SANTO DOMINGO. – The Environment minister on Tuesday said “if its (the National Revisory Assembly’s) intention was to make democratic and pluralistic a Constitution, it has failed," in reference to the article which denies Dominicans the right to access their beaches, rivers and lakes.

Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, in apparent rift with president Leonel Fernandez in the guidelines to lawmakers contained in the agreement with opposition leader Miguel Vargas, asked the Assembly members to include the privatization of beaches among the errors they need to correct in the new the Constitution.

The ex Vice President said if that that Law is enforced it would violate a citizen’s right of access to the country’s natural patrimonies. "If that’s approved the Constitution would become a useless piece of paper. If its intention was to make a democratic and pluralistic Constitution it has failed."

The Environment Minister appealed to the citizen’s awareness of the Assembly members, who in his view committed an error by curtailing Dominicans’ free access to their natural areas.

Diverse sectors have rebuked the measure, including a group of youngsters which through Facebook convened a protest on Friday in front of Congress, where they’ll wear beach garb.

The Revisory Assembly curtailed the citizens’ right to access their beaches, rivers, coasts and lakes, by approving the phrase "without jeopardizing private property," viewed as a loophole for owners of beachfronts to impede the use of the 60 meter swath stipulated in Law 305 as “Public Domain.”