NewsWhore
03-06-2009, 02:40 PM
Leading environmental organizations are calling for the "absolute rejection" of an "urgent" bill approved yesterday in a first reading by the Chamber of Deputies that affects the limits of the National Park of the East as established under Law 202-04. In a press release, the organizations say the intent is to exclude areas of the park that have been sold to Italian investors in violation of Dominican laws. The release criticizes these being sold at the "price of a dead cat" to the would-be developers. The release calls it "new evidence of the moral failure of Dominican institutions, whose representatives seem to act in defense of interests that are divorced from those of the national interest and are instead at the service of capitals of dubious origin."
The organizations say that purchasers of lots Nos. 92-H, 92-N, 92-P, 92-Z in the municipality of Boca de Yuma, companies Fulcasa S.A and Playa Verde del Caribe C por A and subsequently Stratstone Real Estates S.A., violated local laws in the expectation that Congress would change the legislation to validate and legalize their investments.
"By legalizing the illegal appropriation of national assets, the honorable Chamber of Deputies contributes to the ethical setback, loss of values and promotion of criminal activity in Dominican society. What a paradox, to treat as urgent the sale of national assets that then leads to the conclusion that other urgent social priorities such as health, education, citizens safety and housing are insignificant and can be postponed by the illustrious deputies," states the press release.
It stresses that it is a myth that a national asset can only be developed if privatized, and that protected areas bring poverty.
The organizations call for prudence, and ask the legislators who may be confused or surprised in their good faith to act decisively to guarantee the integrity of the National Park of the East and denounce as an unsustainable lie the argument that the protected area is an obstacle to investments and development.
The document concludes by expressing concern "that the changes of the Constitution are in the same hands of those who have found arguments and reasons to pass a travesty of this kind".
The document is signed by the UASD Environmental Committee, the Academy of Sciences Environmental Team, the Coalition for the Defense of Protected Areas, the National Environmental Assembly, the Dominican Environmental Consortium, the Protected Areas Forum, the Jaragua Group, Mangroves of the East, the Tinglar Ecological Group and the Higuey Ecological Society.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
The organizations say that purchasers of lots Nos. 92-H, 92-N, 92-P, 92-Z in the municipality of Boca de Yuma, companies Fulcasa S.A and Playa Verde del Caribe C por A and subsequently Stratstone Real Estates S.A., violated local laws in the expectation that Congress would change the legislation to validate and legalize their investments.
"By legalizing the illegal appropriation of national assets, the honorable Chamber of Deputies contributes to the ethical setback, loss of values and promotion of criminal activity in Dominican society. What a paradox, to treat as urgent the sale of national assets that then leads to the conclusion that other urgent social priorities such as health, education, citizens safety and housing are insignificant and can be postponed by the illustrious deputies," states the press release.
It stresses that it is a myth that a national asset can only be developed if privatized, and that protected areas bring poverty.
The organizations call for prudence, and ask the legislators who may be confused or surprised in their good faith to act decisively to guarantee the integrity of the National Park of the East and denounce as an unsustainable lie the argument that the protected area is an obstacle to investments and development.
The document concludes by expressing concern "that the changes of the Constitution are in the same hands of those who have found arguments and reasons to pass a travesty of this kind".
The document is signed by the UASD Environmental Committee, the Academy of Sciences Environmental Team, the Coalition for the Defense of Protected Areas, the National Environmental Assembly, the Dominican Environmental Consortium, the Protected Areas Forum, the Jaragua Group, Mangroves of the East, the Tinglar Ecological Group and the Higuey Ecological Society.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)