March called for next Sunday in Barahona
Barahona. – Community and environmental leader Domingo Félix asked the Government to stop the aggregate extraction operations that, as he denounced, are being carried out irregularly in different rivers and mountainous areas of the Southern region.
Under the slogan “Water yes, gravel pit no!”, Félix, who spoke on behalf of several environmental organizations, asserted that the region is facing an “environmental emergency” due to the indiscriminate exploitation of construction materials in areas of high ecological value.
The activist held the authorities responsible for allowing these activities and denounced an alleged lack of oversight regarding the environmental deterioration affecting rivers, hills, and communities in Barahona and other southern provinces.
During his statements, Félix called on President Luis Abinader to order the cessation of exports of aggregates from communities located in the Azua and Peravia provinces.
“We call upon our president to stop the export of aggregates coming from various places in Azua, Baní, and other communities, and to please stop the exploitation of the quarry in Loma de los Angelitos and the community of La Guázara,” he expressed.
Likewise, he announced a demonstration for next Sunday, June 7, in Barahona, which, as he indicated, will take place peacefully as part of a day of protest in defense of the region’s natural resources.
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Félix warned that the mobilization will mark the beginning of a broader action plan if the authorities do not take measures through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
“We have wanted to protect Barahona from predators who have tried to enter from various parts and we are not going to allow them to continue damaging our town,” he stated.
The leader also expressed his rejection of the transport of aggregates to the port of Barahona and maintained that the communities will remain vigilant against any activity they consider harmful to the environment.
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Reports of alleged irregularities
Among his complaints, Félix pointed to businessman Maikel González, whom he accused of irregularly operating a gravel plant located in the El Cobo sector, land that, according to him, passed into the hands of the State.
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According to their statements, there would be alleged irregularities related to environmental permits and licenses for the extraction of materials.
“Mr. Maikel González also owns the El Cobo gravel plant. That gravel plant passed to the State through Francisco Pagán, linked to the Coral case, and he is exploiting it illegally. With the same code, he is operating two mines: the Mena sand mine and the El Cobo gravel plant,” he denounced.
Communities maintain that the constant transit of heavy-duty trucks to the port causes damage to local roads and contributes to environmental deterioration in various productive areas of Barahona.
Through various media outlets and digital platforms, community and environmental organizations have maintained a campaign to defend the watersheds and natural resources of the Southern region, demanding greater intervention from authorities to curb the extraction of aggregates in sensitive areas.
