Samaná community comments on construction of Caribbean’s newest cruise hub.
With more than a week to go before the end of April 2025, the Dominican Republic was still on track for receiving 74 cruise ships … the ‘highest monthly figure to date’ as noted by Jean Luis Rodríguez, director of the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom). As was explained then, most of these vessels will dock in Puerto Plata but Lo Romana, Cap Cana and Samaná will also receive cruise ships.
Puerto Duarte de Arroyo Barril (at Samaná bay) has been undergoing major transformation since March 2024 when construction began to make this facility a modern cruise terminal capable of receiving Oasis-class cruise ships. With terminal capacity to receive and manage four ships at a time, Samaná is expected to be docking cruise ships by the end of 2025. In this regard, construction has been proceeding apace and recruitment of skilled personnel to work at the new terminal has started.
In January, at a press conference to discuss progress in the construction of the Caribbean’s cruise port, Governor Teodora Mullix invited residents of the Samaná region to participate in job fair scheduled for later that month (January 22 and 23). The event was a first step to enlisting workers to fill some 200 job positions in various areas of first phase operations including: Engineering, Security, Construction, Construction assistants, Administrative assistants, Maritime maneuver, Boatmen and Divers.
The cruise terminal at Puerto Duarte, the newest cruise destination port in the Caribbean is expected to make Samaná a must-visit destination in the Caribbean. And the residents in communities in the region are generally positive about the development and its potential for driving sustained development.
Portside Caribbean recently assigned correspondent Marc Evens Nicoleau the task of documenting how local residents felt about the development of the Caribbean’s newest cruise ship destination in their community. From his random sampling of residents in the community he deduced that residents were generally positive about the economic growth and opportunities that this development promised. As he noted in his report: “Those who had a positive view expect economic growth and job opportunities coming from the development. The negatives feared displacement; potential negative environmental impacts; rising prices. The main concerns included housing stability; rent increases; environment pollution, eviction. And the biggest hopes included jobs opportunities, tourism, better roads and infrastructure development.”
The following is a summary of his notes from the various interviews he conducted in the community. Most of those interviewed did not want their photograph published.
Aida Martínez – a resident of Barrio, Samaná for 27 years.
- Employee on the Construction Project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Neutral but worried
- Problems Experienced: Noise, dust, possible displacement of neighbours
- Expected Benefits: More jobs for locals
Aida is a local, owner of a restaurant in el Barrio el Barril, where she has lived her entire life. She is worried about the potential increase in rent and cost of living once the port construction is completed. While she acknowledges that more tourists could help small businesses like hers, she also fears that “the people of always” will benefit while “the people of the street” will struggle.
Samuel Gómez – resident of Samaná Centre for 35 years
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- Employee on the Construction project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Positive
- Problems Experienced: Noise from construction
- Expected Benefits: Economic growth and job stability
Samuel, a father of three, works as a salesman, selling tours to the visitors. He believes this is the biggest opportunity Samaná has seen in decades and that young people will have more work options. “For those of us inside, it’s a blessing, but I understand that for those losing their homes, it’s painful.”
Carmen Rojas – resident of El Barril for 18 years
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- Employee on the Project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Negative
- Problems Experienced: Eviction, lack of information
- Expected Benefits: None for her personally
Carmen and her family are being asked to relocate to make way for road expansions. She feels that while the port will bring money, it will mainly benefit investors but not regular people. “We’ve lived here for almost two decades and now they tell us we have to leave. Where are we supposed to go?”
José Antonio Pérez – resident of Barrio for 40 years
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- Employee on the Project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Neutral
- Problems Experienced: Heavy truck traffic
- Expected Benefits: More tourism, more business opportunities
José Antonio, a retired fisherman, remembers when the coastline was quieter. He says the construction is causing traffic jams and making it hard for older people to get around. “It will help some, but I’m not sure if it will help us, the ones who have been here forever.”
Marisol Delgado – resident of Samaná Center for 12 years
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- Employee on the Project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Positive
- Problems Experienced: Noise
- Expected Benefits: More tourism, more investment in public spaces
Marisol owns a small café near the main square. She is excited about the port, hoping it will bring more visitors and improve local businesses. “We need this. Samaná is beautiful, but it has been forgotten by the government for too long.”
Ramón Espinal – resident of El Barril for 50 years
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- Employee on the Project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Negative
- Problems Experienced: Forced relocation, uncertainty
- Expected Benefits: None
Ramón is furious about having to leave his home of five decades. He and others in his neighborhood are organizing to demand fair compensation. “They come with papers, numbers, and promises, but they don’t live here. They don’t know what it’s like to start over at my age.”
Miguel Hernández – resident of Barrio for 30 years
- Employee on the Project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Neutral but concerned
- Problems Experienced: Noise, road damage
- Expected Benefits: More opportunities for local workers
Miguel, a moto taxi driver, worries about how the new port will impact traffic. He hopes authorities plan ahead. “We already have problems with potholes and congestion. What happens when thousands of new trucks and tourists come in?”
Arelis Guzmán – resident of barrio el Barril for 15 years
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- Employee on the Project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Negative
- Problems Experienced: Displacement fears
- Expected Benefits: yes
Arelis rents a small home near the construction zone and is afraid her landlord will evict her to sell the land. “Nobody is telling us anything. We’re just waiting to see if we wake up one day with a letter saying we have to leave.”
Manuel Rodríguez – resident of Samaná Center for 28 years)
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- Employee on the Project? (construction worker)
- Attitude to the Construction: Positive
- Problems Experienced: Dust from construction
- Expected Benefits: Steady jobs
Manuel says this is the best job he has had in years. “It’s hard work, but it pays better than anything else in town.” He hopes the government ensures that once the port is finished, locals continue to be hired.
Isabel Ramírez – resident of Barrio for 25 years
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- Employee on the Project? No
- Attitude to the Construction: Mixed feelings
- Problems Experienced: Rising rent prices
- Expected Benefits: More tourism, but fears losing her home
Isabel rents an apartment that is becoming more expensive. “With all this development, I don’t know if I’ll still be able to afford to live here in five years.” []
- First published: May 1 2025
