NewsWhore
05-04-2006, 02:10 PM
In response to lawyers claims on private ownership of Bahia de las Aguilas lands, Environment Minister Max Puig stated that notwithstanding the legal confrontation involving the land at Bahia de las Aguilas, it is owned by the Dominican state, as reported in Hoy newspaper. He says that the lands became the state property when they were declared part of a protected area. He understands that the original owners can go to court to demand payment for their land but not to have it returned. The Supreme Court of Justice has pending decisions on several recourses for Bahia de las Aguilas property that was transferred to private owners through irregular titles issued by the Dominican Agrarian Institute.
Puig explained: "Once the government declares that a land area is a protected area, that land practically is removed from the market. That is, it cannot be purchased or sold because it is part of the property of the nation, independent of the fact that the former owners have not been compensated."
Lawyers representing people holding property deeds to land in the Bahia de las Aguilas area have warned that the seafront land of the tourist area cannot by used by the government to allow foreign investors to develop projects there, because they are private property. They are also warning the French investors against trying to build hotel complexes on this land as there are legally issued property titles and whoever builds on the land risks being sued in court. They have also warned the land cannot be declared "of public interest" to later transfer it to foreign investors in the tourist field. This position was presented by Jottin Cury, Jr., the lawyer for Mantenimientos y Servicios Fernandez S.A. and DICSA, together with Mario Read Vittini, representing Aguilas Dominico-Internacional, Alquimia del Este and Meadowland Dominicana. According to Cury, the government does own land in the area but not on the shorefront. He doubts that any investor - national or foreign - would invest in a tourist area until the legal problem is resolved.
Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
Puig explained: "Once the government declares that a land area is a protected area, that land practically is removed from the market. That is, it cannot be purchased or sold because it is part of the property of the nation, independent of the fact that the former owners have not been compensated."
Lawyers representing people holding property deeds to land in the Bahia de las Aguilas area have warned that the seafront land of the tourist area cannot by used by the government to allow foreign investors to develop projects there, because they are private property. They are also warning the French investors against trying to build hotel complexes on this land as there are legally issued property titles and whoever builds on the land risks being sued in court. They have also warned the land cannot be declared "of public interest" to later transfer it to foreign investors in the tourist field. This position was presented by Jottin Cury, Jr., the lawyer for Mantenimientos y Servicios Fernandez S.A. and DICSA, together with Mario Read Vittini, representing Aguilas Dominico-Internacional, Alquimia del Este and Meadowland Dominicana. According to Cury, the government does own land in the area but not on the shorefront. He doubts that any investor - national or foreign - would invest in a tourist area until the legal problem is resolved.
Link To Original Article (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)