The Ministry of Environment has emitted its position on the proposed drastic
\nreductions in protected park land boundaries and the planned use for these
\nfragile ecological reserves. Environment Minister Frank Moya Pons had not
\nresponded to press inquiries on the case so far. But now the Ministry of
\nEnvironment issued a note, as reported in El Caribe, establishing a position
\ncontrary to the bill that was passed in the Senate. The Ministry states that the
\ncommercialized development and mining projects proposed for these areas could
\nendanger alimentary safety in the Dominican Republic. The bill was expedited
\nthrough the Senate last month and is scheduled for a second reading this week in
\nthe Chamber of Deputies. Both legislative bodies have given the matter unusual
\npriority on their agenda.
\nLocal and international environmental, tourism and civic society groups are
\nexpected to express their opposition to the bill at a hearing the Chamber of
\nDeputies agreed to hold today in Congress.
\nThe bill would considerably reduce park area in order to allot their beaches to
\ntouristic development, and other areas for mining development.
\nThe bill also relinquishes certain regulatory roles of the Environment Ministry
\nin order to assign them to the Tourism Ministry. President Hipolito Mejia has
\nbeen a strong supporter of the use of park lands for tourism and mining
\ndevelopment.
\nAn outspoken critic of the bill, FNP deputy Pelegr?n Castillo told El Caribe
\nnewspaper that the rush in passing the bill ?is a clear sign that interest
\ngroups have been working behind scenes.? Furthermore, answering the question
\nwhether the rush is of the legislators or the President himself, Castillo said:
\n?That will be clarified in time once there is a change in government. The
\nPresident is even committing his penal responsibility,? he stated. When asked if
\nthe bill would pass in the Chamber of Deputies, Castillo said that if it passes
\nit would be revised in the future. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Ministry of Environment has emitted its position on the proposed drastic reductions in protected park land boundaries and the planned use for these fragile ecological reserves. Environment Minister Frank Moya Pons had not responded to press inquiries on the case so far. But now the Ministry of Environment issued a note, as reported in … <\/p>\n