Leaders of the MAP ensure that the decision of the court will benefit the society

The Progressist Environmental Movement struggle

The principal leaders from the Progressist Environmental Movement (MAP) from four provinces of the country ensure that the decision of the Criminal Court of the Supreme Court of Justice which declares acceptable an appeal in cassation against the sentence which discharges from their responsibility two former civil servants of the previous government, accused to have introduced into the country more than 50.000 tons of rockash* in Samaná and Manzanillo will benefit the society and will be a precedent in the sector of the environment.

Doctor Juan Rumaldo, the agronomist Enesito Ramos, Marino Matos and Rafael Taveras, respectively provincial presidents of the MAP in Montecristi, Dajabón, Samaná and San Francisco de Macorís, greet the decision and consider it correct and right, and being used as stimulant to the environmentalists to continue the fight of the defense and the natural resource and environmental protection.

They affirm that they have the conviction that the Criminal Court of the Supreme Court of Justice will impose the sanctions which deserve the former under-secretary of the Environment, Héctor Rene Ledesma, and the ex director of the Harbour Authority, Rosendo Arsenio Borges Rodriguez.

They specify that these ex civil servants are responsible for the introduction of polluting material into the country, in violation with tens of articles of Law 64-00 on the environment and natural resources; this is why they deserve an exemplary sentence so that an action as this one is not repeated again in the country.

Rumaldo, Ramos, Matos and Taveras estimate that the decision of the court is the signal for the contraveners to the General Law on the Environment and the Natural resources that this legislation will be applied.

They support that if justice does not give an example against those who introduced the rockash into the country, which would encourage others to make the same thing in the future without fear of any sanction.

They insist on the fact that justice must carry a message to the society that that which causes damage to the environment and the natural resources must be sanctioned, and they state that the crimes and the infringements against the environment are clearly penalized by Law 64-00, and that when they are made by the civil servant in charge of the legislation application, that constitutes an aggravating circumstance which must be taken into account by the judges.

The presidents of the MAP in Dajabón, Montecristi, Samaná and San Francisco de Macorís indicate that the members of this group of the various provinces of the country are waiting for the culprits are punished with rigor, in accordance with the laws. Rumaldo, Ramos, Matos and Taveras state that the beginning of the process raises the name of the Supreme Court of Justice because a new stage in the sector of the environment and the natural resources starts.

* The « rockash » is a material composed of ashes of coal used to make some electrical energy, like a mixture of sand and water.

El Nuevo Diario, 05.03.08

The European hotel chains and the Dominican winter 2008

More rooms, new flights and destinations like Samaná

BERLIN. - The president of the National Association of the Hotels and Restaurants (Asonahores) revealed that at least 60 percent of the tour operators and the owners of hotel chains of Europe are interested to sign contracts for the seasons of winter 2008 and those of the summer and the winter 2009.

By making an evaluation of the meetings that Dominican contractors held with European contractors, Luis López said that those requested the opening of more hotel rooms, of new air routes and new destinations as it is the case for Samaná.

The negotiations that the Dominican hotels carried out with contractors and Tour Operators of Europe within the framework of the International Tourism Fair (ITB) were a success, sales managers of hotel companies held high level business meetings, as well with the German market as with Eastern Europe, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia, Belgium, Holland, France, Scandinavia, and in a smaller proportion, Spain, said López, who supported that the negotiations were a success and that the Dominican Republic had an extraordinary cover during the ITB, being given the great quantity of visits and meetings which the hotel companies shared with tour operators interested by the Dominican Republic as tourist destination.

He explained that the ITB represents more than 50 percent of the negotiations of the markets and that these operations could be concluded next April, with the DATE tourism fair in Punta Cana.

While referring to the success conquered by Dominican employers, he said that the principal person in charge for this last is the government of President Leonel Fernández and the secretary of Tourism, Felix Jiménez, thanks to the support which they offered to the hotel sector, especially, in tourist work of infrastructures which are carried out in the principal poles of the country.

He said that the participation of the Dominican Republic as guest country in the ITB-2008, represented a very favorable point for the country as a tourist destination, since the countries taking part, 184, have aiming on offers brought by the Caribbean to the world market.

El Diario Digital, 10.03.08

Following the blue road of the humpback whales

From this follow-up, details on their behavior will be revealed

Their tails strike the surface of the sea. The water-jet and air blast are observed in the medium of the watery masses are also the particular testimony of their presence.

Every year the humpback whales visit Hispaniola to give birth and continue their pilgrimage around the blue planet.

But, where do they go ?

Which other singularities are hidden in their worlds of major and enigmatic songs; their habits and their strokes ?

The project

The Dominican Foundation of Marine Studies (Fundación Dominicana de Estudios Marinos (Fundemar) holds between its hands an innovative project for the northern zone of the Atlantic Ocean (from Greenland to the Northern coast of the Dominican Republic), in what the study of the marine Cetacea relates to which consists of the satellite marking of the whales.

Oswaldo Vásquez, president of the organization, explains why this trial, conducted on January 16 last year, represents a milestone in the history of the conservation of the « Quisqueya » whales.

First, with continuous observation of the roads that humpback whales are choosing every year to travel from the north to the warm waters of the Banco de la Plata and the Samaná Bay, enable the creation of strategies that will be used to expand and strengthen the labor preservation, which is undertaken since its implementation in 1974, in above mentioned sanctuaries.

Vásquez said that if the various areas of the national reservation where cetaceans develop their lives are known, it will be possible to find alternative routes for the navigation in these areas, so that the tourist activity of cruise ships and commercial boats can live in harmony with whales, which will be then out of the greatest dangers of their lives.

And then, it may be established other points of observation and conservation of humpback whales for both scientific studies and for the entertainment of Creole and foreign families.

Moreover, through this satellite monitor, details on their development will be revealed in depth, as well as their social behaviour, their diet and other details of importance for the scientific heritage, and on the other hand, an attraction for the ecotourism.

The entities are working for the conservation of whales

The proposed satellite tagging has become a reality, thanks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), American entities which are responsible for monitoring satellite phenomena in relation with the climate and the oceans, currents and their own resources.

Thanks to this technology, a lot of results have come to Fundemar and Atemar, Dominican institutions that watch over the maritime heritage of the Dominican Republic, and to the Ministry of Environment and organizations linked to whale sanctuaries in the north-east of the nation.

Listín Diario, 14.03.08

Nexus RD develops Angsana Samaná Bay

Nexus RD chose Samaná for the location’s natural beauty

Samaná.- Angsana Samaná Bay, the first five-star luxury beachfront development in Samaná Bay, is currently being developed by Nexus RD. It is in the initial phases of construction with completion of its first phase expected in 2010.

The complex will consist of oceanfront marina residences; exclusive villas and townhouses; a five-star hotel with luxury suites, villas and a full service spa; and a 280-slip water port with over 22,765 feet of mooring length. The project will also offer a 108,000-square-foot upscale waterfront commercial village.

While most resorts in the Dominican Republic offer all-inclusive packages, Angsana Samaná Bay will only provide first-class accommodations and experiences tailored to the guest’s personal preferences in an exclusive setting.

Angsana Samaná Bay is located in the picturesque northeastern region of the Dominican Republic where visitors will be able to experience a perfect balance of nature, beach and world-class retail, dining and entertainment options.

Samaná Bay is a boaters’ paradise, with a dozen undeveloped white sand beaches all reachable by boat. Showcasing Angsana’s signature brand of Asian hospitality, the anchor property of the development is Angsana Resort and Spa Samaná Bay, which consists of 200 suites and villas, a flagship Angsana Spa, signature dining experiences and world-class conference facilities.

Nexus RD is a dynamic company that identifies expansion and investment opportunities in growing markets with sustainable development elements. They are dedicated to preserving the natural environmental wonder of Samaná, as well as contributing to the economic growth of the region by bringing hundreds of new jobs to the area. In addition to the creation of new jobs, the region’s first hospitality school is being built to further prepare the local work force.

Nexus RD chose Samaná not only for the location’s natural beauty, but also because a 68-mile highway linking Santo Domingo and Samaná. The region’s growth has been further jumpstarted by the recent opening of the El Catey International Airport.

Dominican Today, 17.03.08

Evacuation of the beaches from the East Area to Montecristi

Strong rise in the water level

The National police force evacuated the night of Wednesday the beaches situated from the East Area to Montecristi, because of the sudden rise in the water level informed the chief of this institution, Major General Rafael Guillermo Guzmán Fermín.

The General, who carries out tasks of supervision on this littoral at the time of the Holy Week, said that these measures were taken to avoid fatal accidents.

Guzmán Fermín said that thousands of agents, commanded by a senior official, were placed on the roads and the higways jointly with the members of the Metropolitan Authority of Transport (Amet), for tasks of prevention.

The chief of the Police force indicated that detachments were positioned on the beaches in order to control that people who go there do not carry weapons.

Moreover, he encouraged the holiday makers to act with moderation to avoidmortal victims during this Holy Week.

Al Momento, 20.03.08

New magazine specialized in tourism

« Mirador »

A new magazine specialized in information on the businesses of tourist industry will be launched this Wednesday like forming part of the official program of DATE-2008, the annual fair of tourist marketing of the National Association of the Hotels which will take place in the Barceló Convention Center of Punta Cana.

The magazine MIRADOR will offer information, reports, analyses, prospects and articles on the Dominican tourist activity and interviews of protagonists of the sector.

It will also include international subjects of local interest in relation with the sector.

It will be diffused free with five thousand copies mainly in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, La Romana, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Juan Dolio, San Pedro de Macorís and Barahona, which are the most important tourist centers.

Its first number includes an analysis on the impact generated in Casa of Campo and on residential and luxury tourism by the competition caused by the Cap Cana project.

It also includes an exclusive article on the candidature of Haydée Rainieri for the presidency of ASONAHORES, first woman to enter an institutional space dominated by men.

It includes moreover information on the impact of the new airport of Samaná, on the project Sans Souci, the repair of the historical center of Puerto Plata, the new multimillionaires investments of Pepe Hidalgo inDominican Republic, the biography of Miguel Escarrer the founder of the Sol Melía chain and other headings.

MIRADOR is promoted by Grupo Preferente, Spanish conglomerate of Medias which publish in Spain PREFERENTE (devoted to tourist industry) and DESARROLLO monthly reviews.

The main goal of MIRADOR is to support and defend an industry which is fundamental for the development of the country and to reinforce tourism as one of the paramount axes of the Dominican economy. It will be a product of quality worked out with professional rigor and independence.

El Nuevo Diario, 31.03.08