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 is at stake and does not guarantee the foreign investment.
Gold Quest, did not carry out mining exploration work in the area indicated above, on its own account, but rather, 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 if whether or not it is feasible to 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.
Los Romeros, its viability is not yet known, so it is irrational to oppose that this be determined in accordance with the laws and sciences.
The government must assume its role or the international community, based on that 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 neither in favor nor against mining, because who am I to do it, since I do not have scientific elements that show whether or not it is feasible, so only environmental impact studies could give me that information.
Over 7 years of delays. Crooked or corrupt is all that makes sense. The rest has been nothing but lip service. No more options for GQC Mgt as they have failed for years to get the job done. Enough is enough.
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