Bill seeks free access to beaches in the Dominican Republic

They introduced a bill in the Chamber of Deputies to establish the legal framework for free access, use, and enjoyment of the existing beaches, coasts, and riverbanks throughout the national territory and its adjacent islands. The initiative, spearheaded by Perremeist deputy Eugenio Cedeno, was submitted on November 8. The piece states in its second article that all people, whether citizens or not, have the right to free access and enjoyment of beaches, coasts, and riverbanks, and that no one can deny that right by claiming ownership of any property.

Eugenio Cedeo stated in his explanation that the 2010 Constitution adopted a proposal on free beach access that he has been fighting for since 2005. He stated that there is currently a barrier to tourism and hotel development in areas where there are beaches in the country because only the owner of the land in front of them can use them, while all the land adjacent to that beach is devalued. They must also be sold “at the price that the owner of the strip in front of the coastal strip wishes to pay.”

Concerning the distance between the beach and the hotel buildings, he assured that the 60-meter maritime strip is unlikely to be the property of anyone. According to Cedeno, violations of the regulations can result in up to three months in prison.