Senate chief says colleagues won’t change stance on National Park

Santo Domingo.- Senate president Reinaldo Pared on Wednesday said the senators won’t change their position on the bill to create Loma Miranda National Park. "We will not change our position. We’ve made a commitment and when the commitment is contracted what remains is to assume it."

The Senate had passed the bill to create the protected area, with changes including a provision to pay the land owners, by raising the cost of mining permits by 10%.

But the Chamber of Deputies rejected the amendments, and returned the legislation to the Senate.

Pared spoke after receiving La Vega Diocese bishop Antonio Camilo, who told several of the ruling PLD party lawmakers present, that "90% of the population expect you’ll declare Loma Miranda National Park."