MEETING WITH THE COMMISSION for DEVELOPMENT of SAMANA

 The Commission for Development of Samaná is an official organization closely related with the elaboration of the Integral Plans for the Samaná Peninsula development, as well as the Pilot Plans of the main municipalities and towns of the Province. Since the beginning, the elaboration and implementation of the mentioned plans have been coordinated with the Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR), Secretary of Public Work (SEOPC), Environmental Secretariat and the General Administration of National Goods, among other government organisations.

 This Commission was born as an answer to the remodelling of the Santa Barbara de Samaná, and to evaluate the investment projects in the area; It has also extended its functions as a planning organisation.

 The President and founder Mr. Pablo Mella Morales is a city planner and architect, an author of great official and private projects in all the Dominican Republic, such as the Pilot Plans of Puerto Plata, San Francisco de Macorís, La Romana and Monte Plata, among others.

 The Technical Director, Mr. Alcides Calderón, an architect and city planner, has accepted to participate in periodic interviews for www.samana.net; in doing so, the Commission for the Development of Samaná approaches people who, somehow, are interested in learning about the development plans for, according to my opinion, one of the most beautiful regions in the Caribbean.

 In this first interview with the Architect Calderón, he will give us a general frame about the road construction, infrastructures, and new tourist developments of the region.

 Question: Mr. Calderón, one of the first questions of an investor even before trying to negotiate the price of a property is: what will happen with the accesses to the Peninsula. What can you say on that subject?

 Answer: Within the plans and projects elaborated by the mentioned Institutions is the highway Santo Domingo-Rincón Molenillo, presently under construction. The mentioned access will shorten the distance from Santo Domingo to Samaná to one hour and a half. The Central Government and the Public Work Secretariat have plans to improved the ecological sensitive road from Sanchez to Las Terrenas and, as another alternative we have the highway Samaná-El Limón-Las Terrenas, finished up to La Barbacoa and already opened from La Barbacoa to Las Terrenas, which is in its final execution phase.
Another vital element is the International Airport of El Catey, who will serve as an International connection. The runway is in its phase of completion and according to the latest information, it will be opened in a relatively short time; another project is the Ferry Sabana de la Mar-Santa Barbará de Samaná, which has been several years under study and we know that there are several investors interested in its implementation.

 Question: Three projects that without a doubt will mark a big step for the development of the Peninsula. Another of the pending subjects, according to my opinion, is all that has to do with infrastructure. What about the electricity, water treatments, sewage system, roads maintenance, etc.?

 Answer: I would say that the road infrastructure of the Peninsula is not so bad. With the implementation of the highway Santo Domingo-Rincón Molenillo, plus the internal works of adjustment of the urban roads of each Municipality, the improvements will be completed. As far as the electricity is concern, we have already experienced an improvement in the installation and distribution. In the study process is the implementation of the Sanitary Sewage System of the main urban centres, which will involve the construction of Residual Water Treatments Plants. We have to understand that the private tourist projects will have to implement the official directives on how to handle their refuse and sewage.

 Question: Let us go now to which without a doubt is one of the main questions for the people and companies interested in our Peninsula. What can you say about the new tourist developments?

 Answer: As it is happening at national level, ours country is welcoming a great number of investors in the tourist field, and in the case of the Samaná Province there are many groups as well as individual investors that are promoting, developing and in study phases of projects of many different natures, to which the corresponding government sectors are giving the follow up adapted to each case. We speak of hotels, restaurants, individual villas, summer residences and other compatible businesses. One of them is Las Terrenas Golf Course, something that was necessary in Samaná, as an important complement to continue attracting high quality tourism. We can also speak about the Caño del Jobo Marina project (Playa Bonita), as well as the Santa Barbara Marina, half completed already, and that will serve as a complement for the yachting tourism at a international level.

 Architect Calderón, let me thank you once again for your time to share with us the work of the Commission and we invite all those that have questions about what is going on in Samaná Peninsula, to use this web site to explore them. I will see you next month.
(la entrevista original en español)

Tami Escola (tami@samana.net)
October 2005

"Las Terrenas Country Club" official presentation to the public in Santo Domingo, on October 9 2005. (Here)

 Complex under construction, Samaná November 25 2004 more pictures here.