In a widely welcomed move yesterday, Wednesday 26 March, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources definitively prohibited the installation of a second electricity generator barge in the Cafemba Bay, Puerto Plata. The barge, with a 36.5-megawatt production capacity was to join another such craft, but the ministry established that it would have a negative impact on the local environment.
Environment Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez visited the tourist area accompanied by the mayor of Puerto Plata. Gomez also ordered the local authorities to fix up the garbage dump as soon as possible, for proper solid waste disposal.
The announcement of the prohibition of the barge was made during an event at the provincial governor’s office for the public launch of a new book “Natural Protected Spaces of Puerto Plata”. The book, published by Ministry of the Environment officials in the province, Carlos Heriberto Finke and Roberto Gomez Santana, is aimed at providing incentives for eco-tourism activities in the province.