NewsWhore
06-22-2009, 06:50 PM
On Friday, 19 June Judge Sara Henriquez Marin, president of the Dispute and Administrative Court ordered a temporary halt on work on the cement plant being constructed by the Dominican Mining Consortium on the outskirts of the Los Haitises National Park. The Ministry of Environment issued environmental license DEA 0157-09 dated 14 April authorizing the construction.
Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez has explained that President Leonel Fernandez himself had authorized the construction at the site.
In March, deputy minister of Environment Jose Manuel Mateo had recommended against the construction of the plant at the location, due to its possible effect on subterranean water sources in the area. Los Haitises is known as a source of 40% of the water used by the province and city of Santo Domingo.
Environmental and youth groups have been waging protests against the construction. The Monte Plata province community group Incorporated United Communities Rural Workers Movement and caving group Espeleogrupo took the case to the court on 20 May 2009. The construction is also being opposed by the Conference of the Episcopate of the Catholic Church, the state university UASD Environmental Commission, the Chamber of Deputies Environmental Commission and the Academy of Sciences, among others.
On Friday the Dominican Mining Consortium ordered a halt to construction in compliance with the court decision. The Consortium, associated with a major Santiago-based industrial and commercial group, is represented by lawyers Robert Martinez Vargas, Milton Ray Guevara, Juan Manuel Pellerano and Pedro Dominguez Brito.
Judge Henriquez stated that the preventive measure had been taken in order to reduce the risk of environmental damage. The case now needs to go to court.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez has explained that President Leonel Fernandez himself had authorized the construction at the site.
In March, deputy minister of Environment Jose Manuel Mateo had recommended against the construction of the plant at the location, due to its possible effect on subterranean water sources in the area. Los Haitises is known as a source of 40% of the water used by the province and city of Santo Domingo.
Environmental and youth groups have been waging protests against the construction. The Monte Plata province community group Incorporated United Communities Rural Workers Movement and caving group Espeleogrupo took the case to the court on 20 May 2009. The construction is also being opposed by the Conference of the Episcopate of the Catholic Church, the state university UASD Environmental Commission, the Chamber of Deputies Environmental Commission and the Academy of Sciences, among others.
On Friday the Dominican Mining Consortium ordered a halt to construction in compliance with the court decision. The Consortium, associated with a major Santiago-based industrial and commercial group, is represented by lawyers Robert Martinez Vargas, Milton Ray Guevara, Juan Manuel Pellerano and Pedro Dominguez Brito.
Judge Henriquez stated that the preventive measure had been taken in order to reduce the risk of environmental damage. The case now needs to go to court.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)