Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez and Blacksmith Institute president Richard Fuller were in attendance as the clean up work, in an area called 'God's Paradise' in Haina, began. God's Paradise is listed among the top ten most polluted places in the world. Fernandez and Fuller were accompanied by community representative Sandra Castillo and Environmental Management deputy-minister Ernesto Reyna. The group visited the former Metaloxa factory site, where most of the contamination occurred. Fernandez says part of the plan is to remove the toxic material from the land and refill it with a layer of vegetable matter, to allow for the construction of an ecological park. Fuller said that with Environmental Ministry cooperation, Blacksmith has been able to study the magnitude of the problem. Community leader Sandra Castillo commented that this was the first time an Environment Minister had visited this severely polluted area.

More...