Verón-Punta Canaone of the tourist destinations most emblematic of the Dominican Republicsays goodbye to 2024 without having resolved several problems that hinder the welfare of his residents.
While the area continues to grow exponentially in tourist and economic terms, the community continues waiting for the solution of problems postponed for decades, affecting the quality of life of thousands of people who live and work in this prosperous place.
The lack of investment in fundamental areas, such as basic infrastructureterritorial planning, and public services, as well as the delay in the creation of a independent municipalityare just some of the issues that remain pending.
Without water plant
One of the most serious problems that persists in Verón-Punta Cana is the absence of a treatment plant of sewage. The excessive growth of tourism and population has increased the demand for services, but it has not been accompanied by adequate infrastructure to process liquid waste.
This not only puts the public health of many people at risk, but also affects local ecosystems, such as beaches and coral reefs, which are essential to the area’s economy.
Although the construction of a treatment plant It is a long-standing project, it has not yet materialized, which generates a feeling of frustration among the residents and local authorities.
Aqueduct yes; when?
Although the growth of the area has been notable, the aqueduct network It has not been renewed or expanded proportionally. In dozens of neighborhoods, the residents They survive by extracting tube wells, which complicates their lifestyle, especially in the sectors furthest from the tourist area.
The deficit in water service through an aqueduct system is worsened by the lack of investments in hydraulic infrastructure. This leaves many families without access to the precious liquid with the quality and sanitary rigors that guarantee the protection of their health.
The Ministry of Public Works, as well as the Aqueduct and Sewer Corporation, are the actors responsible for solving this problem, but the lack of forceful action has led citizens to express their discontent.
Unpaved streets
Despite Verón-Punta Cana It is one of the most visited areas in the Caribbean, many of its neighborhoods and communities still lack paved streetswhich affects both the quality of life of the residents like the experience of those who visit the area. He local government has promoted paving projects, but bureaucracy has delayed progress in cleaning the streets.
Lack of order
The lack of proper planning and the uncontrolled expansion of the area have generated problems of overpopulation and lack of basic services, such as drinking water, sanitation and major chaos in traffic. While disorderly growth has brought economic opportunities, it has also generated tensions between tourism developers, local authorities and residents.
Although the tourist center is partially illuminated, many residential areas and peripheries lack sufficient lighting, which increases insecurity and makes nighttime mobility difficult. Authorities have indicated that installing more lights is a priority, but a lack of budget has slowed it down.
A dream that has not yet come true
One of the most debated topics during 2024 was the management to convert Verón-Punta Cana in a autonomous municipalitypolitically and administratively independent of Higueyhead municipality of La Altagracia.
This proposal, which has been supported by many sectors, seeks to decentralize local administration and guarantee that the area receives more resources to solve its problems.
Although the process of conversion into a municipality has advanced, it has not been finalized at the legislative level, which limits the possibilities of more efficient management of resources and the implementation of more effective public policies.
2024 made it clear that, although tourism and economic advances are evident, the welfare of the local population It remains a pending issue.
To the extent that investments in infrastructure, public services and territorial planning are prioritized, Verón-Punta Cana It will be able to move towards a more balanced future, where progress reaches all its inhabitants, not just those who benefit from tourism.
