A photo on the sign reveals an open quarry mine adjacent to the National Park.
Santo Domingo.- A report that Sierra Bauxita Dominicana (SBD), a mining company that has extracted and shipped raw bauxite from the Dominican Republic for the past four years, is considering withdrawal from the Caribbean country, may benefit the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park (southwest).
Alcoa Aluminum was the first company to mine bauxite in Pedernales, where open quarries dot a vast area in and around Cabo Rojo, home to a port and a landing strip on the southern slope of the Sierra de Bahoruco mountains, and the national park.
PR-Web today reports on the SBD announcement, that for the time being it has terminated all exploration, production and sales activity and has furloughed its entire Dominican staff pending resolution of these problems says Charles N. Speltz, vice president of SBD. "This decision is particularly injurious to the Pedernales Province where Sierra Bauxita has provided a significant level of employment."
Additionally, Speltz notes the recent extreme weakness in raw material prices and ocean going shipping rates has accentuated the market weakness of Dominican bauxite, which is known to be lower in alumina and higher in silica than many of its competitors. Dominican bauxite generally contains about 45-47 percent alumina while silica can easily exceed ten percent said PRWEB.
"At this time, no definitive decisions have been made but Sierra Bauxita stockholders have been notified of the existing and potential problems," Speltz says. "If these problems cannot be satisfactorily resolved, Sierra Bauxita will withdraw from the Dominican Republic."
Written by: Cacique, 27 Oct 2008 10:48 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Thank you and good luck. Now let's press the government to provide real incentives to develop tourism in the entire, beautiful and forgotten Southwest...
From: United States
The continous loss of employment in the DR is creating a significant loss of income to the Leonel government in the form of taxes not forgetting the taxes that the company pays for permision to extract..
Falconbridge Dominicana is another of the many companies that have had enough of the intrusion of the Leonel government.
The price of gold should also have the Canadian mining company reduce or even leave the DR since it has no capital investment at this time.
Leonel and his cronies will be left with 2 choices. Increase taxes on the general population in order to maintain it primary goal of existing or remove staff from the government power circle.
We can only assume that Leonel and his cronies will increase taxes first and when that dosen't work then it will be everybody for himself.
Written by: josean, 27 Oct 2008 11:48 AM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
Another feather in the cap of the Lie-onel and his merry band of PLD economic improvisers!
Written by: Ricardo, 27 Oct 2008 12:08 PM
From: United States
This situation in DR (regarding the mineral exports) is more than Leonel's cronies. This move was made by the mining director Octavio Lopez. He stole the pile of bauxite from Sierra Bauxita Dominicana (~$300K) and sold it to the Chinese. He used a front company to act as a bag man (collect the $$) and in the process has driven off a company that was willing to work in one of the toughest regions of the country. Although the company stealing the baxuite did a horrible job of loading the ship, which should have taken 4 days took 12 days, they will still probably make a few $$ because they took the asset from SBD. The mining director will most likely face actual consequences this time because Leonel did not know about this move (SBD is a small company - check out the website).
Written by: josean, 27 Oct 2008 12:52 PM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
Ricardo,
Why do we excuse Lie-onel for all the wrongs in his administration? It is always some corrupt or bumbling appointee.
Lie-onel is in CHARGE the Buck Stops at his desk, why are people always willing to give him this undeserved benefit of the doubt, yet Hipolito was, is and always will be responsible for everything in his administration, as he should be in my opinion!
Written by: juanb, 27 Oct 2008 1:40 PM
From: Dominican Republic
There is a difference between a crime of commission (Hippolito's) and a crime of omission (Fernandez') . In the first, the person committing the crime is actually the guilty party. In the second the crime is allowed to be committed by a lack of supervision, caring, or the unwritten rule of Dominican politics........He's a member of my party, I cannot do anything.
Written by: Ricardo, 27 Oct 2008 2:44 PM
From: United States
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the regime in power to police internal affairs. In this case with the bauxite, Octavio Lopez illegally seized an asset of an international mining company claiming that the bauxite is the property of the goverment and sold this to a Chinese brokering company. The mining company paid to have it mined, transported to the dock and maintained the bauxite on private property. The company is out a substantial $300K and will most likely not receive any compensation. The dollars will go into Octavio's pocket and Leonel will be held responsible.
The worst of it is that the international mining community will not view the DR as a safe place to do business. A few bucks in the Director's pocket will result in in the loss of potentially millions of dollars in lost business development.
All postings are correct, the world will only see this as the actions and authority of Leonel Fernandez.
Written by: josean, 27 Oct 2008 2:47 PM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
jb,
You can spin it any way you want, you can call it POTATÓ or POTÁTO it is still a crime and the person in Charge is Responsible. Period end of story!
So it is time for you blind Lie-onelistas to admit Lie-onel is just as an empty a suit and corrupt as his predecessors!
Written by: josean, 27 Oct 2008 3:00 PM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
Mean while the "The Economic Paradise created by the PLD has increased our debt!"
Source DR1
National debt reaches US$9 billion plus
Over the last three and a half years, the national debt has grown by 23.75%, going from US$7.377 billion in 2004 to US$9.129 billion in June 2008, an increase of US$1.752 billion. According to data obtained by El Caribe from the Ministry of Hacienda website, the total amount of US$9.129 billion is divided between external debt (US$7.929 billion) and internal debt (US$1.200 billion). During the period covered by the analysis, the Dominican Republic's external (foreign) debt has gone up from US$6.379 billion to US$7.929 billion, a 24% increase. The internal public debt has gone from US$998 million to US$1.2 billion, a 20% increase. According to the data from the Ministry of Hacienda, bilateral debts have gone from US$2.132 billion to US$3.360 billion, a 57% jump.
Continues:
Written by: josean, 27 Oct 2008 3:01 PM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
The total multilateral debt has increased by 24% and private debts have risen just 8%. Among the multilateral lenders is the Inter-American Development Bank which has poured the largest amount of money into the DR, but which showed a slight reduction (US$1.343 vs. US$1.342 billion). On the other hand, the debt with the World Bank has gone from US$380 million to US$462 million, a 21% increase, and the credits with the International Monetary Fund have gone from US$203 million to US$622 million, a 326% increase.
Written by: josean, 27 Oct 2008 3:10 PM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
jb,
I think this falls into the category of a "CRIME of Commission!"
Government will run Metro
The government will operate the Santo Domingo Metro, excluding the possibility of any concessions being signed with the private sector for the time being. The news was revealed to Hoy newspaper by the sub-director of the Transport Reorganization Office (OPRET), Leonel Carrasco. The official said that the idea of the private sector running the Metro had been considered, but never under any type of concession. Last week Carrasco said that the private sector running the Metro would relieve the government of some of the expenses, and, even though he said that fares would be between RD$20 and RD$25 pesos, he refused to say how much the government would be subsidizing each fare. As of yesterday, 36 of the 56 cars had arrived and another 18 are expected to arrive over the next few days.
Continues:
Written by: josean, 27 Oct 2008 3:12 PM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
Carrasco said that the Metro would be put to the test at the beginning of November, running empty, putting several trains into operation at the same time. The officials also said that OPRET was tidying up the system and making "small repairs" here and there, in order for it to begin operations in December. Among the details being worked on are sidewalks and elevators and the trials on connections and sub-systems of the electro-mechanical sections. Hoy newspaper says that the whole system will be tested throughout November. The Metro system will employ a total of 1600 people.
From: United States, Port Washington, LI (New York)
Josean:
Don't get me wrong please, I don't like many politics in the current goverment but for 100th time
let your haitian genetic hateful pattern against Dominican Republic cool down "Just a little bit".
Written by: anthonyC, 27 Oct 2008 8:59 PM
From: United States
I am sure the 100's of workers loosing their jobs will be happy to know that the sand-pit known as the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park is now safe....even though the mine was not endangering it.
Written by: Lautaro, 28 Oct 2008 11:08 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
You know anthonyC, for once I agree with you, closing this mine on the most impoverished region of the Republic is surely not a good sign.
Written by: Ricardo, 28 Oct 2008 2:45 PM
From: United States
I have seen the mine ... it is on a haul road built by Alcoa in the 1960's (and is still the best road in the country). Most tourists stop and see the mine, take pictures and hike through the limestone pillars. Those who dont stop are probably driving 90 miles per hour and miss it altogether. When coming off the plane at Las Americas, the first picture you see on the gallery wall of Dominican Republic sights is the mine - Las Mercedes. i dont think a picture of the mine hanging on the wall next to the pictures of the beaches would be there if it were that bad to look at.
And yes anthonyC, this area of the country is undeniably the most impoverished region of the DR. They are certainly going to suffer after Sierra Bauxita ceases operations.
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Falconbridge Dominicana is another of the many companies that have had enough of the intrusion of the Leonel government.
The price of gold should also have the Canadian mining company reduce or even leave the DR since it has no capital investment at this time.
Leonel and his cronies will be left with 2 choices. Increase taxes on the general population in order to maintain it primary goal of existing or remove staff from the government power circle.
We can only assume that Leonel and his cronies will increase taxes first and when that dosen't work then it will be everybody for himself.
Why do we excuse Lie-onel for all the wrongs in his administration? It is always some corrupt or bumbling appointee.
Lie-onel is in CHARGE the Buck Stops at his desk, why are people always willing to give him this undeserved benefit of the doubt, yet Hipolito was, is and always will be responsible for everything in his administration, as he should be in my opinion!
The worst of it is that the international mining community will not view the DR as a safe place to do business. A few bucks in the Director's pocket will result in in the loss of potentially millions of dollars in lost business development.
All postings are correct, the world will only see this as the actions and authority of Leonel Fernandez.
You can spin it any way you want, you can call it POTATÓ or POTÁTO it is still a crime and the person in Charge is Responsible. Period end of story!
So it is time for you blind Lie-onelistas to admit Lie-onel is just as an empty a suit and corrupt as his predecessors!
Source DR1
National debt reaches US$9 billion plus
Over the last three and a half years, the national debt has grown by 23.75%, going from US$7.377 billion in 2004 to US$9.129 billion in June 2008, an increase of US$1.752 billion. According to data obtained by El Caribe from the Ministry of Hacienda website, the total amount of US$9.129 billion is divided between external debt (US$7.929 billion) and internal debt (US$1.200 billion). During the period covered by the analysis, the Dominican Republic's external (foreign) debt has gone up from US$6.379 billion to US$7.929 billion, a 24% increase. The internal public debt has gone from US$998 million to US$1.2 billion, a 20% increase. According to the data from the Ministry of Hacienda, bilateral debts have gone from US$2.132 billion to US$3.360 billion, a 57% jump.
Continues:
I think this falls into the category of a "CRIME of Commission!"
Government will run Metro
The government will operate the Santo Domingo Metro, excluding the possibility of any concessions being signed with the private sector for the time being. The news was revealed to Hoy newspaper by the sub-director of the Transport Reorganization Office (OPRET), Leonel Carrasco. The official said that the idea of the private sector running the Metro had been considered, but never under any type of concession. Last week Carrasco said that the private sector running the Metro would relieve the government of some of the expenses, and, even though he said that fares would be between RD$20 and RD$25 pesos, he refused to say how much the government would be subsidizing each fare. As of yesterday, 36 of the 56 cars had arrived and another 18 are expected to arrive over the next few days.
Continues:
Don't get me wrong please, I don't like many politics in the current goverment but for 100th time
let your haitian genetic hateful pattern against Dominican Republic cool down "Just a little bit".
And yes anthonyC, this area of the country is undeniably the most impoverished region of the DR. They are certainly going to suffer after Sierra Bauxita ceases operations.