Environmental advocate Ivonne Arias has issued a forceful call for comprehensive legal enforcement and public education reforms to address the Dominican Republic’s escalating river pollution crisis. Arias contends that systemic failures in implementing environmental regulations have perpetuated ecological damage, demanding immediate consequences for violators including corporate entities and negligent officials.
The environmental specialist emphasized that mere financial penalties prove insufficient deterrents. She advocates for criminal prosecution against businesses discharging waste into waterways, stating that environmental damage constitutes a crime against public welfare. Arias highlighted how pollutant discharge not only contaminates water supplies but critically depletes oxygen levels, devastating aquatic ecosystems.
Beyond enforcement, Arias outlined necessary preventive measures including nationwide river surveillance systems and educational initiatives promoting environmental stewardship. She criticized institutional bureaucracy that hinders environmental protection efforts while acknowledging some governmental and private sector attempts at improvement.
The environmentalist stressed that without consistent monitoring and follow-up on violations, pollution incidents will continue recurring. She urged authorities to develop transparent environmental planning while insisting that both legal application and cultural respect for natural resources must become national priorities to achieve meaningful ecological preservation.