NewsWhore
10-07-2010, 04:10 PM
In the debate about the reasons for the delays in restoring the Malecon, the seafront boulevard, hoteliers have now responded to the city government that blamed the hotels for not paying municipal taxes and saying their patrons and guests encouraged prostitution as the main reasons for the neglected state of the major boulevard.
The Association of Hotels of Santo Domingo described the response to their demand for city government participation in urban renewal of the Malecon by Mayor Roberto Salcedo as "out of turn". The hoteliers say that the response was Salcedo's way of dodging responsibility for the city's leading touristic avenue.
The Association says that all the National Hotel & Tourism Association has done is ask Salcedo to fulfill his promise, to rescue the most emblematic public space in Santo Domingo, stressed repeatedly since he took office more than eight years ago.
"Based on Mr. Salcedo's reaction it would appear that the city government (ADN) has nothing to do with the cleanliness or adequate operation of public spaces," says the Association of Hotels of Santo Domingo in a press release.
"It is absurd that the city mayor believes that the hotels and private sector should take on the responsibility for the cleanliness of public spaces and organization of the city, roles that the law attributes to the city government," they stress.
They criticize Salcedo's complaint that the hoteliers profit and do not contribute to the work carried out by the city government on the Malecon, and the accusation that the hotels and restaurants promote prostitution. They say that their organization has always called for government participation to tackle the situation, have programs, including one against child abuse, and train their staff to control prostitution in their establishments.
They complain that the hotels pay their taxes and take part in the initiatives promoted by the authorities and the private sector to compensate for the present deficiencies of the local authorities," says the statement.
The Association called on Salcedo to explain why he has not been able to implement any of the projects his administration has announced for the Malecon. They highlighted the cases of the Guibia Plaza, the Omar Torrijos Plaza, and the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Park that are closed or abandoned, leaving the space that for decades was the leading attraction for Dominican tourism in a poor state of repair.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
The Association of Hotels of Santo Domingo described the response to their demand for city government participation in urban renewal of the Malecon by Mayor Roberto Salcedo as "out of turn". The hoteliers say that the response was Salcedo's way of dodging responsibility for the city's leading touristic avenue.
The Association says that all the National Hotel & Tourism Association has done is ask Salcedo to fulfill his promise, to rescue the most emblematic public space in Santo Domingo, stressed repeatedly since he took office more than eight years ago.
"Based on Mr. Salcedo's reaction it would appear that the city government (ADN) has nothing to do with the cleanliness or adequate operation of public spaces," says the Association of Hotels of Santo Domingo in a press release.
"It is absurd that the city mayor believes that the hotels and private sector should take on the responsibility for the cleanliness of public spaces and organization of the city, roles that the law attributes to the city government," they stress.
They criticize Salcedo's complaint that the hoteliers profit and do not contribute to the work carried out by the city government on the Malecon, and the accusation that the hotels and restaurants promote prostitution. They say that their organization has always called for government participation to tackle the situation, have programs, including one against child abuse, and train their staff to control prostitution in their establishments.
They complain that the hotels pay their taxes and take part in the initiatives promoted by the authorities and the private sector to compensate for the present deficiencies of the local authorities," says the statement.
The Association called on Salcedo to explain why he has not been able to implement any of the projects his administration has announced for the Malecon. They highlighted the cases of the Guibia Plaza, the Omar Torrijos Plaza, and the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Park that are closed or abandoned, leaving the space that for decades was the leading attraction for Dominican tourism in a poor state of repair.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)