Santo Domingo.- Several organizations have asked the Environment Ministry and the Environmental Defense Prosecutor to halt construction and operation of a dolphin park owned by Dolphin Discovery Group in Punta Cana, claiming that the facility is being built based on an irregularly issued environmental license.
Outlet diariolibre.com reports that the Dominican Academy of Sciences, the Dominican Foundation for Marine Research, the Jaragua Group, the Environmental Protection Institute and the Santo Domingo State University UASD made the request, on claims that its operation violates local and international conventions that ban the dolphin hunt, captivity and mistreatment.
The Dominican Academy of Sciences and the Marine Research Foundation on July 15 submitted a document notifying their concerns to the Environment Ministry over alleged violations on, and asked it to halt construction of the dolphin park, but "we’ve received silence in response."
Court action
The case has reached the Supreme Arbitration Court with two hearings thus far, with a third set for tomorrow Wed., when the entities expect a favorable ruling. "We consider it important that other agencies of the Dominican State interpose their authority to stop this violation of resolutions, laws and regulations."