Playa El Encuentro -- what's the story?

[Dolores]

DR1 Daily News, 11 April 2005: Protest over beach road privatization
Cabarete community members are gathering national and international support to impede that the access road to Playa El Encuentro, the country's leading surfer beach, be closed off to public access in Puerto Plata. Members of the community protest the show of force and influence that has lead to the illegal privatization of the coastal Camino Viejo access to Playa El Encuentro. Ricardo Ripoll, president of the Association of Surfing of Puerto Plata (ASPP) and coordinator of the Movement Costa del Camino Viejo are seeking national and international support to put an end to the closing of the road. In a notice to the press, Ripoll says that the attempt is in violation of the Dominican Constitution, Environmental Law 64-00 and citizen rights.
The release to the press, signed by Ripoll and Sylvain Aurenche, secretary of the ASPP, explain that since 2000 Hideaway Beach Resort has attempted to privatize this community road and has used contacts with persons of influence in Puerto Plata to successfully close the road on three occasions. They highlight that as of August of last year, armed guards have closed off the road access not only of the Camino Viejo, but of the entire area of Cabo Macoris.
Ripoll explained that since then Hideaway Beach Resort has not allowed anyway who is not a guest at the complex to enter the beach.
Mickey Gough, also spokesman for those who are fighting for surfers and the general public's right to the road, says that so far they have exhausted all proper channels on the local and regional level, including municipal governments, the Ministry of Tourism, Bienes Nacionales and the regional press and have only been met with a series of stall tactics. "We realize now that we must launch a press blitz to the national and international levels to bring pressure to bear on the higher ups," he writes.
Gough says that very good footage of revealing confrontations with Hideaway Beach Resort manager Lluigui Jimenez is available, of the community consensus meeting and the general documental coverage of the extent of the blockage and the tourist/sports activity in the affected area. They also have available documents from several associations and the municipal government backing the initiative including the unanimous resolution passed by the Ayuntamiento Distrito Municipal de Cabarete ordering Hideaway to open the road.
The Association of Surfing of Puerto Plata denounces that this has damaged the image of the Dominican Republic abroad, especially among surfers. DR1 contacted Hideaway Beach management for their side of the story, but did not receive a reply.
Those interested in supporting the movement for free access of the 6.5 kilometer Costa del Camino Viejo pathway to Playa El Encuentro can call 809 805-2436 or write to aspp2@hotmail.com

Anyone who is in Cabarete that is familiar with what has happened there, please let us know more details.

[Cleef]

This is the place I'd dreamed about as a kid.

[Jane J.]

This is the place of many family picnics for me, and in the days before that, many exciting adventures! It's a rugged, beautiful spot (with a renownedly powerful undertow) which would be a loss if privatized.

[Escott]

I don't actually know what exactly is going on. I was at the Surf beach and drove all the way there a few days ago with friends. There were some downed trees blocking the road after the Surf Beach. Could be blocked by guards further up but don't know.

I hear it on the radio but I don't know what exactly they are talking about.


Escott

[amy2761]

Anyone interested in helping out could contact Ricardo at Hotel Tropical Casa Laguna, i.e. he has had a petition going for months which are available to sign in a few businesses in Cabarete, we're puting a copy in our store as well for customers/visitors to sign in favor of keeping the road and all beaches open to public access.

Stay well,
Amy

[MM Gough]

!!La Costa del CAMINO VIEJO PARA TODOS!!

!Encuentro Libre!

Saludos one & all,

What is La Costa del Camino Viejo
La Costa del Camino Viejo is a 6.5 kilometer strip of world class tropical coastal eco-systems situated between Sosua & Cabarete, Puerto Plata.

Who we are
“La Costa del Camino Viejo para Todos” is a strictly nonprofit volunteer & informal movement, in support of inclusive & sustainable development, representing a diverse range of public and private sector institutions & a multitude of individuals united in the common cause of rescuing Camino Viejo and most importantly it’s adjacent coastal surroundings from the clear and present reality of illegal privatization and environmentally harmful “development” activities.
Our ranks include the Ayuntamientos de Sosua & Cabarete, the Asociacion de Desarollo de Cabarete, the Juntas de Vecinos de la Cieniga & Vistas de Caribe, la Secretaria de Turismo & la Asociacion de Surf de Puerto Plata amongst others,

THE BROAD GOAL
Our core goal is to develop a broad based community consensus on how this invaluable public asset should be managed. Than as a community, in collaboration with la Secretaria de Medio Ambiente & Recursos Naturales, la Secertaria de Deportes and la Secretaria de Cultura, we propose the public elaboration, legitimization & implementation of a management plan that will address the complex social-economic and environmental imperatives of Nuestro “ CAMINO VIEJO”

PRESENT URGENT TASKS
Foremost is the need to commit immediate and maximum community support to the initiative to liberate & rehabilitate el Camino Viejo so that normal unrestricted use can be resumed and our civil rights to unimpeded use & access are further validated.
Secondly, a collective and focused expansion of the effort to have Camino Viejo & Playa Encuentro officially designated as an Eco-Turistico/Deportivo Parque is crucial at this time.

Our M.O.A.
We operate through groups of coordinators developing effective actions via phone & internet conferencing and informal meetings combined with constant networking with the rest of the community to always maintain, at center, the widest possible panorama of community interests.

HOW YOU CAN LEND A HAND
In order to succeed in this ambitious endeavor we must function in a broad based democratic & transparent manner. As such, your participation through thoughtful input & a vote of approval on meaningful initiatives is the vital cornerstone of our strength.
Apart from that, any available resource, be it human, material or financial, will be abundantly appreciated.
.
OPERATIONAL FUNDING
There are neither inscription fees nor monthly dues; we have no fixed operational costs and no administrative overhead. We do however enjoy access to the significant recourses of our supporting participants.
Operational costs are covered on an as need be basis and are provided entirely voluntary by the community.

How to Become Part of the Solution
It easy, just let your voice be heard and sign on to our pettition at the Asociacion de Surf de Puerto Plata (ASPP) website http://www.asociaciondesurfingdepuertoplata.com/
than give support to the cause as best you can within your means.


!!Juntos Lograremos el Exito!!


Contacts:
Ricardo Ripoll 809-805-2436 or aspp2@hotmail.com
Phil Lehman 809-974-3675, 5713570 or philliplehman@mac.com
Mick Gough 809-330-6566 or mickey.gough@internet.net.do

[windeguy]

With the recent news that Encuentro will be lost forever, we took a look to see what was happening a few weeks ago. At that time we saw the old access road was fenced off and a new road was in place. There were no guards preventing access at that time. We went from Encuentro along the water over to El Rocon.. A sandy road at best, but a beautiful strip of coastline. Our feelings were that this will probably be the next (overly) developed area on the North Coast since it ties in with the piece of land cleared last year. As Sherlock Holmes would say, "The game is afoot"..

Sadly, as we all know that live here, money talks and BS walks. I have already signed petitions. Hopefully something can be done to allow us non-beach-front owners access to this area. I am afraid that this kind of forethought will not happen during my lifetime.

[samiam]

Thats the problem with developers and government, they f^@k things up just for a few buck. If they had their head out of their a$$ they would see that protecting and taking care of the existing appeal will add value to the land and it could be promoted to bring more visitors who can eventually rent houses and hotel rroms in their precious project.

I say burn the whole damn thing if they wont listen!!!

[Chris]

This will be interesting. It's going to be a stand-off between those pockets that were enriched in the action that we saw there last year near to and on the road, and an outcry from the world surfing bodies, merchants, property owners, tourist stakeholders, environmentalists and whoever feels they can put their oar in... Prime and beautiful land, close to the Great Big North, developing area, hungry developers willing to put many bucks into the right pockets. And we have a government that is really not focused on the North Coast. Yes, I'd say the game is afoot (nice and appropriate quote, windeguy).

What do you all say.. do we contact Greenpeace and make human chains to stop this, or will they shoot us?

[lindaC]

Wow, I'm totally amazed in what I'm reading here. I'll be flying down on Sat. for nine days.....thats a great beach. That sucks......I did sign a petition on another local forum where I'm from. Similiar issues. My suggestion is that the developers and government big wigs need to take up surfing. Once they understand that the ocean is a good thing to be in and not just to look at.......lol.....they'll be doing DP before going into work along w/ wet baggies and nasal drip. Yeah don't forget to bring a towel.