Smaller
BiggerHardware store that sold sand extracted from Las Dunas identified
Minister of the Environment, Orlando Jorge Mera, affirms that “there will be no environmental impunity”.
Santo Domingo, DR
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources filed a complaint against the owner of the hardware store and transport El Conquistador, Santo Valerio Franco Guzmán, whom it accuses of commercializing sand from the protected area of Las Dunas, in Baní.
Likewise, through a resolution, the Environment ordered the paralysis and immediate closure of the activities of the collection center for the extraction and transport of material and the illegal deposit of aggregate material of this hardware store, located in the Santa Cruz sector of the southern city.
In this center, which does not have the environmental authorization for this activity, were found approximately 32 piles of sand, equivalent to around 500 cubic meters that, according to intelligence reports, were extracted from Las Dunas.
The Minister, Orlando Jorge Mera, pointed out that this judicial action is just the beginning and assured that they are combating mafias that, for many years, “have lived off political and military favoritism in the past,” and reiterated that in this administration, “there is not and there will not be environmental impunity.”
CONSEQUENCE
Seizure
The minister ordered the seizure of the sand and its return to Las Dunas. The hardware store owner, Santo Valerio Franco, must replace the sand within five days with a plan to replace the aggregate material.
It is noteworthy a police colonel was suspended because of his alleged activities of illegally removing sand from the dunes.
The questionable activity of the colonel reinforces the belief of some in the public these illegal mining activities continue because of certain authorities having a direct or indirect connection to the bad enterprises. Why report them when it is known the certain authorities are involved? If reported, there may be reprisals.
This is why they need to root out most if not all of the police upper echelons. It’s a shame that there may be good thrown out with the bad but I don’t see any other way.
I wonder when the same activities by the same ministro empezaran en la boca del rio Yasica en Cabarete?
this is not fair ! at all they make the small bussinesses pay for what the big corps are doing
this is a mom & pops store .. why make an example out of them …
MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT THE BIG CORPORATIONS STEALING the SAND FOR THEIR
RESORTS !
Big businesses rarely pay because of wealth and connections to high places. The little guy with no connections suffers the consequences of his questionable activities. It is the same worldwide.
For real man this is not okay
Am not gonna lie I live in the us but I was born in villavazque montecristi and to be honest Iam a privileged citizen of my town not because I travel but because me and my family have been there since the natives! I know the mayor , the governor, his kids. The only people they do this 2 are the new comers smh