Environmentalists score 2nd major win in 5 years

Santo Domingo.- The Senate Wednesday night approved the bill to create Loma Miranda National Park, between La Vega and Monseñor Noel provinces, the second major victory for Dominican Republic’s environmentalists, after they halted a planned cement plant at Gonzalo, near Los Haitises National Park, almost five years ago to the day.

Of the country’s 32 senators 25 voted for the National Park, six abstained, whereas Félix Nova, from Monseñor Noel, voted against, claiming that it would violate the Constitution regarding the rights of private land ownership and fair compensation. “We’re striking a blow to foreign investment."

Senate president Reinaldo Pared said the experience with Glenconre Falcondo’ contested mine project should lead spur the country to urgently define its mining policy.

Cement plant

In July 2009 the government was forced to repeal the environmental permit for the construction of a cement factory next to Los Haitises National Park, where people from around the country staged protests and even built at campsite to halt the heavy equipment and prevented the site from being bulldozed.