Collado emphasizes that the beaches are public, not private.

Tourism Minister David Collado has reaffirmed that no citizen can be prevented from accessing and enjoying the country’s public beaches by private security companies, while also calling the incident reported in Juan Dolio, San Pedro de Macorís, by musician and activist Mariano Lantigua, founder of the group Aljadaqui, unacceptable.

The official’s statement comes after a video circulating on social media showed security personnel at a resort trying to restrict Lantigua’s presence on a public beach. This situation sparked a wide debate about free access to Dominican coasts.

Collado made it clear that the Government’s position is to guarantee the enjoyment of these spaces by the entire population, always respecting private property and the provisions established by national legislation.

“We firmly believe in access to beaches while always respecting private property, as the law states, and we have demonstrated this. The incident in Juan Dolio with the member of Aljadaqui is shameful. This cannot happen; the beaches belong to the people,” the minister stated.

In response to the controversy, the head of the Ministry of Tourism announced the formation of a working group made up of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of the Interior and Police, and the Attorney General’s Office.

The objective of this body will be to strengthen legal security in coastal areas, promote harmonious coexistence between citizens, tourists, and owners of tourist complexes, and guarantee the responsible use of public beaches.

Collado explained that the initiative seeks to prevent similar conflicts in the future and ensure that coastal areas can be enjoyed in an environment of order, tranquility, and strict compliance with the regulations governing each coastline of the country.