Great deal for Barrick, not for DR

Great deal for Barrick, not for DR



 Deputy Environment Minister Eleuterio Martinez has told Clave that the contract the Dominican government signed with Barrick Gold is good business for the company because it awards them the benefits of the exploitation of the gold deposits, considered among the largest in the world, but relieves them of responsibility for the pollution of the Cotui area where the Pueblo Viejo mine is located. Clave reports that the negotiation of the contract originally sought to tackle the severe pollution in the area. But in the end, as Barrick Gold was able to negotiate, the Dominican government is again responsible for dealing with the pollution.

"As a person and as a Dominican, Barrick scares me, because there is no guarantee that they will show concern for this land," said Martinez. "That was a great business deal for them, but not for us."

Clave reports that it is estimated that the work to tackle the effects of the exploitation of the mine from 1975 to 1999 will cost US$75 million. In the contract with Barrick Gold, the company agreed to cover 50% and up to a limit of US$37.5 million for tackling the pollution, but delegated this responsibility to the Dominican government. He said the Dominican government does not have money for tackling these environmental problems.

Luis Carvajal from the environmental team at the UASD state university says that in the contract, instead of the Ministry of Environment reviewing Barrick's environmental plans and approving them, the government is required to submit their plans to the mining company for approval.

Martinez says: "The key words are follow up, who is going to follow up with Barrick; first because it is a monster and the authorities will require a great deal of money in order to comply, not only with the contract, but with what is established by the law." He described some of the conditions in the contract as "scary".

Martinez says that future mining operations will cause even more pollution. He said that Barrick is operating with the license granted to Placer Dome, but it is opening new fronts.

Clave reports that Rosario mine operated from 1975 to 1999 and exploited the oxide but left the sulphur oxides behind, creating serious pollution problems. Carvajal said that when the Placer Dome contract was under discussion the main objective was to tackle the sulphur pollution in the area.


Cotui mayor against Barrick Gold


The mayor of Cotui, Bienvenido Lazala is accusing Barrick Gold of causing an ecological disaster in Sanchez Ramirez province through water pollution and the disappearance of aquatic and land species. He called on the government to revise the contract that he defined as "against national interests in the economic and social aspects".

Lazala visited El Nacional newspaper and complained about the Ministry of Environment's indifference in demanding environmental conservation practices. He said that the extraction of gold in the Pueblo Viejo area has polluted the waters of the Yuna, Maguaca and Chacuey rivers and those of the Hatillo Dam. He said that Barrick Gold is using the waters of Hatillo Dam for their operation with dangerous substances such as cyanide.


 Lazala says that groups in Cotui are joining forces to press the government to secure a revision of the contract with Barrick Gold.