It might take a while before Congress passes the contract for the privatization of the operation of the two leading Dominican airports, if it is passed at all. After making it through the Senate, where it was modified but passed, the bill now has to be passed by the deputies. A recent press item with comments by the president of the Chamber of Deputies’ tourism commission indicates it could take a while. The president of the Commission of Tourism of the Chamber of Deputies, Rafael Enrique Rivera told El Siglo newspaper that he does not feel the contract as written is good for the country. He said that among the things he would like to see specified in the contract is the precise investments and works the company will undertake at the airports, as well as the time period for these investments. He said this is not clear in the contract. He said that the work must lead to the lifting of the Category 3 restriction on Dominican airlines flying into the United States. The US Federal Aviation Agency impediment has been in effect since 1994. It was imposed on seven countries at the time, of which only Haiti and the Dominican Republic continue to be affected. He says that the case of the privatization of the Puerto Plata and Las Americas airport is not like that of the electricity corporation (CDE) or the state sugar council (CEA), both entities the government had to heavily subsidize. He says there should not be a rush or improvising in the case of the airports because both the Puerto Plata and Las Americas airports are very profitable, generating about US$100 million last year. Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo 21 S.A. won the tender for the operation of the Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo airports, as well as for the Samana and Barahona airports that are not in operation. Aerodom has as partners in the operation Vancouver Airport Services (Canada), Impreglio (Italy) and Ogden (USA). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It might take a while before Congress passes the contract for the privatization of the operation of the two leading Dominican airports, if it is passed at all. After making it through the Senate, where it was modified but passed, the bill now has to be passed by the deputies. A recent press item with … <\/p>\n