SANTO DOMINGO.- The Dominican Government’s deadline to a Colombian company to return a tract of land in Pedernales slated for tourism project to cost around US$800 million expires Tomorrow Thursday, after which they “face the consequences of the Dominican state.”

The warning to the company Cementos Andino was issued Wednesday morning by Mining Agency director Octavio Lopez, who said it’s the faculty of his department to manage those installations of the Dominican State, in front of the beach at Cabo Rojo, initially used as the company’s campsite.

He said the region can’t wait any longer for the tourism project and investment in the millions of dollars, whose promoters have even offered to pay Andinos to transfer the facilities to another area. “That tourism project’s infrastructure and investment will be the first to need that cement, they’ll have 300 million dollars in their pockets.”

He said despite that the campsite was handed to them by contract, Andinos pledged to return it on requirement of the State. “We feared that if those installations were left abandoned they would deteriorate and would’ve been occupied, I told them that they have to come to us and clarify their status and the eminent domain via the Mining Law.”

“I’m convinced of regional development, Pedernales is an excellent place where nature shows us what its vocation is: nature,” the official said in an interview in the program Hoy Mismo, Colorvision.

Lopez said to develop Pedernales correctly all its resources must be classified. “I believe that’s one of the new activities which need our impulse, aside from its tradition as a former bauxite mine and even though we still have bauxite, we need to spur that development for Pedernales as a social entity.”

Andino sleeps in paradise

The Mining Agency Director said he doesn’t know why the Colombian-based cement maker has reneged on handing over the land, but again warned that the Law would be enforced. “The right of passage will prevail, they have to move, the investors have offered them the funds to move, I believe that they’ve been lulled into a paradisiacal sleep.”

When asked if his Agency shouldn’t just enforce the Law, the official said that although he believes in dialogue, he’s also aware of the needs of the country and of that town. “We work within the parameters of the Law, and that town is a parched throat and the project would ease its thirst.”

“Andino incurs in a serious error. The August 20 deadline to hand over the facilities stands and after that they face the consequences of the Dominican state,” Lopez added.

Cementos Andino

Thrusday morning DT called Cementos Andino Dominicana Business Develpment director Agusto Restrepo for a comment, but was anwered by a recording.