The Ministry of Public Works has requested that Aerodom and its affiliates disclose information on their operations to ascertain whether or not they have met their obligations as per their 1999 airport concession contract. Listin Diario reports that Minister Manuel de Jesus (Freddy) Perez Gomez has requested key information to determine the status of their commitments by way of an audit. The newspaper says that Aerodom was contractually bound to an investment of US$203 million in its first three years of operation, specifically US$96 million to Las Americas International (Santo Domingo); US$47 million to Gregorio Luperon International (Puerto Plata), US$55 million to Arroyo Barril (Samana) and US$5 million to Maria Montez (Barahona). The Listin Diario says that now, five years later, the company has only put up US$119 million, despite the dollarized charges for airport services provided.
The newspaper says that the audit will also investigate affiliate companies, such as the construction company Civilcad, now known as Sinercon, as well as the companies Impreglio and Initec, the overseer of the works entrusted to Aerodom. Despite Initec’s duty to independently supervise Aerodom, Listin Diario’s sources indicate that they are receiving remuneration from Aerodom, which, as the newspaper points out, places Initec in a situation of economic dependence.
The report also says that Sinercon, which is owned entirely by the Hazoury family (also the majority shareholder of Aerodom) together with Spaniard Jesus Barderas form a majority in the decision-making process of Aerodom’s board. The newspaper points out that the companies contracted for the supervision of public infrastructure works normally answer to a government body, such as the airport commission (Comision Aeroportuaria), and not to the concessionaire (Aerodom), and are in turn paid by the government to avoid conflicts of interests that could affect the integrity of an independent supervision.
Listin Diario reports that the Ministry of Public Works is interested in correcting any irregularity that could affect the quality, scope and operation of the works and equipment of the airport concessions.
Listin Diario says that the ministry is aware that Impreglio is no longer part of Aerodom, as it was subsequently removed by the board. The newspaper also mentions that despite being one of the companies that won the bid for the airport concession, the departure of Impreglio from the consortium or its capacity as an Aerodom shareholder was never expressly authorized by the Airport Commission, nor by the government.
The Ministry of Public Works has requested that Civilcad/Sinercon provide information on the status of the works and equipping in order to compare it to information provided by Aerodom, Impreglio and Initec. The Listin Diario source points out that the fact that the leading shareholder of Civilcad/Sinercon is also the leading shareholder of Aerodom is being viewed by the ministry as a conflict of interest, given that engineer Abraham Hazoury is the common denominator in both parties, as he is both judge and jury in the decision-making process of Civilcad/Sinercon.
In addition, the Listin Diario reports that the Public Works Ministry has also requested YVR Airport Service LTD, the operator of the airports, for its guarantee that the works are being implemented and equipped as promised, in order to achieve the utmost level of efficiency and safety. Furthermore, architect Fred Goico has also been notified, as his designs were those approved for implementation by the contractor.