Recently, residents who live along the tourist route, held a protest march because still nothing has been done to repair the road.
This tourist route runs from the Grande Parade (Puerto Plata) to Santiago.
The tourist route leads through the most beautiful countryside of the Dominican Republic.
Here you can see picturesque villages, beautiful views and the most beautiful vegetation.
Because of the many rains in the past, the road is impassable, although with a four wheel drive it still can be done.
The residents now have held a protest march with donkeys, horses, carts and on foot from the Gran Parade to Santiago which is a distance of almost 30 miles.
Protest march for tourist route
In Santiago they have asked the governor for a meeting.
They are very angry and indignant because President Danilo Medina and the Minister of Public Works, Gonzalo Castillo, had previously promised to repair the road.
The residents of the villages who live along the route feel left down.
Most of them are small farmers who live off the proceeds of their plot of land.
They sell their wares at the market in Santiago, Puerto Plata and Luperón.
For these farmers, these markets are barely accessible.
According to Basilio Peralta (community leader), you see that many farmers are now forced to move to Santiago and Puerto Plata and leave there farms.
Basilio Peralta also mentioned that the tourist route used to attract many vacationers to enjoy the beautiful nature.
For the residents this was also a source of income by selling drinks and food.
This source of income has also dried up now.
For residents along the tourist route, there is not much hope left.
Information: El Caribe
