Blissett Employees Assault Homeowner, Cut Water Supply to Homes

posted on: Mar 29 2011 9:8 by A.Bolivar. Viewed 609 times.


El Choco, Cabarete - During the day Monday, March 28, Alabama developer Ronald G. Blisset sent workers to El Choco where they physically cut water tubes supplying half a dozen homes and over twenty lots while redirecting public water supplies only to his own properties under development in the area. When confronted by affected neighbors taking photos of the damage for the fiscal and CORAAPLATA Blissett's employees shoved one person, and later threw stones and water in an attempt to avoid having their pictures taken. The workers confirmed Blissett had ordered them to cut supplies claiming that the water 'belongs' to Blissett, despite the fact that Dominican law (Ley 1962-58) forbids the sale of water by private parties, or the disconnection of any home from a common well system except under the direction of CORAAPLATA. The homeowners say they have paid EdeNorte directly for the electricity to run the water pumps. They add that Blissett had been ordered by CORAAPLATA and the Puerto Plata fiscal in a similar incident in 2008 that he could face jail or fines for interfering with owners access to water. Neighbors say they plan to ask the fiscal this week to enforce the order against Blisset to answer for his latest assault on their property rights in court. Blissett has been in the news frequently over the past year. Early in 2011 he received a six figure fine in lieu of jail time by Medio Ambiente for his involvment in the poisoning of protected Kaoba trees on his properties. In 2010 he was implicated in a scam selling three lots - which he had sold previously and did not own - to developer Gordon Gannon of Cabarete. He later then blocked those owner's access to their property by a steel gate across a public road. Various property owners in and around the area have complained that Blissett is conducting illegal surveys without required signage or notifications. Also in 2010 a Channel 3 Puerto Plata television report accused Blissett of fathering an illegitimate child by an employee and refusing to pay child support. And, late last year, blocked in the same homeowners cut off from water today with dozens of piles of caliche across the only road to their homes making it impossible to enter or leave by car or motorcycle for two weeks.

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Developer Cuts Off Homeowners: Jun 1 2010