Jaak Rannik spoke up for the Zona Franca Multimodal Caucedo, the project to build a mega port center adjacent to the Las Americas International Airport. Promoters say it calls for an investment of more than RD$4,000 million, will create 1,000 jobs during its construction phase, 5,000-10,000 jobs once in operation, and another 15,000 indirect jobs. He highlighted cost savings of the volume cargo operations, for export and import operations. The free zone and cargo distribution center was presented in an open hearing at the City Hall yesterday. The distribution center will attract third generation ships used for trans-shipment operations that require deep port facilities at the present time unavailable in the DR. Furthermore, he said that the area is already of mixed use, with industrial, with the operation of the Las Americas Free Zone, the Cyberpark and the construction of the AES power plant and natural gas terminal going up near the hotel installations. The promoters have yet to present the findings of the environmental impact study being carried out by Mouchel Ltd (United Kingdom) and Titan Environmental, both certified by the World Bank. This study is required for the Ministry of Environment to give its go ahead to the project. Hoteliers operating in the area feel that the project threatens the bay of Andrés and the lagoon-like beach of Boca Chica. Biologist Francisco Geraldes of the Association Pro Development of Boca Chica said that the environmental cost of the project would be too high, referring to contamination the port operation would bring. Boca Chica is site of beach volleyball, sailing and water skiing events scheduled for the 2003 Santo Domingo Panamerican Games. There are nearly 2,000 hotel rooms in Boca Chica. (22 February 2001)
