trouble in Punta Cana and other DR (eco) tourism news

2. Long-time squatters evicted from Punta Cana property
3. Veron evictions put to a stop
11. Baby turtles to hatch in front of Dominicus beach
11. Asonahores opposes Saona municipality bill

This english news are from www.dr1.com press review.

Note: Punta Cana Beach Resort is member of CAST. I'm not sure if it is
in the same land that is under dispute but they also have a project of
gulf course in association with Julio Iglesias and Oscar de la Renta..
Yacine

> DR1 Daily News -- Tuesday, 1 August 2000
> 3. Veron evictions put to a stop
> President Leonel Fernandez ordered the chief of the Police, Major
> General Pedro de Jesus Candelier and the state representative to
> suspend the eviction of squatters on Grupo Punta Cana claimed lands in
> Veron. The Grupo Punta Cana on Friday, Saturday and Sunday began the
> eviction of 70 families that refused their offer to relocate.
> Reportedly, the Grupo Punta Cana has court judgements in their favor,
> establishing their right to the eviction. Monsignor de la Rosa told El
> Siglo newspaper that President called him at 10 pm on Sunday to say
> that he had ordered the evictions be suspended and that talks resumed.
> News reports say that about 100 families accepted offers to relocate
> made by the eastern company.

> DR1 Daily News -- Monday, 31 July 2000
> ********************************************************************
> 2. Long-time squatters evicted from Punta Cana property
> Armed forces proceeded to evict 70 families that refused to accept
> relocation offers by the Grupo Punta Cana in the La Altagracia
> province. The Punta Cana tourism entrepreneurs battled the eviction of
> the squatters for more than 20 years. They had received eviction
> judgments but these had not been able to be implemented by the
> military and police until now. The eviction was finally carried out on
> Friday and Saturday.
> The company offered squatters to relocate to a nearby barrio, where
> streets, electricity poles, and potable water facilities near Punta
> Cana. The church and school of the town would not be relocated. The
> families are being provided with property titles to the new lots where
> homes would be built. The company also contributed 225 workers to help
> with the construction.
> Press reports say that about 100 families accepted the offers, while
> about 70 families held on. The Grupo Punta Cana said that these
> families represent commercial interests of others. The evicted
> families had the support of the Bishop of Higuey, the governor of the
> province and the El Seibo senator who said that the PLD government
> should not have taken the action at the end of its term. Those against
> the eviction burned tires in Higuey, the capital of the La Altagracia
> province in protest. Several businesses in Higuey also closed down in
> support of the evicted.

>
>
> 28 June 2000
> 11. Baby turtles to hatch in front of Dominicus beach
> In seven to eight weeks, or by mid July, 80 to 100 leatherback turtles
> will hatch on southeastern Dominicus Beach, in front of the Club Viva
> Dominicus. The mother turtle laid her eggs there on 14-15 May. The
> mother turtle is estimated to weigh over 600 kilos. Scientists believe
> she was born at Dominicus beach about 100 years ago and returned to
> lay her eggs. Club Viva Dominicus has fenced in the area where the
> turtle lay her eggs, to protect these from onlookers and predators.
> The newspaper says that the hotel is keeping a close watch on the
> mother in order to shut off illumination near the beach to avoid
> disorienting the baby turtles when they are born. The baby turtles
> have been known to follow the lights and not head into the water as
> they are supposed to. The hotel has assigned a day and a night
> watchman to keep a close eye on the mother turtle.
>
> 23-June-20000
> > 11. Asonahores opposes Saona municipality bill
> > The National Hotel & Restaurant Association opposes the bill presented
> > by Iván Rondón (PRI-Hato Mayor) that would give municipality status to
> > the Island of Saona. The 70-square kilometer island at present is part
> > of the National Park of the East. If it received municipality status,
> > it would no longer be under the protection of the National Parks
> > Department.
> > President of Asonahores, Rafael Blanco Canto sent a letter to the
> > president of the Senate, urging the latter to not pass the bill.
> > Saona island receives approximately 200,000 tourists a year.
> > The island has a population of about 400 inhabitants.

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