DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

A report in Listin Diario today reminds Dominicans of the excessive cost of the toll roads from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas, Samana. The roads were negotiated in the administration of former President Leonel Fernandez. Then Minister of Public Works Victor Diaz Rua signed for the Dominican government. Díaz Rúa is standing trial in the ongoing Odebrecht corruption bribes case.

The story in Listin Diario on 14 December 2020 explains that by 2021 the government will have paid the cost of the road. That is in the first 10 years of the 30-year contract. Yet, since the Ministry of Public Works signed a 30-year contract, taxpayers will have to continue paying excessive overcharges for another 20 years. It costs around RD$2,000 in tolls to vacation in Samana, compared to RD$300 for Punta Cana, a similar distance. The development of Samana has suffered due to...