The people of San Jose de las Matas held a large protest march to say “no” to any plans to build a tailings dam in that area. As reported in El Caribe, the Coalition of Socio-Environmental Organizations of the Sierra held a massive march in rejection of the construction of the Placetas Dam in San José de las Matas. The protestors rejected that the government issue the needed social and environmental licenses.
Yessenia Caba, speaking for the coalition, said the tailings dam comes with a high environmental cost. The people of San Jose de las Matas said the tailings dam would counterproductive and violate fundamental social and ecological sustainability principles. Caba said the people of San Jose de las Matas had already rejected the possibility in 2012.
She stressed that the coalition’s position is to reject again the construction of the tailings dam in Las Placetas. She criticized the little planning on behalf of the government for the sustainable use of its natural resources. She said the water resources have been exploited, degraded and misused. She argued the government should instead watch over the conservation and preservation of the water resource for use of future generations and the sustainable use of land.
The people of the southcentral province of Monte Plata have also been vocal in rejecting that the tailings dam be located there.
Barrick Gold Dominicana argues the construction of a tailings dam is needed to extend the lifespan of their gold mining operation in the Dominican Republic. The tailings dam in Sanchez Ramírez province is known for having caused major environmental damages.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Acento
30 August 2021