Developer to Close World Class Surfing Beach at Encuentro

posted on: Jun 25 2010 8:48 by A.Bolivar. Viewed 569 times.


Cabarete -�Surfers protested by going naked at Encuentro over a new developers plan to close the world class surfing beach from public access.�The west side of this beautiful beach was blocked from the public by a developer in 2006 who simply piled stones across the road and declared it to be his. While the law in the Dominican Republic guarantees the beaches to be free and public, the reality is that corrupt local and federal officials routinely allow developers to ignore other laws that require easements for access. The result is that the only way to reach a beach is by boat - or parachute - making a mockery of the claim that beaches are public. Encuentro is one of the top 10 surfing beaches in the world and hosts annually the "Master of the Ocean" competition. If developers can cut acess to this beach, which in the DR is safe? A drive through Cabarete in 2010 looks like a drive through any town in the interior of the country. Walls of buildings block any view of the ocean, where just ten years ago you could see the ocean and the waves all along the highway. Soon you'll need to be a guest at a resort to be able even to see the ocean. It is a very sad legacy this government is leaving to its people, selling the beaches to foreigners with complete disregard to its own citizens. See the Dominican TV report on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvj2ycQJflA.