The Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies (OGTIC) has come under fire for a controversial lease agreement worth over RD$1.4 billion. In response to calls for an investigation, the government entity has defended the deal.
In a statement, the OGTIC, headed by Bartolomé Pujals, explained that the ten-year lease for floors 6-10 of the Vista 311 building was made with another state-owned enterprise, Inmobiliaria Reservas y AFI Reservas.
Justifying the contract, the OGTIC argued that “this model prevents the state from having to spend all the money at once to purchase real estate. Instead, public resources are optimized, allowing them to be used for essential projects in health, education, and infrastructure.”
The controversy has drawn the attention of Máximo Calzado Reyes, president of the Justice and Transparency Foundation (FJT), who has called for a thorough investigation. “These contracts are clearly outrageous and constitute a waste of public funds,” Calzado Reyes stated.
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Listin Diario
31 October 2024