La Ceiba and El Salado are back at the center of public debate following recognition from diaspora Dominicans who thanked the Government for opening space for dialogue on territorial planning in Verón-Punta Cana. The stance was expressed by community members originally from La Altagracia, who requested that the process move forward with law, participation, and transparency.
In New York, leader Michael Peralta spoke on behalf of several residents of Higüey living in that city and praised President Luis Abinader and Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza for listening to the demands of La Ceiba and El Salado. According to his statements, the important thing now is that the territorial plan is built through public hearings, consultations, and working tables.
La Ceiba and El Salado call for real participation
Peralta maintained that the discussion on La Ceiba and El Salado should not be limited to a political announcement, but rather become a verifiable process open to all sectors. He also thanked the support of Monsignor Jesús Castro Marte, who is credited with a mediating role to facilitate a broader agreement.
The central argument of the diaspora is that La Ceiba and El Salado do not reject territorial planning or environmental protection. What they demand, according to what was expressed, is a model that combines legal certainty, development, and respect for community rights.
Territorial planning and community pressure
The case of La Ceiba and El Salado takes place in an area of strong urban and touristic growth, where land use, real estate expansion, and the protection of inhabited areas often generate tensions. In this context, community participation is key to avoiding decisions made without local consensus.
Community members also stated that they will remain attentive to the fulfillment of the commitments announced by the authorities. For them, the value of the process will depend on La Ceiba and El Salado having an effective voice in the final decisions and not just a symbolic consultation.
La Ceiba and El Salado and the weight of the diaspora
The statement from New York reinforces the role of the Dominican diaspora as an actor of pressure and monitoring regarding local issues in the Dominican Republic. In this case, the community linked to La Ceiba and El Salado made it clear that they will support any institutional outcome that preserves the collective interest.
“When the Government listens to the people, it strengthens democracy and builds trust,” Peralta stated when praising the openness to dialogue regarding La Ceiba and El Salado.
Expectations are now focused on ensuring that the working tables, public hearings, and announced mediation produce concrete agreements. For residents and natives of La Ceiba and El Salado, the challenge will be to turn dialogue into measurable decisions, with clear rules and without privileges.
La Ceiba and El Salado awaiting results
As the process moves forward, the diaspora insists that La Ceiba and El Salado must be part of a transparent, legal, and inclusive territorial planning. This criterion, they ensure, will be the real proof that the Government addressed the community’s demand and not just opened a temporary conversation.
La Ceiba and El Salado will remain vigilant to ensure that territorial planning translates into facts, participation, and respect for the communities.
