Environment Ministry Approves 674 Environmental Permissions between August and November

Environment Ministry Approves 674 Environmental Permissions between August and November
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 12/5/2011

Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Ernesto Reyna Alcántara, reported that between August and November of this year, 674 applications for environmental permits were granted to various economic development projects around the country.

“With these 7 work teams, by January 30th we will be up to date with all applications and permits, when promoters are aware of all legal requirements,”…

Minister Reyna Alcántara said that approval of these permits were part of  President Leonel Fernández’s efforts to eliminate the lengthy bureaucracy involved in obtaining permits by creating seven commissions to help get applications approved within a period of 60 days.

He said that, by no later than January 30th, all pending environmental applications will have been evaluated. “With these 7 work teams, by January 30th we will be up to date with all applications and permits, when promoters are aware of all legal requirements,” said Reyna Alcántara.

The Minister, along these lines, stressed the role of business people in preserving the environment and natural resources. He indicated that development in the country goes hand-in-hand with conservation of natural resources. The Dominican Republic, he added, is becoming more and more aware of the need to preserve the country’s wealth of natural resources.

He said the Environment Ministry is promoting the economic growth of the country and that it must be a part of the move to respect natural resources.

“Economic development in the towns and villages seeks to improve the quality of life for its citizens, generating jobs, in order to close the gap between the rich and the poor…this is being done in the country’s various productive sectors by respecting the environment for future generations who will inherit a nation that is ecologically sustainable,” said the Minister Ernesto Reyna Alcántara.

Minister Reyna Alcántara was speaking at a meeting of national and foreign entrepreneurs, organized by the National Network for Business Support for the Protection of the Environment (RENAEPA in Spanish), where he urged national business people to become allies in the challenge to preserve the environment.