SANTO DOMINGO. - The Minister of the Environment today denied that the removal of the aggregate mines from the river banks would spur an increase in the price of construction materials and attributed the report to speculators who want to raise them, while warning that he’ll continue dismantling.

Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal also said they’ll continue evicting squatters in Los Haitises National Park and that around 11 million pesos will be given this month to the families that have already left.

The official, who admitted that many of those companies still in the rivers, said others have left voluntarily and six have been dismantled.

He said the measure shouldn’t cause an increase in construction materials. “It’s them, the speculators, getting ahead of themselves to increase the materials, and that isn’t convenient for the country.”

As to Los Haitises Fernandez Mirabal said that the damages caused will take from 50 to 100 years to recover and it affects not only the Dominican Republic, but also the Caribbean.

After recognizing that those people have acquired squatters rights and must be compensated, the Environment chief said no one else will be allowed to settle there.