Dominican Republic resort town to get a US$103.2M revamp

Las Terrenas, DominicanRepublic.- President Danilo Medina on Thursday said the governmentwill fully support the relaunch of Samana’s (northeast) second biggest town, andasked residents to be willing to cede to make it possible.

Medina arrived in the company of several committee ofofficials who announced the reconstruction of the beach, a new hospital, alandfill, and a sewage treatment plant which residents demanded from the presidentduring a surprise visit last Sunday.

He also proposed a committee of community leaders,government agencies, neighborhood boards and business leaders to oversee theworks, but warned that if they want to benefit from tourism in the area, they haveto cooperate.

For his part Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia announcedthe reconstruction of the beaches at a cost of more than US$100 million, with acall for tenders.

He also announced construction of the Tourist PromenadeBonita, to link Las Terrenas with Playa Bonita.

"We will build the landfill of the town at the site ofthe old landfill," Garcia said.

Public Works minister Gonzalo Castillo said the hospital willbe built at a cos of RD$170 million and announced that all of Las Terrenas’streets and sidewalks will be paved and the curbs will be rebuilt.