The Fernández administration announced it will be paying the government debt with contractors that rebuilt the Duarte Highway by way of a transaction of the 150,000 square meters where the Herrera International Airport is located, The government is at present building an alternate city airport in El Higueral, north of the city in order to move the Herrera airport. The debt with the contractors is RD$1,000 million. Unconfirmed rumors indicate that these lands have been negotiated with the Corripio Group, that will be building a large commercial center, and with the Baninter group, owners of the El Siglo newspaper that is located adjacent to the airport. The El Higueral Airport is expected to be completed prior to August 2000, when the Fernández term expires. (18 January 2000)
