Santo Domingo. – While an opposition PRD party deputy Thursday defended the Constitution Revisory Assembly’s decision to curtail access to beaches and rivers, various organizations including those of the Dominican Environmental Movement expressed their indignation with the measure, which in their view violates the rights the Senate’s Environmental Commission had already approved.

Santo Domingo West deputy Andres Henríquez said he agrees with limiting access to the beaches to protect the tourism industry, since “barrio mobs" would enter the resorts and would even make use of the snacks and buffets.

He said since the country depends on tourism, the National Assembly did what it had to do.

The environmentalists however slammed the legislators’ attitude as irresponsible and called the agreement by the heads of the opposition and ruling parties on the Constitutional reform, “the Fernandez-Vargas pact.”

“The assembly members’ attitude to eliminate free access to all beaches and coasts, access to water sources, the right to develop the natural resources and the value of the landscape constitutes a mockery to the people who chose them,” they said, adding that instead of serving the environmental interests of the great majorities, they denied the legitimate rights of each citizen.

The Assembly reverted the citizens’ right to access beaches and other water sources, bowing to pressure from the tourism industry and the leaders of the PLD and PRD parties, Leonel Fernandez and Miguel Vargas.