According to Roque Napole?n Mu?oz, the Pan American Sports Organization?s man on the scene, certain venues and installations are late in being completed.
According to ?Polon?s? latest report, there are seven venues whose completion is behind schedule. He mentioned the Palmarejo Equestrian Center, the Football (soccer) fields in San Crist?bal and the Parque del Este, as well as the rifle and pistol ranges and the Volleyball Pavillion. Also on Mu?oz? list were the access roads to the rowing events in Bonao and equestrian events, and the landscaping and access roads within the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center.
He attributed the delays to the fact that the Ministry of Public Works is behind in its payments to the contractors of the works.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas Maldonado again promised the contractors would be paid. ?I am very proud of working with a group of engineers who are very professional and are delivering works of great quality that are being recognized by everyone,? he stated. He promised that the government would not leave debts pending with anyone.
Meanwhile, Hoy newspaper reports on a statement from Lowell Fernandez, business director of the Games, whereby he confirmed a government payment of RD$650 million to the Organizing Committee of the Games for the completion of organizational matters.
With 15 days to go before the opening of the Games, work on the remodeling of Quisqueya Baseball Park started just yesterday. New lights, bathroom installations and a general clean-up are planned, although there is no electricity in the ballpark as the Ministry of Sports allegedly owes RD$34 million to EDESUR, according to Hoy.