Gold mining, a blessing or a curse for the Dominican Republic?

Latin America's largest gold mine is at the centre of a contentious debate. The Pueblo Viejo mine in the Dominican Republic produces nearly 50 percent of the country's gold. But fifty years of industrial mining have transformed the once-isolated village of Cotui into a massive open-air mine. And the expansion of operations means that around 450 residents of the valley have to leave their native land. Some are calling for an end to exploitative mining practices, but the mining companies insist their activities have no environmental impact. Our regional correspondents report.

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