Safety Accomplishments

I received the following e-mail from the Canadian Ambassador in the Dominican when I enquired about and update of safety at the Damajagua waterfalls and his opinion on the Dream projects of which are organizing The Adam Vitaterna Literacy Project:

I can tell you that Dream is an excellent org that we have been working with in the past.
We worked with a Canadian Hotel called the Sun Village or EMI resort to buy a number of life jackets,helmets and other saftey gear for the falls.
The government also told me ,albeit slowley that they were looking at converting this facility to that of a natural reserve which would give them more regulatory control.
I have copied Leona Bailey our Consul in the DR.
Good Luck with your project.

Immediately after Adam's death I was in communication with the Ministry of Foreign Affiars in Ottawa and the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic .

At Adam’s drowning site in the Dominican at the Damajagua Falls near Imbert just outside Puerto Plata, the Canadian Embassy in Santo Domingo has already implemented safety measures and brought in safety experts to visit the site and spearheaded the implmentation of new safety rules at the waterfall.

Imediately after Adam's death, they posted the following warning on the Embassy web site:

Travellers should not participate in excursions to the 27 Charcos/Damajagua waterfalls near Puerto Plata, until such time as proper safety equipment and regulations are put into place. In general, travellers should ensure tour operators have taken proper safety measures and precautions, including the use of safety equipment such as helmets and life jackets, before undertaking extreme or eco-tourism types of activities.

The embassy wrote to and in some cases met a number of Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and the Police. They contacted all Canadian and local tour operators. They issued a travel warning about this tour on thier web site. They convinced other international consultates to issue warnings. This had a significant impact in the number of passengers going on these tours and forced the largest operator Iguana Mama to provide helmets and life vests for thier clients.

In the mid term, the sub secretary of Tourism for the North, Caesar de los Santos made and official visit to the waterfalls on January 28,2005 accompanied by several officials from POLITUR. As a result of the visit the Secretary announced over the radio that every tourist coming to the Falls will need to wear a life jacket and a helmut. He mentioned a 15 day implementation period . This was a huge victory in augmenting the security standards at the waterfalls.

The Guides have already begun a new training session reviewing First Aid, CPR and a new series of simulations run by a Wilderness FIrst Response Trainer from the US.

In the Long Term the Embassy told me the Government of the Dominican is working on a 10 year strategic Plan to deal with many of the issues I raised about corruption and cover up including regulation and monitoring of the activities both inside and outside of the hotel .

On March 4th, 2005 I was informed by the Ambassador that he has in his hands, the ink still wet, the new law regulating the tours to the Charcos del Rio Damajagua. Amongst other things it makes the use of safety helmuts and life jackets mandatory and also ensures that there are adequate communications and life saving facilties.

Tha Ambassador told me that my efforts to ensure that there is no repetition of what happended to Adam have been successful.

I must thank the Ambassador, his staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for everything that has been done in such a short period.

I would like to thank Walt Lastewka and Marika of the St Catharines Liberal Party Riding for thier efforts in spearheading the return of Adam's body to Canada.

Below, is the actual Resolution that was passed :

Dominican Republic

Secretary of State for Tourism

28 February 2005

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TOURISM, IN EXERCISE OF THE POWERS CONFERRED UNDER THE TOURISM ACT PROMULGATED IN LAW NO. 541 OF 31 DECEMBER 1969, AMENDED BY LAW NO. 84 OF 25 DECEMBER 1979 AND DECREES 812-03 AND 815-03 BOTH OF 20 AUGUST 2003, ON REGULATIONS FOR OVERLAND ADVENTURE TOURISM TRANSPORT (JEEP SAFARI) AND CLASSIFICATION AND RULES FOR TRAVEL AGENCIES, RESPECTIVELY, ISSUES THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION NO. 15/2005

CONSIDERING that the Secretary of State for Tourism is responsible for overseeing the smooth operation of the activities of companies that provide tourism services in the country;

CONSIDERING that the Secretary of State for Tourism is responsible for coordinating and executing with other government agencies whatever measures and actions are necessary to enable users of beaches, rivers, and resorts in the Dominican Republic to enjoy them without being exposed to risks that can and should be prevented in a timely manner;

CONSIDERING that it is of prime interest for the Secretary of State for Tourism to preserve and protect the physical safety of all tourists who visit us;

CONSIDERING that the forested zone where Los Charcos del Rio Damajagua lie, located in the Community of Los Llanos de Perez, Municipality of Imbert, Province of Puerto Plata, is an area that is frequently visited on account of its many natural attractions by groups of tourists taken there by tour operators and by overland adventure tourism transport (jeep safari) companies;

CONSIDERING that the Secretary of State for Tourism has inspected Los Charcos del Rio Damajagua and has decided that the tourism companies operating there need to implement protective measures in addition to existing measures to guarantee in reasonable terms the safety of the tourists to whom they offer their services;

CONSIDERING that the rules governing this field empower the Secretary of State for Tourism to establish the safety conditions that are necessary to ensure the quality of tourism company services and to impose administrative sanctions for failure to comply, in accordance with the laws and regulations on tourism.

HAVING EXAMINED the Tourism Act promulgated in Law No. 541 of 31 December 1959, amended by Law No. 84 of 25 December 1979, which establishes the Secretary of State for Tourism and grants it powers to authorize, regulate, and control the operation of tourism services and activities;

HAVING EXAMINED Decree No. 812-03 of 20 August 2003 on Classification and Rules for Overland Adventure Tourism Transport (Jeep Safari);

HAVING EXAMINED Decree No. 815-03 of 20 August 2003 on Classification and Rules for Travel Agencies and Tourism Operators;

THE FOLLOWING IS HEREBY DETERMINED

ONE. Tour operations and overland adventure tourism transport (jeep safari) companies that conduct excursions to Los Charcos del Rio Damajagua are ordered to mandatorily provide safety measures such as the use of life jackets for aquatic activities and protective helmets for activities conducted in the vehicles belonging to such service companies.

TWO. Tour operators and overland adventure tourism transport (jeep safari) companies that do not have the equipment called for in the present resolution are required to abstain from providing services at Los Charcos del Rio Damajagua.

FOUR The public forces, and in particular the tourist police (POLITUR), the navy, and the national police force are required to oversee compliance with this resolution.

FIVE. Inform the public about this decision by publishing it in a national newspaper.

Done in the city of Santo Domingo, National District, capital of the Dominican Republic on 28 February 2005.

/s/

Felix R. Jimenez

Minister of Tourism

updated Nov 22/06

And hear is updated information on the safety rules and an actual web site about the waterfalls:

Local tour guides learn how to manage a natural treasure

Building an Eco-Tourism Enterprise

Photo: USAID/Anabelle Soto

USAID and Peace Corps volunteers pose with members of the Damajagua River Guide Association after a training session.

Guides are required to complete training sessions that teach how to keep visitors safe and protect the delicate river environment.

Challenge

The 27 Charcos National Monument is a series of waterfalls along the Damajagua River in Llanos de Perez, a small town near the northern Dominican shore. Tourists would visit the environmental wonder on their own or with inexperienced guides. As a result, a natural treasure was being polluted and mismanaged and a golden opportunity for generating tourism revenue was being squandered. A local group of guides, the Damajagua River Guide Association, lacked the legal authority, know-how, and funds to turn the site into a successful eco-tourism enterprise. But they knew that if they could solve these problems, it would mean more income for the community and safer visits for tourists, who frequently injured themselves on the way to the waterfalls.

Initiative

USAID worked with the association to create an effective river management and guide training plan. With backing from USAID and a concrete plan of action, the project gained support from the local government and residents, who would themselves benefit from the initiative if it was a success. Municipal authorities donated machinery to build safer trails to the waterfalls, while Peace Corps volunteers trained the guides in how to safely manage and lead groups of tourists to the river.

Results

In November 2005, the Damajagua River Guide Association gained the legal status it sought: the environmental ministry granted the association the power to establish a system of rules and regulations to protect both the monument and tourists. Under the agreement, guides must be trained regularly in both visitor safety and environmental sensitivity. Tourists now pay a fee to visit the river, which brings higher pay to the guides. Profits from the fees are used for local development projects. With a professionally-run and safe eco-tourism site, everyone benefits — tourists, local guides, and even the river.

CENTRAL REGION’S DAMAJAGUA TOURISM SITE GETS A FACELIFT
Damajagua, home to the DR’s popular adventure sport called cascading, features 27 levels of natural pools and waterfalls. Recently renovated it received new facilities to enhance its safety, service and experience. The attraction now features certified guides; improved trails complete with new stairs, handrails and better water drainage; and a visitor centre with a gift shop, reception area, bathrooms with showers and a kitchen and beverage bar. For additional information visit the new 27charcos.com website.

Rules and Regulations

These rules were established by the Secretary of Environment in order to ensure the safety of our visitors and the conservation of a national park. Please keep the following in mind during your visit:

All visitors must be accompanied by a guide.
Obey all rules and warnings issued by the guide.
For your comfort, we recommend wearing closed shoes or sandals with heel support.
All visitors must wear a life jacket and helmet to climb the waterfalls.
Children younger than eight (8) years of age may only climb to the first waterfall.
For your safety, always stay on the path and with your group.
This area is a protected area and a national treasure. Please protect it.
Fishing/Poaching is prohibited.
Writing and/or vandalism of rocks, cliffs, trees, leaves or any other part of the protected area is prohibited.

I received this e-mail from the Canadian Embassy on December 6/06

Dear Mr. Vitaterna,

Please forgive my late reply, as I have been doing a lot of traveling in the country. Many thanks to you and your wife for the work that you are doing helping children in Canada and the Dominican Republic, it is a very noble cause.

Regarding Damajagua, I went to the Damajagua Information Centre Inauguration a few weeks ago. It does a lot to promote a safe visit to the Falls. The guides are now trained properly and receive a much better share of the business. As you know , the lifejackets used by the Damajagua visitors were donated by SunVillage Resorts, a Canadian Hotel chain in Puerto Plata and other places in the Dominican Republic. This is the latest update that we have on Damajagua. If we receive more information in the future, we, of course, will send it to you.

Sincerely,

Hélène Guillot
Chargée d'Affaires
Canadian Embassy
Capitán Eugenio de Marchena 39
La Esperilla, Santo Domingo

January 2007

We need to give a lot of credit to Sun Village Resorts and The Elliott Foundation for actually raising the money and implementing the safety improvements at the Damajagua Waterfalls. Joe Kennedy grandson of Robert and Ethel Kennedy spearheaded safety program and the Elliott Foundation raised the money that was needed for life jackets and helmets. We have been in contact with Eugene Leenders, Chairperson of the Elliott Foundation who has updated us on all the other great humanitarian work the Foundation is doing in the Dominican Republic.

I have to present here, one paragraph from a letter written from Eugene Leenders to Joe Kennedy,which would make Adam very happy:

You moved mountains at the Damajagua Waterfalls tourist site to make it safer; to protect it environmentaly and to generate more income for the guides and the and the community. After you did your presentation at Sun Village in May of 2005, The Elliott Foundation raised for you $10 Thousand that was needed for life jackets and helmets for the safety of the toursits. This fundraising initiative was undertaken by Derek Elliott when he heard about the Canadian boy, Adam Vitaterna, who drowned at the waterfalls. I recently contacted Andrew and Marilena Vitaterna , the parents of Adam. They shared with me that they developed a website in honour of Adam and to promote safety at this tourist site. The family hopes to go back to the waterfals site. The Spirit works in mysterious ways to help us heal and forgive so we can continue to walk in the light of hope and love. When I visted the web site , I felt an invitation by the Spirit to post a story about your efforts so that it would also be a part of the healing and moving forward process. I would like your blessing on that initiative as well as the Vitaterna family. I am sure that Adam would like the world to focus on the Rio Damajagua Waterfalls as a wonder of nature that the Spirit invites us to experience and be uplifted by. On behalf of the Vitaterna family I invite you to visit the web site. It's a great tribute to Adam.

To read about Sun Village and The Elliot Foundation, visit www.sunvillageresorts.com

An e-mail I received on April 10,2007:

just to let you know we have just returned from the Dominican and sounds like we were on the same tour as you. Was this the falls with 27 levels? We were given this tour free by our hotel to vacate our room for two days and stay at another as they were full, It was only by talking to a guy next to me on the plane that I heard of your son's death, now that I am home I searched to see if the story I heard was true, I am so sorry for your loss.

We had to wear life jackets and helmets, I was very forturnate to have a helmut on as going down one of the falls I hit my head on the rocks, I'd hate to think what would have happened had I not had a helmut on.

You were very blessed to have such a wonderful son by the sounds of it.

god bless you and your family for making this all public knowlege,

I just wish that the travel agents would tell you these things prior to leaving.

---------------------------

From our guestbook posted Feb 25,2008:

I wanted you to see first hand what your efforts are doing. I sent an email to this tour company wanting to book this tour (before reading about your sad tragedy). This is the reply I received. Although we will not be going on the tour (thank you so much for your warning), your efforts have made helmets, safe jackets, and water shoes a requirement. There also seems to be more of a warning on the swimming ability for the tour. I am so sorry for your loss. Adam's story is saving lives and his memory will live on, even for those of us unfortunate enough to have never met him. Hello Cheryl ! (Note: for this trips you must pay $8.00us extra per person at the water falls this will cover you the safe jacket, water shoes and helmet) i will do your booking for that day just send me a confirmation with the date of your arrival and i will send you the rest of info and next thing to do for booking ,also allow me to inform you that this trip is for good swimmers, could let me know if you and you kids are good swimmers .it is very important thanks, Jami Isaira Tours Phone: 809-320-1433 / CellPhone: 809-696-3151 http://www.isairatours.com E-mail (1): espinal30@msn.com

"I am so sorry for the loss of your son Adam. I came upon your website as I researched waterfalls in the DR as I am planning on vacationing there with my six year old son. My son is a huge waterfall fan and I thought it would be a great thing for him to actually experience a waterfall. I am grateful for the information you provided as I would never knowingly place my child in any danger. Obviously, we will not be visiting the waterfalls if we do visit the DR.

Again, God bless you and your family. And if we do go to the Dominican Republic, I will think of your Adam who lost his life there."

This is an e-mail I recieved on February 5,2009:

Dear friends, I am 34 years old from Dominican Republic and I want to say that I feel ashamed of my self and I believe I`ll never forget this feeling of shame `cause until this moment I was promoting trips to this place called Damajagua based on the experience I had when I visited for the first time the last quarter of 2008 with my wife and teenage daughter attending an invitation of a dominican born french friend. The experience was very exciting but demanding. Climbing the rocks and swimming through the current and waterfalls seemed dangerous but challenging. I couldn`t even imagine doing it without the life jackets and helmets and wandered about who decided to use them and when, and even thought that maybe this was the only way they allowed people on this place since the beginning. On our way up I took a look at the cliffs that I was walking by without anybody watching over me and thought to my self that it was strange that there weren`t any news about people being hurt or loosing their life in this place `cause I knew that if someone fell through any of this holes and knowing for a fact the dissapointing quality of dominican emergency services there was little chance of survival. I`m a good swimmer and jumped from every waterfall even made a few dives and found that in some places the water was so deep that I couldn´t reach the bottom without drowning. I fell a few times on my ass and a girl from our party broke her wrist when she fell from a rock and had to be helped down of the waterfalls. The guides did well but I realized their actions came from more than experience that training. When I came home I called a lot of my friends telling them about the experience and making plans for a comeback with more of my friends and even with my 7 year old son and my mother. Not knowing anything but just my impression not realizing that actually we where very lucky. Just this weekend I received a call from my friends asking me when I was coming back so they can join me and that`s when I found your website and found out about your lose. I am an extreme sports fan and even tried a few my self and I admit that I`m not afraid of the waterfalls but I couldn`t go back to that place without thinking of you, your family and little Adam. From now on and with tears in my eyes I promisse to honor Adam`s memory becaming an spokesman of your cause here in D.R. first ceasing all conversationg regarding a trip to damajagua and second I will try to make sure that everybody within my reach go to that place knowing the real dangers of it. Now I realize that it were you who looked out for us on that day and any day on this place because if it weren`t for your efforts to create all the safety improvements they`re using know like the helmets and lifejackets (they even have a sign prohibiting children yonger than 8 and other measures) but, to be honest I believe that that`s not enough. I believe that this place should be closed or at least be advertised as a very dangerous place for people of any age or physical condition. My prayers go to all of you and I wish nobody ever had to go throgh you`ve been through. God bless you and your precious son Adam wich I`m sure is an Angel looking out for all us from heaven.

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