NewsWhore
06-12-2007, 06:10 PM
The National Hotels and Restaurants Association (Asonahores) board has yet to meet to give beleaguered Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez the vote of confidence he asked for, as reported in Diario Libre. Jimenez convened a press conference to make the challenge to the industry last week. He specifically asked Asonahores and the other private hotel associations to either support his tenure as Minister or else he would resign upon returning from a promotional trip to Spain. Juan Dolio and Playa Dorada tourism associations were prompt to publish newspaper ads in his support.
Diario Libre reports the press conference was called after the newspaper reported that Jimenez had authorized a "no objection" for construction on a lot that is part of the National Park of the East. Today's edition of Diario Libre says that the land in question was sold to Carlos Sanchez Hernandez, who together with another 60 people is involved in the Spanish tax evasion case known as Caso Marbella, or Operacion Malaya.
According to the report, Jimenez has yet to provide full details about the reasons for granting the "no objection" to the construction and for contracting the study for the subdividing of parklands when that is the exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of Environment or the Ministry of Economy and Planning. Instead, Diario Libre says that Jimenez called the press conference and challenged the tourism sector to state its support as his response to journalist inquiries.
Though Asonahores has yet to meet and provide a definite position, group president Luis Lopez has said the association supports Jimenez. Lopez told Diario Libre that the group would meet "before the end of the year". Asonahores executive vice president Arturo Villanueva explained that there has not been a published notification from Asonahores in reply to the minister because the board has not discussed the matter and no decision has been reached.
Last year, Clave Digital published a series of articles in September on Carlos Sanchez and his Dominican tourism connections with his involvement with the Operation Malaya corruption scandal in Marbella, Spain. Clave Digital pointed out that once the tax evasion scandal hit the press in Spain, the Pinero Group purchased the remaining 40% share of the accused partners in the holding company of Cayo Levantado and Cayacoa hotels. Bahia Principe also purchased the Portillo and Gran Bahia hotels, becoming the leading tourism investor in Samana. Bahia Principe was the company that received the "no-objection" to go-ahead from the Ministry of Tourism for the construction of the proposed Bahia Principe Bayahibe within the National Park of the East.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
Diario Libre reports the press conference was called after the newspaper reported that Jimenez had authorized a "no objection" for construction on a lot that is part of the National Park of the East. Today's edition of Diario Libre says that the land in question was sold to Carlos Sanchez Hernandez, who together with another 60 people is involved in the Spanish tax evasion case known as Caso Marbella, or Operacion Malaya.
According to the report, Jimenez has yet to provide full details about the reasons for granting the "no objection" to the construction and for contracting the study for the subdividing of parklands when that is the exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of Environment or the Ministry of Economy and Planning. Instead, Diario Libre says that Jimenez called the press conference and challenged the tourism sector to state its support as his response to journalist inquiries.
Though Asonahores has yet to meet and provide a definite position, group president Luis Lopez has said the association supports Jimenez. Lopez told Diario Libre that the group would meet "before the end of the year". Asonahores executive vice president Arturo Villanueva explained that there has not been a published notification from Asonahores in reply to the minister because the board has not discussed the matter and no decision has been reached.
Last year, Clave Digital published a series of articles in September on Carlos Sanchez and his Dominican tourism connections with his involvement with the Operation Malaya corruption scandal in Marbella, Spain. Clave Digital pointed out that once the tax evasion scandal hit the press in Spain, the Pinero Group purchased the remaining 40% share of the accused partners in the holding company of Cayo Levantado and Cayacoa hotels. Bahia Principe also purchased the Portillo and Gran Bahia hotels, becoming the leading tourism investor in Samana. Bahia Principe was the company that received the "no-objection" to go-ahead from the Ministry of Tourism for the construction of the proposed Bahia Principe Bayahibe within the National Park of the East.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)