Gold Mining Turns Dominican Republic into “Triangle of Death”

Communities surrounding the massive Pueblo Viejo gold mine in the Dominican Republic are fighting for their lives.

Hundreds of families demand relocation as health concerns mount in what activists now call a “triangle of death.”

The Pueblo Viejo mine, one of the world’s largest gold operations, is located in the middle of the country. It is a joint venture, with Barrick Gold holding 60% and overseeing the mining since 2013.

Residents describe severe health effects such as respiratory issues, headaches, nausea, and skin rashes.

Blood tests have revealed alarming levels of heavy metals in community members living near the mine.

“I never suffered from anything before Barrick came,” says Casilda Lima, a 47-year-old resident whose home sits in the shadow of the El Llagal tailings dam. Her entire family now has chronic health difficulties.

The 114-meter-tall dam towers over the Las Lagunas neighborhood, containing potentially dangerous and radioactive waste from mining activities.

This storage facility has been rated “extreme” risk, meaning over 100 fatalities would be expected if a failure occurred.

More than 450 households from six towns near the dam have claimed major health, livelihood, and environmental issues. The problem has only worsened as Barrick anticipates a big expansion.

Water contamination remains a primary concern for local residents. A young boy from the area summarizes the community sentiment with the chant “El agua vale mas que oro,” meaning “Water is worth more than gold.”

After years of attempting dialogue with little response, desperate community members have taken direct action.

In November, they occupied space outside Barrick’s production site, chaining themselves to chairs and refusing to leave.

The Comité Nuevo Renacer (New Rebirth Committee) represents these six affected communities.

Their headquarters features skull and crossbones symbols alongside phrases like “Yes to life” and “Relocation now!”

Corporate Responsibility and Environmental Impact

Barrick attempts to deflect blame by pointing to previous mining activities dating back to 1975. The company claims it invested $75 million to clean up areas outside its boundaries.

The company’s extraction process uses industrial quantities of cyanide to process low-grade ore. This method produces approximately 79 tons of waste for each ounce of gold extracted.

Environmental experts warn that the alleged increased contamination could result from extensive cyanide use at Pueblo Viejo and inadequate disposal of acid mine drainage. Blood tests confirm cyanide traces above safe levels.

Community members have set up their own security system, with nocturnal monitoring shifts. They are concerned that a probable spill from the tailings pond will cause a catastrophic environmental disaster throughout the little island nation.

Barrick Gold, headquartered in Toronto, operates 16 mines in 13 countries and produced more than 4 million ounces of gold in 2023.

The mining ministry and Barrick both deny responsibility for the water poisoning. They insist on treating all water to regulatory standards before release, with daily testing to ensure compliance.

According to Fernando Peña, coordinator of a consortium monitoring extractive industries, Barrick’s ambitions are a “barbarity” that cannot be justified. The proposed new tailings dam would be three times larger than the existing one.

The affected region sits at the center of the country’s water sources and biodiversity. What activists describe as an “area where life could thrive” is being transformed through what they term “extractivism.”

Leoncia Ramos, a spokesperson for the community committee, summarizes the human cost, saying, “There are many people who suffer respiratory problems, vision loss, skin lesions, heart problems, and depression because of the situation. People are dying.”