El Caribe publishes details today about US$115 million in vague purchases to be made by the government. The newspaper says the government has signed contracts to build teachers’ housing with two companies that are represented by the same person who is providing the financing for the project. The newspaper says the contract indicates that the two related companies, Sun Land and Help Technologies, both have offices at 18740 NW Third St., Pembroke Pines, Florida. But inquiries made by the newspaper show that the address corresponds to a residence and not a business. According to Florida records, the president of Sun Land is Jose Daniel Mejia, a Dominican resident in Miami with ties to the Dominican government. Robert Ripoll is president of Help Technologies. The names of Mejia and Ripoll are not included in the contracts, despite their signatures appearing on the contracts also signed by Rafael Calderon, Technical Secretary of the Presidency and Juan Vargas, director of the National Institute of Housing (INVI). The newspaper questions the contract clause that gives the absolute right to the contractors to subcontract to third parties any of the rights and obligations established in the contract. US$64 million is assigned to the purchase of unspecified material and equipment, US$28 million to pay unspecified services and training. The contract mentions the types of equipment and materials, but does not specify quantities, models, brands or costs. The newspaper says the contract sent by President Hipolito Mejia for approval by Congress was approved by the Chamber of Deputies. The newspaper also points out that there are clear contradictions in terms of financing and who will pay back the loan. The Dominican government is the loan guarantor. The newspaper tried to obtain more information on the contract from Technical Secretary Rafael Calderon and INVI director Juan Vargas. Both of them said it was the other’s responsibility, indicating they were not aware of the terms of the contract despite having signed it. The newspaper says the Dominican Association of Public School Teachers (ADP) is not aware of the project nor has it discussed it with the government, despite the fact that the houses will be sold to public school teachers. Daniel Mejia, president of Sun Land, confirmed he is the representative of Florida Export Finance Corporation. He said the FEFC represents Eximbank in Florida. He explained that Sun Land is a private company that he also represents and he denied any conflict of interest.
