Losing Credibility the DR Gvt. GLTA!https://hoy.com.do/la-inversion-extranjera-y-el-proyecto-minero-en-san-juan/
By Fabio Montes de Oca
The Government of the Dominican Republic puts its credibility at risk and sends a negative message to foreign investment, when it grants a permit for mining exploration and then, due to pressure from some sectors, it does not proceed according to the law
Recently, the newspaper Diario Libre, in its editorial line, criticized the fact that the Gold Quest mining company has been authorized to carry out exploration work in the area of Los Romeros in Sabaneta de San Juan de la Maguana and that due to a Opposition from some sectors violates the legal procedure that requires authorization after a process to carry out environmental impact studies to determine the feasibility or not of the project.
It is precisely after these studies and according to their results that the government authorizes or denies the exploitation of any mining deposit.
According to Diario Libre, with this attitude of not giving permission for such studies to be carried out in compliance with the legal provisions, it is sending the message to the international community that the institutional framework and legal security in the country are at stake and do not guarantee the foreign investment.
Gold Quest did not carry out mining exploration work in the area indicated above on its own, but through a concession authorized and ratified by the Dominican Government, for which reason it has made an investment and has earned the right to know whether or not it is feasible. exploit the Los Romeros gold mine.
The term "Social License" has been manipulated , meaning that it does not have it.
Only a few sectors have come out in opposition to something that no study has shown whether or not mining in San Juan de la Maguana is feasible.
However, important sectors and national leaders have spoken in favor of carrying out the studies, and these opinions are also social.
Apparently, opinions are divided, so one cannot speak of social license, since society is not made up of diversities of opinion.
In addition to a social license, there is already talk when a project is going to be carried out definitively and in the place where it is going to be developed, the population that will be intervened, understands that it affects them or benefits them, opposes or gives their consent.
The viability of Los Romeros is not yet known , so it is irrational to oppose that this be determined according to laws and science.
The Government must assume its role or the international community, based on this experience, will think about it before submitting any project to the country that entails a large investment, so that after they authorize it to develop its primary phases, because a group without logical reasoning oppose, have to be paralyzed.
For my part, I am not in favor or against mining exploitation, well, who am I to do it? I do not have scientific elements that show whether or not it is feasible, so only environmental impact studies could give me that information.
The author is a journalist and lives in San Juan.