Coalition Lashes Out at Tourism Minister in the Dominican Republic

The Coalition for the Defense of Protected Area is blasting the Dominican Minister of Tourism for his allegedly leading participant in a tourism project that breaks the law.

The Coalition points to the case of Vistamare in Samana, that is already under construction without having presented the required environmental impact study, and for which an unprecedented exception by Presidential decree was obtained for the company to make use of the 196 feet of seafront.

Vistamare is a 140-unit development with ocean views. According to a report in Hoy, a local newspaper, the development will call for a 580 million Dominican pesos investment. Properties are for sale for $168,300 to $388,080.

The Coalition has presented the case to the National Ethics Commission. Copies have also been sent to the government´s Anti-Corruption Department (DEPRECO), the Foundation of Institutionalism and Justice (FINJUS), Citizen Participation (PC), the Supreme Court of Justice, Greenpeace of Spain, Ecologists in Action, the National Competitiveness Council, the Ministry of Environment, Environment Attorney General´s Office, and to the Inter-American Press Association.