The Court of Instruction in La Vega has convicted Julio Ramos Lora of environmental crimes affecting the watershed of the Cerrazo arroyo in the community of Las Animas. The conviction carries a suspended sentence of one year, along with a fine of RD$300,000 for violating the restricted area of 30 meters on each side of the waterway. The complaint was filed by the Specialized Prosecutor for Environmental and Natural Resource Defense in Jarabacoa.
As part of the plea deal, Ramos Lora is obliged to reforest the affected area with 2,000 seedlings and desist from any further construction projects in the area.
The sentence is important as environmental crimes usually go without any penalty. This is a victory for the Ministry of the Environment and sets a precedent for further actions to preserve the country’s watersheds.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
31 March 2025