Santo Domingo.- While the members of a special Senate commissiondefend a bill to regulate the management and citizen’s access to rivers, lakes,lagoons and beaches, business leaders warned that as conceived, the proposed legislationwould jeopardize tourism.
Senator Jose Rafael Vargas said Thursday those who’reopposed don’t know the bill in depth.
Representatives from the National Business Council (CONEP),National Hotels and Tourism Association (ASONAHORES), Commercial Banks Associationand the Dominican Housing Builders and Promoters Association (Acoprovi) attendedthe debate over the initiative.
Vargas said the bill complies with the Constitution, which stipulatesthat those resources are freely available to the public.
Insecurity
Business representatives warn that free access to hotelbeaches would be detrimental to the tourism industry and in their view lead to ahigh level of insecurity.
The Constitution states that rivers, lakes, lagoons,beaches and national coasts are of public domain and of freely access, but withrespect for private property.
It states that the law will regulate the conditions, accessand easements via which individuals can access, enjoy or manage those areas.
Objective
The initiative aims to establish the regulatory frameworkfor the management and access of individuals to rivers, lakes, lagoons, beachesand national coasts.
The proposed legislation also reiterates the constitutionalright to free access and to ensure it, obliges the owners of adjacent propertiesto respect the easements established by law.