Dear DominicanToday,

On August 15, 2008, more than 20 people died following a collision between two buses from La Romana to Bavaro.  Compelled and stirred by this tragedy, I had personally written a letter to President Leonel Fernandez to voice my concern over the government’s overdue promises to build The Coral Highway that was to promote safer roads for citizens and visitors alike.  Shortly after, thanks to DominicanToday, this letter was shared to be viewed by many readers worldwide.  On October 9, 2009, about one year after the tragedy, President Fernandez finally publicly announced the inauguration of this vital project.  I attended the event and met with the President. The reasons or motivations compelling the President to make this symbolic gesture are open to many speculations.  I would like to believe that our leaders today are still roused and provoked by the voices and concerns of their citizens, and not by monetary rewards or serving special interest groups, and that respecting all humanity continue to be their moral commitment. 

Whatever the reasons, the inauguration marks a positive step towards progress in Dominican Republic.  Many of those living and investing in the eastern coast feel a glimmer of hope.  This sentiment is especially shared among the inhabitants in Costa Bavaro, one of the first residential complexes developed in the heart of Bavaro beach.  The residents of Costa Bavaro will greatly reap the benefits from The Coral Highway.  Ironically, however, this glimmer of hope is now clouded for many in the area from ongoing legal disputes prompted by the infringement of contracts by Intercaribe S.A., a family-owned real-estate agency that have abused their power against investors, residents and workers of the area.  I, Luis Fayad, one of the many investors in Costa Bavaro, have fallen victim to this deceitful and callous company.  Their contractual obligations for providing security, sanitation management, road maintenance, and property titles for some owners have not been fulfilled. 

Intercaribe’s mismanagement has not only hurt the investors but workers and residents also. Workers have been swindled and ripped-off out of months of hard labor in construction and security personnel have not been paid for weeks which initiated a halt in service compromising the safety of the residents. Their promise of a “family-community” has the current 450 family members living there in the absence of a security, disrepair internal roads, and piled rubbish.  Investors, including myself, are fighting hard to obtain what is rightfully ours as stated clearly in our contracts.  Intercaribe have collected an investment greater that 50 million dollars for this location alone.  They have, however, failed to carry out their legal commitments. And instead of facing the situation at hand, they blatantly and purposefully ignored inquiries and questions from property investors seeking clarification to this madness. 

A large group of investors, local residents and legal team are now working together to face this challenge.  We refuse to bow down and let this one go without a fight.  Accountability to the abuse of power can only be met when people work together to put a stop to the offense and disseminate the information to the public to promote transparency in our system whether big or small in order to prevent others from getting hurt.

I want to thank DominicanToday for publishing my letter to the President last year, and hopefully this letter will find its way again to readers worldwide.  Thank you for being an important medium in disseminating information crucial to progress.