THE BLACKS, Azua.-Herein beachin Old Port, Azuathe day awakens, but the singing of birds and the sound of waves on the sand have been replaced by the noise of three huge barges that now modify the natural landscape of the area. There is nothing to do, because life goes on and the fishermen They return with the fruit of their labor.
In The Blacksa community proud of its coastal identity and its emblematic beachtoday a deep feeling of abandonment and resignation.
After years of protests over the installation of three power generating bargesits inhabitants have chosen to remain silent, convinced that no authority is willing to listen to them.
Locals report that the process has been emotionally exhausting and frustrating, since since the project In 2023, the community raised multiple alerts about environmental pollution, constant noise and damage to the marine ecosystemwhich would originate the two electric barges that had been installed.
However, their protests were not heard or attended to, and the result has been the installation of a third bargeeven more powerful than the previous two, in the Los Negros beach.
Now the silence hurts, it is no longer peace, but nostalgia, because the view of the town fades under the heavy shadow of the three barges that break the harmony of your beach.
“We feel alone. Nobody came here to explain anything to us, nobody defended us. It’s as if this community didn’t exist for him.” Government. So if you come to talk to us about the barges I apologize, but you better leave,” said a resident. tired of the processwhile packing pre-cooked shrimp under a tree.
For the journey he made this team of The National in the town and the Los Negros beach It was evident that the feeling of abandonment It has had a deep impact on the daily lives of the inhabitants. Merchants assure that the flow of visitors to the beach has decreasedaffecting their income.
Families fear that noise and the waste affect the health of children and the elderly. Young people who previously participated actively in community activities say they feel unmotivated, convinced that “the voice of the people is not valid”.
Given this panorama, many residents recognize that continuing to protest seems useless. What was once a collective struggle has become a painful silenceand has caused a division in opinions for and against the electrical project.
While the energy project advance, in The Blacks there remains a climate of disappointment which is mixed with uncertainty about the future of his beachtheir natural resources and his community.
Background
In 2023 they reached Los Negros beach two electricity generating bargesfrom the company Karpowershipthe product of a tender promoted by the Government before him energy deficit in the country.
The protests, environmental complaints and sanctions, they did not wait, but everything was in vain.
The company Karpowershipdedicated to energy projects, operates the only floating plant in the world capable of moving according to the needs of each country. The two barges Initially installed they would operate for a period of three years.
Pollution
The three electricity generating bargesalthough they partially solve the problem of blackouts in the Southcontinue to be the main focus of environmental pollution through burning fossil fuelswhich release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$). They also issue other air pollutants such as carbon monoxide ($CO$), volatile organic compounds and particles that contribute to climate change.
