President Danilo Medina ordered a halt to construction of the Leaf Bayahibe hotel project in the protected area of the National Park Cotubanama, in the east of the country. He acted after widespread opposition to the construction of 96 “ecological” cabañas in the protected area. The hotel is promoted by Grupo Globalia, the owner of Air Europa and Be Live hotels. It has the backing of the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Tourism.
During a press conference, Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo says all construction needs to be stopped in the Guaraguao-Punta Catuano Recreational Area, in La Altagracia Province. He said the President appointed a commission, to be headed by himself,
Environment Minister Angel Estevez, and the legal consultant of the Executive Branch, Flavio Dario Espinal, to investigate the hotel project and submit a report to President Medina on the matter. The commission will oversee the preparation of a comprehensive study of all the legal and regulatory norms, as well as the environmental commitments applicable to that protected area. Montalvo said no deadline was set for submitting the report.
Environmentalists argue that the Ministry of Environment irregularly issued the environmental permit 3771-19. Clearing of the property began on 21 January, a national holiday. The environmentalists say that the Ministry of Environment Resolution No. Resolution 0009-2018 bans all construction in the Guaraguao-Punta Catuano national recreational area. Former Environment Minister Francisco Domínguez Brito called for the environmental permit issued by the Ministry of Environment to be revoked.
On Monday, 27 January, deputy Fidelio Despradel for Alianza Pais called for Environment Minister Angel Estevez to be summoned to Congress to explain why he issued the authorization for the construction of the project. Despradel stressed the importance of the natural and cultural resources in the area that would be affected by the construction of the hotel.
National Cotubanamá Park is the most visited natural area in the Dominican Republic.
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Z101 Digital
29 January 2020