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One of the intrepid roving reporters for The Real DR, managed to capure on film the first photo's of the sand pipeline, pumping the newly acquired sand onto one of the islands beaches during the make over project. The sand is being brought in from Rio San Juan further along the coast by boats and pumped in from the ocean side. Click here to view our exclusive photos The beach project is restoring many of the islands beaches that have been spoilt over the years by sewage pipes, litter and garbage dumping. In a major clean up programme The Ministry of Tourism is investing a whopping 19 million dollars into the project. The funding for the clean up is coming from a 5 dollar tax levied on travellers last year entering the country. The Ministry of Tourism for the Dom Rep is asking tourism businesses in the areas where the programme is taking place to come up with an additional 3.5 million dollars to assist. The beaches recieving a make over are Long Beach in Puerto Plata on the north coast, the main beach in Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata, Boca Chica on the south coast and Juan Dolio on the south east coast. Long Beach has been an eye sore on the north coast for many years, however with the implemention of a World Bank Sewage Water Project for the norths coast Puerto Plata district the restoration of the beach is now happening and it is a complimentary project too for Long Beach. Long Beach is due to re-open for public use on August the 5th with the President Leonel Fernandez's visit and clebrations also include live music and a party. There has however been some negativity on the proceedings with Diario Libre pointing out that the companies involved in carrying out the restoration project were contraced to do the work without a formal tender by The Ministry of Tourism. The companies are Boskalis International from Holland, Grupo Cadic from Spain and Cesigma from Cuba. Tourism Minister Jimendez defended his choice of companies and contractors saying that Boskalis has "a fine reputation for restoring beaches". |
