Public hearings for the artificial island project scheduled for yesterday were suspended due to a lack of attendance. Only Eulogio Santaella, representing the promoting company, and three members of the Senate Finance Commission, who are in charge of studying the contract signed with the government, were present. New hearings have not been scheduled. In November, a visit is expected by the Spanish representatives of the project promoter, including architect Ricardo Bofill. A Canadian company, Santo Domingo Re-Development, Ltd., was awarded the concession contract authorizing it to start building an artificial island off the shore along Ave. George Washington (the Malecon) in Santo Domingo, a project with an estimated cost of US$450 million. Novo Mundo XXI will contain approximately two million square meters of land for development, 10,000 individual housing units, apartments, office buildings, malls, arts and cultural centers and a marina with docking space for 300 boats and yachts (see DR1 Daily News 16 June 2005).