The president of the Dominican College of Engineers and Architects (CODIA), Eng. Alejandro Montás favors the moving of the Herrera Airport to the outskirts of the city. While the Ministry of Public Works has not announced the move of the inner city airport, the director of the State Sugar Council confirmed the sale of the sugar fields in the northern area of Higuero for building of the airport. Engineer Montás says that the airport’s present location is dangerous, as it is located in a heavily populated, industrial and commercial zone. He favored the construction of a hospital on the airport’s present grounds. Operators of domestic airlines and small charter plane services strongly oppose the move. They say it is normal for an airport to be located within a city. For them, the move to Higuero would seriously affect the profitability of their businesses. Fernando Rainieri, of Air Santo Domingo, said the airline would have to suspend its domestic flights as he doubted passengers would go so far to take a plane and would prefer inland ground transport. The daily press speculated yesterday that the Herrera Airport land would be used to build the villa for the Pan American Games that will be held in Santo Domingo in 2003. But Minister of Public Diandino Peña told the press yesterday practically denied the version, saying other options closer to the sports center are preferred. The first choices for the villa are the large lots adjacent to Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. These include the industrial complex of Lavador that business sectors say will soon be dismantled. Lavador last year sold its detergent operations to Colgate-Palmolive.
