The government announced it had issued checks for RD$250 million on the debt with the contractors of the Pan American Games venues. The contractors say the government still owes them RD$190 million.
Upon making the payment, Public Works Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado said, “We did our part by carrying out the constructions in the allotted time and we did them right. Now it is up to the sports federations to use them adequately for the development of sport. If they are not used, they will be damaged,” he acknowledged. Most of the venues already appear to be in an advanced state of abandonment, have only been used occasionally, despite the mega-investments made for their construction.