Some say naval base on Saona threatens DR sovereignty
Diario Libre
HIGUEY. The construction of a naval station and the dock which the Southern Command of the United States will build in the port of Catuano on the island of Saona, has generated a debate regarding whether the sponsorship of the project violates or not the national sovereignty.
In the meantime, the Dominican Navy made it clear yesterday that the area will not be occupied by United States agents and that it will be looked after only by Dominican sailors.
The project requested by the Dominican Navy and for which they made the first shovel-full of dirt last Friday, will represent an investment of more than RD$50 million (equal to US$1.5 million) donated by the United States government. This has produced a debate in which the Dominican Academy of Science, ecologists, some authorities and popular and leftist organizations are taking part.
For their part, the authorities are defending the project with the argument that it is part of an agreement of cooperation between the Dominican Republic and the government of the United States, through the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) which implies the reinforcement of the area in order to deal with illegal trips and different activities tied to drug trafficking.
Nevertheless, those who reject the sponsorship feel that it is an "interference" in Dominican affairs that will be reflected in other measures, which could have an ulterior motive that will sully the nation's sovereignty.
The Dominican Academy of Science said that it rejects the construction of the naval base due to the harmful effects it will have on ecotourism, and therefore the president Milciades Mejia, asked the Minister of the Environment to deny the permits due to the fact that-according to their point of view-it would affect the Saona Reserve.
The entity indicated that the project is in violation of law 64-00 on the Environment because of the type of structure and that the installation will have negative effects and because they feel that the protected areas should be preserved.
The debate was joined by the ecologist Luis Carbaja, who rejected the project and said that a demonstration of the sectors that defend the environment will take place and that they will carry out national protests in order to create a consciousness regarding the effects that the project will have.
The Left will take to the streets
Organizations from the Left also came out against the announced construction of the naval station financed by the United States, and they called it an "unacceptable" intervention, and revealed that "they would take to the streets to protest."
"The Navy announce the unacceptable and onerous decision by the United States Pentagon to install a naval base on the island of Saona, with the pretext of ‘reinforcing the fight against drug trafficking and human trafficking,'" the groups said in a document disseminated by the Spanish news agency EFE.
"This criminal action against the environment, the life and the sovereignty of the country, cynically announced during the Month of the Fatherland and the anniversary of the shooting of Colonel Francisco Alberto Caamaño, the symbol of sovereignty, will find us against it with all the means within our power," they said.
Among the organizations of the Left that reject the naval base are the Dominican Popular Movement, the Revolutionary Alternative, the Socialist Workers League, Global Justice, the Multitud and the Duarte Popular Force.
The Commander of the Dominican Navy, Vice-Admiral Nicolas Cabrera Arias made it clear that the construction of the naval station and the repair of the dock "do not constitute a violation of the national sovereignty because it will not be occupied by United States agents and will be manned by members of the Navy. He explained that both projects are conceived with high standards of quality, maintaining the caissons with support for fast boats and rescue craft, warehouses for equipment and property of the institution, barracks and a command and control center.
In the meantime, the Dominican Navy made it clear yesterday that the area will not be occupied by United States agents and that it will be looked after only by Dominican sailors.
The project requested by the Dominican Navy and for which they made the first shovel-full of dirt last Friday, will represent an investment of more than RD$50 million (equal to US$1.5 million) donated by the United States government. This has produced a debate in which the Dominican Academy of Science, ecologists, some authorities and popular and leftist organizations are taking part.
For their part, the authorities are defending the project with the argument that it is part of an agreement of cooperation between the Dominican Republic and the government of the United States, through the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) which implies the reinforcement of the area in order to deal with illegal trips and different activities tied to drug trafficking.
Nevertheless, those who reject the sponsorship feel that it is an "interference" in Dominican affairs that will be reflected in other measures, which could have an ulterior motive that will sully the nation's sovereignty.
The Dominican Academy of Science said that it rejects the construction of the naval base due to the harmful effects it will have on ecotourism, and therefore the president Milciades Mejia, asked the Minister of the Environment to deny the permits due to the fact that-according to their point of view-it would affect the Saona Reserve.
The entity indicated that the project is in violation of law 64-00 on the Environment because of the type of structure and that the installation will have negative effects and because they feel that the protected areas should be preserved.
The debate was joined by the ecologist Luis Carbaja, who rejected the project and said that a demonstration of the sectors that defend the environment will take place and that they will carry out national protests in order to create a consciousness regarding the effects that the project will have.
The Left will take to the streets
Organizations from the Left also came out against the announced construction of the naval station financed by the United States, and they called it an "unacceptable" intervention, and revealed that "they would take to the streets to protest."
"The Navy announce the unacceptable and onerous decision by the United States Pentagon to install a naval base on the island of Saona, with the pretext of ‘reinforcing the fight against drug trafficking and human trafficking,'" the groups said in a document disseminated by the Spanish news agency EFE.
"This criminal action against the environment, the life and the sovereignty of the country, cynically announced during the Month of the Fatherland and the anniversary of the shooting of Colonel Francisco Alberto Caamaño, the symbol of sovereignty, will find us against it with all the means within our power," they said.
Among the organizations of the Left that reject the naval base are the Dominican Popular Movement, the Revolutionary Alternative, the Socialist Workers League, Global Justice, the Multitud and the Duarte Popular Force.
The Commander of the Dominican Navy, Vice-Admiral Nicolas Cabrera Arias made it clear that the construction of the naval station and the repair of the dock "do not constitute a violation of the national sovereignty because it will not be occupied by United States agents and will be manned by members of the Navy. He explained that both projects are conceived with high standards of quality, maintaining the caissons with support for fast boats and rescue craft, warehouses for equipment and property of the institution, barracks and a command and control center.
Diario Libre
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