El Caribe newspaper says Aerodom, the largest airport operator in the DR, has promised to finish the La Isabela International Airport in exchange for the rights to build El Catey Airport to serve Samana and Rio San Juan-Playa Grande. Aerodom promises to have La Isabela Airport operational in 10 months time. The opening of that airport would mean the closing of the Herrera International Airport in Santo Domingo. Airlines operating in Herrera have opposed the move all along, and it is unclear if travelers will use the new Isabela Airport given the distance from most city areas. Regardless, the Fernandez administration had already negotiated the Herrera airport lands and apparently the Mejia administration will go through with the deal. Reportedly, Aerodom needs to invest about RD$600 million to finish the La Isabela terminal, runway, ramps, control tower and install equipment. El Caribe’s editorial today says the government negotiated the “bone of Higuero” with Aerodom which wanted the “filet of Samana”. It comments that Arroyo Barril (built in the PRSC-Balaguer administration), and Higuero (built in the PLD-Fernandez administration) were costly mistakes. It does not mention Maria Montez (Barahona, another “white elephant”, this one started during the PRD-Jorge Blanco government). The editorial writer asks “How many mistakes like these are hidden in the US$505.1 million worth of ill-conceived, overvalued, high interest loans, with no-grace periods that the government has sought and are pending approval by Congress?”
