UNDP condemns cement plant near Dominican National Park
Published by MAC on 2009-11-30Source: Dominican Today
In June 2009, the Dominican Republic's President Leonel Fernandez requested the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to evaluate construction of a cement plant, near the Los Haitises National Park, which had already been suspended by court order. See: http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=9325
The UNDP has now condemned the project - but left the final decision to the Government.
(Those wanting to read more on protests against the plant may go to the Spanish language site ¡Salvemos Los Haitises! ¡No a la Cementera!: http://nocementera.com/)
The UN nixes planned cement plant near Dominican National Park
Dominican Today
26 November 2009
SANTO DOMINGO.- The project to build a cement plant near the Los Haitises National Park isn't viable, said the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), but made it clear that the Dominican Government has the last word.
The planned project, near the community of Gonzalo (northwest), failed to meet the technical and scientific criteria and all principles of the legal environmental framework weren't suitably observed, said in their report the United Nations experts who evaluated the process to issue the environmental license.
After the evaluation they determined that the construction of the cement plant would affect the environment and create a high degree of uncertainty on the region's geologic stability, landscape and surface and subsoil water sources in the Los Haitises' karst zone.
The UNDP's evaluation of the cement plant project company Consorcio Minero Dominicano stems from the Government's request, after the surprisingly strong opposition from environmentalists and civil society groups to the announced work.
The report also recommends bolstering the institutional and the environmental sustainability, to improve the quality of life of present and future generations.
Reactions
The Santo Domingo State University UASD Environmental Commission and representatives of popular organizations reacted quickly, hailing the evaluation, while immediately demanding the return of the lands they say were bought form the farmers at a "paltry" price.
In that regard United Nations the System resident coordinator Valerie Julliand also praised the interest shown by citizens by exerting their right and duty to monitor any process which affects the collective interest. She said she's convinced that process was a fundamental step which strengthens Dominican Republic's democracy.
Company of nixed cement plant slams "cartel" which "manipulates prices"
Dominican Today
26 November 2009
SANTO DOMINGO - The company Consorcio Minero Dominicano announced it decided to relocate its planned cement plant, just hours after the United Nations Development Program released the evaluation of the project, but [the company] slammed the alleged "manipulation" by a "cartel" which distributes cement quotas and sets prices.
"We have consistent disagreements about [the UNDP report], [which is ] clearly slanted, but we understand that nothing is gained by continuing with a discussion which already exceeds the framework of the legitimate business activity, for which we've chosen to locate the project in another place," the Santiago based company said in a statement.
Citing "legitimate interest of consumers" however, it said the cement business shouldn't continue being "manipulated by a cartel that distributes quotas and sets prices in detriment of the most elementary principles of healthy competition."