The Chamber of Accounts has ordered the Ministry of Public Works to recover more than RD$156 million from two companies contracted to build an extension of the road from San Cristobal to Bani. Resolution No. 06-05 orders the recovery of RD$100 million paid to Ozoria & Associates, C. por A., as advance payment for the work. Diario Libre reports that the company’s contract was later cancelled but the contractor has not paid back the amounts received. Also, the ministry must collect RD$56 million from Grupo Modesto, funds that were paid out for differences in unit prices. This company has also received an advance payment of RD$405.87 million of which only RD$122.49 million have been accounted for. The resolution allows 30 days for Ozoria & Asociados, represented by Carlos Manuel Ozoria Martinez and Franklin Esteban Mena Arnauld, and Grupo Modesto, represented by Francisco Jose Modesto Figueroa and Roberto Jose Modesto Suero, for the reimbursement of the funds retained without justification. The Accounts Chamber also indicated it has no objection for the work on the road to begin again as ordered by President Leonel Fernandez last Saturday. The work had been stopped by the Chamber on 25 October. The road is costing an estimated US$85 million and is expected to be finished in 2007.
Listin Diario says that the amount to be reimbursed is RD$155 million. The Accounts Chamber is also submitting to Congress the annulment of the concession issued in favor of Consorcio Vial Dominicano for the collection of tolls on the San Cristobal – Bani, and 6 de Noviembre highways, so that Banco de Reservas becomes the beneficiary of those tolls. The Chamber has appointed engineer Juan Manuel Tineo and architect Victor Peguero to perform periodic inspections of the progress of the works on the San Cristobal – Bani road.