From Migrating Birds to Immigration Snowbird Troubles

Friday Feb 10 the Meeting Place is presenting a “double-header” (starting at 3:30 with coffee): First part: at 3:45 Rafael Nunez, director of the Mt Isabella cable car, will give a visual presentation/talk about Mount Isabella, its flora and fauna, and its protected status. Second part, we have organized a Q & A session with Vice-minister of Tourism Julio Almonte accompanied by a spokesperson from the Dept of Immigration (DCM) concerning visa regulations/procedures and the recent actions of Immigration agents in taking into temporary custody and fining tourists who were here for more than 30 days (visa violation charges).
This will be a full and we hope rewarding afternoon. Mt Isabella whose cloud -covered summits inspired Christopher Columbus to name the city Puerto Plata (Port of Silver) is today a nature preserve and sanctuary for birds and native plants. There is a much greater variety of birds and plants and the talk should open our eyes to its richness and need to preserve this nature reserve. Sr Nunez is director of the Teleferico (the Carribean’s only cable car), which is one of Puerto Plata’s top tourist attractions.
For the second part will be dealing with an issue that has concerned (and in many cases, alarmed) our community: the checking and taking into custody tourist/visitors whom were “suspected” of overstaying visas. Many (if not, most) in the community are confused about what is the procedures to follow when staying here for more than 30 days, and about what provoked the recent actions. Rumors abound in such cases and we have asked authorities to come to explain the situation to us. This Q&A will begin at 4:30 right after the Mt Isabella presentation.