Jose (Pepe) Hidalgo, was shortly after revoked, long before the company had purchased the property.
Environmentalists protested the construction stating that this was legally prohibited. After widespread opposition in the media, President Danilo Medina called for a suspension of the construction and ordered a presidential commission to look into the legalities. The members of the commission are Environment Minister Angel Estevez, who had issued the environmental permit for the construction, as well as Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and legal advisor to the President, Flavio Darío Espinal.
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El Dia
5 February 2020