SD Metro - Now we know where the money is coming from!

[Hipocrito Mejia]

LF is requesting senate approval for a loan package in the amount of $116 Million Euros destined toward the construction of the SD metro.

http://www.hoy.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=81791

It looks very clear that Leonel had to wait until after the midterm elections to drop this bombshell, because there's no way that he would have gotten or will get a single vote from senators from the opposing parties.

I've been opposed to this project from the very begining because it smelled of a rat and a front for the administration to conduct a calculated campaign of massive stealing from the people as soon as it was mentioned. There were better and more economical ways available to alleviate the traffic problems in SD, in addition to the fact that this is a project which in reality only affects a small portion of the population in DR. In the grand scheme of things, these same funds would have done wonders for education, the public health system, crime fighting, and infrastructure projects throughout the entire country. Those are issues that affect the entire country and continue to be neglected in favor a LF's pet project.

[Mirador]

Sounds like the reporting journalist jumped the gun. The Senate has yet to receive this loan project, and if it does, probably will not vote on it before the end of the present legislature. The Executive will submit this bill along with others to the next legislature, starting August 16th, where the government party will hold an overwhelming majority in both houses. There is a similiar controversial loan bill, for about the same amount but in US dollars. This bill is for vehicles and equipment for the national police, and which an independent TV journalist has determined in an itemized study that it includes about US$34.5 million in overprice vis-à-vis similar list prices for same vehicles and equipment in the local market. For example, US$9.000 laptops for police cars.

[Fuel]

Originally Posted by Hipocrito Mejia

LF is requesting senate approval for a loan package in the amount of $116 Million Euros destined toward the construction of the SD metro.

http://www.hoy.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=81791

It looks very clear that Leonel had to wait until after the midterm elections to drop this bombshell, because there's no way that he would have gotten or will get a single vote from senators from the opposing parties.

I've been opposed to this project from the very begining because it smelled of a rat and a front for the administration to conduct a calculated campaign of massive stealing from the people as soon as it was mentioned. There were better and more economical ways available to alleviate the traffic problems in SD, in addition to the fact that this is a project which in reality only affects a small portion of the population in DR. In the grand scheme of things, these same funds would have done wonders for education, the public health system, crime fighting, and infrastructure projects throughout the entire country. Those are issues that affect the entire country and continue to be neglected in favor a LF's pet project.

Why is Fernandez so intent on getting this project approved?

[rtejeda]

Originally Posted by Hipocrito Mejia

LF is requesting senate approval for a loan package in the amount of $116 Million Euros destined toward the construction of the SD metro.

http://www.hoy.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=81791

It looks very clear that Leonel had to wait until after the midterm elections to drop this bombshell, because there's no way that he would have gotten or will get a single vote from senators from the opposing parties.

I've been opposed to this project from the very beginning because it smelled of a rat and a front for the administration to conduct a calculated campaign of massive stealing from the people as soon as it was mentioned. There were better and more economical ways available to alleviate the traffic problems in SD, in addition to the fact that this is a project which in reality only affects a small portion of the population in DR. In the grand scheme of things, these same funds would have done wonders for education, the public health system, crime fighting, and infrastructure projects throughout the entire country. Those are issues that affect the entire country and continue to be neglected in favor a LF's pet project.

This is, "exactly", what I am talking about!

ART. 102.- Será sancionado con las penas que la ley determine, todo aquel que, para su provecho personal, substraiga fondos públicos o prevaleciéndose de sus posiciones dentro de los organismos del Estado, sus dependencias o instituciones autónomas, obtenga provechos económicos. "Serán igualmente sancionadas" "las personas" que hayan "proporcionado ventajas" "a sus asociados", familiares, "allegados", "amigos" o "relacionados". Nadie podrá ser penalmente responsable por el hecho de otro ni en estos casos ni en cualquier otro.

Are you going to tell me that you have to wait three generations to minimize corruption? Thats Bullsh*t.
This S.D metro project is Diandino Pena and Leonel Fernandez ticket to wealth. I am not sure how the project got finally approved by congress; however I do know that is in violation of article 102 of the current Dominican constitution because L.F and A.P are friends from Mauricio Baez, away before L.F becoming president.

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Originally Posted by Fuel

Why is Fernandez so intent on getting this project approved?

I think that LF is enamored with Balaguer's legacy in the memory of most Dominicans, as a president who built great projects and left them for generations to come. In that sense, I think that he considers himself a visionary and wants to build projects that are beyond the scope of mainstream thinkers in DR. Sadly, I do agree with rtejeda on the fact that this is also a scheme for a lot of people in this administration to get rich by siphoning funds into their pockets.

[Hipocrito Mejia]

Mirador, this loan request will obviously be voted on by the incoming legislature. Certainly, this was in the works for a long time, but was being held back and kept under wraps because it had no chance of approval with the current legislature.

[MerengueDutchie]

The current running total of costs for the metro (already spent or awaiting approval) is about 116 Mio and 62.5 Mio euro's, for a total of 178.5 Mio euro's or about 223 Mio USD.

The initial outlay of the Metro as announced by the same government was 327 Mio USD.

Therefore about 2/3 of that amount will be allocated to the project before the year is out and I doubt that 2/3 of the work will already have been done..

[Don Juan]

It's unfortunate, as the OP stated, that all these millions could have been better spent on other projects that could have benefited the entire country not just a small part of it.
But, alas! What can be done now? Leonel's folly is too far along to shift into reverse. The country will further go into hock to finish this idiocy before Leonels 2nd term is up. (I presume he's running again)......One way or another they'll find the money to complete this craziness and we'll be paying dearly for the next generation or two. And yes, a lot of people will get rich from it and not in an entirely legal way.
The only thing we can hope for is that this metro turns out as well as some supporters say it will. If it does, it certainly will improve the citie's image, appeal, commerce and maybe even attract more tourists. If it doesn't....Well, you can draw your own conclusions.
Whenever I visit Santiago, the most striking feature there is the "Monumento de los heroes", the huge statue in the center of town that serves no purpose at all. But it does remind me and, and surely other people too, of who built it. Trujillo.
Leonel is also building a monument to himself. And long after his death, the obvious question he'll be asking from the grave to future presidents is: "Can you top this?"

[NALs]

If everyone would recall, the administration made the proposal of the metro and the financial projections of how much it would cost NOT FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT, but rather for the first line. That line is the one being built right now, it's the shortest line and thus, the least expensive of all the lines the entire system will consist of.

As for why was the project presented in that form, well all I can say is that in democracies there are somethings you can say and other things you hold for latter or not say at all - unless any politician wants to commit a political suicide.

The project will cost much more than the amount presented, because the amount presented is only for a part of the entire project. Remember, the subway system will consist of 3 lines to date, one going north-south and two on an east-west. The two east-west are longer and thus, will cost more than the current north-south under construction and this means the entire price tag for the project will be higher than anything that has been quoted thus far, simply due to the fact that the full price of this project has not been presented to the public at any given time.

As for corruption, what else is new? The issue in Santo Domingo is not whether there is corruption or not, but rather how much. I still feel that the Leonel administration is the least corrupt of any administration in recent years.

In addition to all of this, everybody knows what the benefits of this project will be for anyone who has to do cross city travel during peak traffic hours. It sure sounds good to be able to go from one end of the city to the other in a matter of minutes..... it sure will be much more beneficial to the general public than a Faro A Colon or maybe a mausoleum for the fathers of the country or perhaps building a National Theater for the well to do.

-NALs

[aegap]

I'm with NALs, ..let them steal, so long as they still less than the other guys.