Dominican Republic environmental groups sue Environment Minister

Environmental organizations in the Dominican Republic have filed a formal complaint against the Minister of Environment, Paíno Henríquez, regarding the destruction of mangrove ecosystems. The Sociedad Ecológica del Cibao (SOECI), the National Committee to Fight Climate Change (CNLCC), and the Institute of Lawyers for the Protection of the Environment (Insaproma) are seeking legal action under Law 64-00, which allows for prison sentences of up to ten years for the destruction of mangroves.

The complaint targets the installation of two liquefied natural gas power plants with a capacity of 860 megawatts within the buffer zone of the Estero Balsa National Mangrove Park in Montecristi. According to the plaintiffs, the project has resulted in the destruction of approximately 575,000 square meters of coastal vegetation and mangroves without the required environmental licenses.

The organizations are requesting urgent precautionary measures to halt construction and relocate the Manzanillo Gas & Power project outside the protected area. They are also seeking a fine of 50 million dollars and the prosecution of the Environment Minister as a co-author and promoter of the installation in the protected zone.