Former ministers of Sports, Luis Scheker Ortiz and Jesús de la Rosa deposited a document in the Supreme Court that impugns Decree 241 of 21 November 1999 that declares of public utility the lot on which the Pan American Olympic Village would be built at San Martín corner Máximo Gómez. They say that declaring the lot of public utility is contrary to the Constitution. The private firm Mercalia was the owner of the lot. The state received the lot in exchange for government shares in the Sociedad Industrial Dominicana. The SID was later sold to Unilever. Scheker and De la Rosa say that the construction of the villa is a commercial venture that will not benefit the collectivity nor provide social assistance. On the contrary, they say, it will benefit private and particular interests. They say a private company had offered to pay the government RD$400 million for the lot. They denied that the organizers of the 2003 Pan American Games have a commitment to build the villa on that site. The government has started the groundwork for the apartments. News reports indicate that the Spanish-Dominican consortium OHL-Alpha was chosen for the construction of eight towers of 23 floors each. The company was responsible for building the Olympic Village of the Barcelona 1992 Olympics. The construction of the Olympic village on the chosen site has been a controversial issue, especially as of late. Realtors say the lot is more appropriate for commercial purposes, and it is unlikely buyers will be found for the deluxe apartments the Ministry of Public works has plans to build in time for the Pan Am Games. See http://www.dr1.com/daily/news032000.shtml
