[Keith R]

Originally Posted by Chris

Of course there is a trash problem. But I need to put this in perspective - It is not Punta Rucia that has a trash problem, it is the Dominican Republic that has a trash problem. Punta Rucia is no better and no worse than anywhere else I've seen. I did not see it as bad as what Simon and Nicky's thread describes. Possibly we were there at a quieter time with fewer people. I do not know.

You are correct. This is a problem throughout the DR. In Punta Rucia it is perhaps more noticeable than on other beaches because there is not a local government or group of private businesses sponsoring daily clean-up of the beaches as there is elsewhere in the DR. But I have photos of trash even in places where such clean-up occurs, as in Cayo Levantado in Samana (including an empty antifreeze container on the beach there, of all things!).

I would not say it was much worse in Punta Rucia than elsewhere in the DR, but it was bad.

In my opinion, the only way that a problem such as this can be solved, is by strong and decisive action by the city fathers to clean up, to set and enforce fines if someone litters and to make proper facilities available.

Well, I'm not even sure Punta Rucia has municipality status, so it has no public financial resources and police power to speak of. [HB, you must know -- does it?] Even if it did, fines on the books would probably mean little where police routinely accept "money for gas" or "money for breakfast" to look the other way...

There is the additional question of just what "proper facilities" are for a place like Punta Rucia, so far from any established municipality and whose road is too difficult to expect trash trucks to come make regular collections. Should they have a local mini-landfill? Can they even do so safely, being so close to the sea (water table) and a protected national wildlife reserve?

Again, in my opinion, the AI busses that bus people in by the 100's to enjoy the area, should take some responsibility. Besides the trash around the area, I think this behaviour is exploitation of the worst kind.

I dislike the AI buses, especially since they unloaded just next door to where I was staying while at Punta Rucia. But in all fairness, the people on those buses had nothing whatsoever to do with the trash on the public beach. As far as I could see, they never even went close to the public beach. Instead, they were immediately shipped out by boat to a sandbar out on the reef. No, the trash on the public beach was caused overwhelmingly by local Dominicans, I am sorry to say.

It is a community problem and the community can make money out of it by managing their trash if they do it right.

I agree. Question is -- ever the case in dealing with litter, waste and recycling issues -- how best to educate, motivate and organize them to do so.

Now mind - these are my opinions, I am not willing to debate them, or get into a shouting match about them. Any good idea is welcome. Shouting and Frothing at the mouth because of this will not do anyone any good.

Not sure why you're being so defensive. I don't see anyone shouting or frothing at the mouth, as you put it. Not yet, anyway. We are discussing, not arguing about, a problem that concerns all who love the DR, and would like to see places like Punta Rucia from being spoiled.

If you want to stay away from Punta Rucia because of the trash problem, please do so.

Not me. I want to go back -- soon as I can get back to the DR. What I would like to do, however, is not just go back to enjoy the beauty of the area and the great seafood. I would like to go back armed with some ideas and local contacts that might help address this issue.

Best Regards,
Keith
(The DR1 Environment Forum moderator)