NewsWhore
03-31-2009, 05:20 PM
The protest by the Coalition for the Defense of Protected Areas against developers at El Puerto in Cabrera last week may bring some good for the area, clarifying what may be a confusing situation. Adolfo Lopez, spokesman for the Coalition for the Defense of Protected Areas, says they were protesting against beachfront constructions in the area. But Lynn Kramer, a long-term resident and investor in Cabarete and Cabrera says that developers Renato Vicetti and Chester Marr have proposed to clean up El Puerto and enable the fishermen to sell their daily catch directly from stalls supplied with ice boxes donated by the developers. "It would be an opportunity for the fishermen to set up businesses and not have to roam the streets trying to sell their catch", she says.
She backs Vicetti and Marr's plan. "El Puerto was a dump, always changing its venue. When I arrived in town it was a very loud disco whose sounds resonated throughout the entire area causing awful noise pollution. I had a number of friends who wanted to leave the area for lack of sleep on weekends. It was also a terrible restaurant and a place for illicit activities," she says. There is now hope that things will change for the better.
Educating the public about the nature of the project may now be the key. Kelvin Guerrero, of the Coalition of Defense of Protected Areas, says that what has been lacking is the environmental permission. "An important aspect of environmental permits is that they involve public hearings to inform the public about the project," he explains. "When that does not happen, there can be misinterpretations." Guerrero says that the promoters need to request a license through the Deputy Ministry for Environmental Management (Subsecretaria de Gestion Ambiental). To issue this license, the Ministry needs to send representatives to give their opinion, and to meet the investors and hear about their plans. After that, a public hearing is held," he explains. He offered to act as a connector between the parties so that both can express their arguments in an objective and reasonable manner.
He can be reached at kaguerrero@hotmail.com
Developer Chester Marr says that he only hopes to do good things for the community. "There is a written agreement authorizing the fishermen's use of the property for eternity. 90% of the people who fish and work out of this property are not only in agreement about its future but excited at what it will do to enhance their lives. Nothing at this property will make me or anyone else rich and it can only improve Cabrera's small economy," he states.
He says the problem could be traced to "a small very vocal group of fishermen (about 5%) who refuse to meet and come up with options to maintain good relations.
Marr explains: "The property was purchased with the good intention of fixing up the existing building and increasing the existing fishing area as a lure for the locals as well as the small tourist community that exists in Cabrera. It is a very small project, nothing that will ever make anyone rich, four apartments, that's all. Permits were obtained for the work that was done by a government department, which gave its complete approval, only to find out later that their approval was insufficient and additional approval was needed. We have since had meetings with government agencies as we halted all work to obtain the proper permits," he says.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)
She backs Vicetti and Marr's plan. "El Puerto was a dump, always changing its venue. When I arrived in town it was a very loud disco whose sounds resonated throughout the entire area causing awful noise pollution. I had a number of friends who wanted to leave the area for lack of sleep on weekends. It was also a terrible restaurant and a place for illicit activities," she says. There is now hope that things will change for the better.
Educating the public about the nature of the project may now be the key. Kelvin Guerrero, of the Coalition of Defense of Protected Areas, says that what has been lacking is the environmental permission. "An important aspect of environmental permits is that they involve public hearings to inform the public about the project," he explains. "When that does not happen, there can be misinterpretations." Guerrero says that the promoters need to request a license through the Deputy Ministry for Environmental Management (Subsecretaria de Gestion Ambiental). To issue this license, the Ministry needs to send representatives to give their opinion, and to meet the investors and hear about their plans. After that, a public hearing is held," he explains. He offered to act as a connector between the parties so that both can express their arguments in an objective and reasonable manner.
He can be reached at kaguerrero@hotmail.com
Developer Chester Marr says that he only hopes to do good things for the community. "There is a written agreement authorizing the fishermen's use of the property for eternity. 90% of the people who fish and work out of this property are not only in agreement about its future but excited at what it will do to enhance their lives. Nothing at this property will make me or anyone else rich and it can only improve Cabrera's small economy," he states.
He says the problem could be traced to "a small very vocal group of fishermen (about 5%) who refuse to meet and come up with options to maintain good relations.
Marr explains: "The property was purchased with the good intention of fixing up the existing building and increasing the existing fishing area as a lure for the locals as well as the small tourist community that exists in Cabrera. It is a very small project, nothing that will ever make anyone rich, four apartments, that's all. Permits were obtained for the work that was done by a government department, which gave its complete approval, only to find out later that their approval was insufficient and additional approval was needed. We have since had meetings with government agencies as we halted all work to obtain the proper permits," he says.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#10)