Seaweed stokes row on Dominican beach access, again

Santo Domingo.-Tourism minister Bautista Rojas on Wednesday said the seaweed is now arrivingas far west as Pedernales and Barahona, and defended the hoteliers´ closing offbeaches to Dominican taxpayers.

He said the hotels inPunta Cana (east) have been affected by the seaweed during the last eightmonths.

The official said HurricaneJoaquin´s winds also pushed the seaweed from the Sargasso Sea toward Dominican coasts,where crews and equipment have been gathering it for disposal.

Interviewed by MarinoZapete abd Edith Febles on ColorVsion Channel 9, Rojas announced that thegovernment will buy additional equipment to counter the seaweed includingbarriers whose cost will be determined prior to a call for tenders.

Hoteliers benefit,but shutter beaches

When Zapete notedthat the government is spending taxpayer money to benefit hoteliers despitetheir halting Dominicans from using the beaches, the official said “they bringtheir investments and we should provide them with sustainability.”

Co-host Edith Feblesalso noted that the Cisneros group has closed the road to the beach at Miches,to which Bautista responded that the law is clear regarding free access withinthe 60 meters to the high tide mark.