El Caribe newspaper focuses today on the government deal with private investors for the construction of the 720 apartments that will be used as the athletes village for the 2003 Pan American Games. El Caribe concludes the deal is a win-win situation for both the state and the developers. According to the report, the government contributed the real estate. The contract establishes that the promoters of the middle class residential project will rent the apartments for four months and 18 days to the Pan American Games Organizing Committee, from 1 April to 18 August, 2001 for RD$80 million, or approximately RD$130 per athlete/night, or RD$23,357 per month/apartment. The government will receive 35 of the 720 apartments. The apartments are a minimum of 120 square meters large and feature three bedrooms, kitchen, dining-living room and two baths. The Ministry of Public Works signed the agreement with Sanak that is represented by Francisco Pimentel, Abraham Hazoury Toral and Jose Oscar Serulle. In the area, AES is building a major power plant. Also under construction is the Punta Caucedo port complex, which will be the largest in the DR. The promoters expect to be able to sell the apartments to personnel that will be working in these projects.
