maybe maybe not
don't know if the skills are here but the will is not!
If you live or traveled Duarte Av. while they were building IKEA and adding on to the America next door. That is all it takes to see the difference in construction methodology. One had what I would call regular forms for concrete pouring, with steel supports, the other had plywood supported by posts. same when they put up Blue Mall. There is a world of difference.
I will repeat for the most part the skills are available here to do really good finishing work. Certainly, certain some newer and materials and construction methods aren't utilized here but for the materials in question there are certainly qualified labor.
The important factor as to why imported management was more than likely needed on the project is just matter of scale. After all it would be difficult for the locals to gather the experience required here in the DR to do such a large project. Another more specific example would be for example the laying of tile: there are certainly qualified people here but when you are talking about doing large expanses of floor the local methods of leveling a floor probably won't cut it; ie you're going to have to work with a surveyor in order to get everything level or at the design grade if so specified.
single pours, vs multi pours, vibrators vs ??? etc etc etc
As far as roadwork, there are qualified engineers here, just look at the cable span built in San Pedo de Macoris. Unfortunately, there are a lot of engineering and contracting companies imo that aren't really qualified too.
don't know if the skills are here but the will is not!
If you live or traveled Duarte Av. while they were building IKEA and adding on to the America next door. That is all it takes to see the difference in construction methodology. One had what I would call regular forms for concrete pouring, with steel supports, the other had plywood supported by posts. same when they put up Blue Mall. There is a world of difference.