Huge boost for North coast!

canadian bob · #1 05-11-2003, 07:47 AM

The President has just announced that the Puerto Plata port and area is to be dramatically improved to boost tourism. The removal of the power plants and harbour improvements to facilitate cruise ship docking will improve the local economy and remove the source of present major pollution. Yippee!! Canadian Bob.

Chris · #2 05-11-2003, 08:10 AM

Can you give more details Bob?

Ken · #3 05-11-2003, 09:38 AM

Not trying to throw cold water, but save the celebration until work is done. During the 17 years I have lived in the DR, I have seen many similar announcements for Samana and other areas that never were followed up on. Either the work started but was soon stopped for lack of money, never to be restarted, or it never began.

The closer it gets to an election and the more uncertain the outcome is, the more such announcements are made by the President and party currently in power.

PJT · #4 05-11-2003, 10:03 AM

Echoing Ken in thought, adding that words and hot air have no value, ....seeing is believing. A good example is/was the proposed pier in Samana, it was started and never finished. It was a pork-barrel project started to line the pockets of politicians and friends with commissions. Regards, PJT

Chris · #5 05-11-2003, 10:43 AM

Yes - I agree, celebration only when the work is done! if the work is done!

Would like to have a reference where Canadian Bob saw/heard this announcement.

Dolores · #6 05-11-2003, 11:37 AM

Was at a recent press conference where the President was asked about this and said he was in favor but he also said that things were complicated as the power plant had to be relocated and there was no timetable for this.

The power plant and clinker unloading dock area have been very detrimental for Puerto Plata's tourism industry so I think efforts should continue to insist that they be relocated. But I wouldn't count on it happening in this administration's time.

Hlywud · #7 05-11-2003, 05:58 PM

Time will tell, to many obstacles for it to materialize overnight.
no timetable for this, A Dominican timetable what is that??

Also Hippo has made a lot of statements that never come true.

And will it happen I don't think so, not in Hippo's time.

Larry · #8 05-11-2003, 09:03 PM

why this is such a good thing.Attracting tourism to the North Coast will effectively drive the prices of everything through the roof.Arent those of you who are retired on the north coast happy that you can go out to eat in a restaurant or shop for food for next to nothing?I understand that the value of your property would go up with the boost in foreign interest to the area that this would bring and that is a good thing but everything else will go up in price too. Do you want the north coast to develop into one big Americanized AI like Cancun did? Thats what you are going to get.
Larry (change is bad)

Chris · #9 05-11-2003, 09:12 PM

An Americanized Cancun is kinda far off. I would like to see some sane development as it would be good for this coast and for the ordinary people that live here.

I know a very good dominican business women in Puerto Plata that laments every time I see her, about Puerto Plata not developing. Why? she says - we have the beaches, we have the infrastructure and we have the ability.

I've been thinking about that. Why?

Larry · #10 05-11-2003, 09:34 PM

An Americanized Cancun is kinda far off.--Chris

How far off? 10 years? When the floodgates of American tourism eventually open up the AI's will pop up so fast it will make your head spin. Like you said..they have they beaches,the climate,property is cheap(now). When that happens there will so many Burger Kings and KFC's lining the streets. The days of getting a nice big plate of Dominican Food for 40 pesos will be a distant memory.You are right when you say it would be great for local Dominicans but it wont be for ex-pats. You will all be lamenting about what the north coast used to be like before...
Larry