Dominican Republic lawmakers back park in area where Canadian company seeks to mine
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic _ Lawmakers in the Dominican Republic have approved a plan to create a national park in an area where a Canadian company has sought to expand mining operations.
The Senate ratified the project Wednesday a day after the Chamber of Deputies approved it. President Danilo Medina has not said whether he will sign the bill into law over the objections of Toronto-based Glencore Xstrata PLC.
Loma Miranda National Park would be on 16 square miles in the Bonao region north of Santo Domingo.
Glencore Xstrata has mined for nickel in the area and was seeking permits to expand its operations on about 3,400 acres (1,380 hectares).
U.N. experts had determined the project would threaten an environmentally sensitive area.
The company says seizing the property would violate the Dominican constitution.
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
