Senator Espiritusanto submits resolution to create a special commission to oversee the AERODOM contract

Santo Domingo.- Senator Edward Alexis Espiritusanto submitted a resolution this Tuesday requesting the creation of a special commission with the purpose of overseeing the fulfillment of the contract with the concessionaire Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (AERODOM) and the investments made at the Las Américas International Airport, José Francisco Peña Gómez. In his proposal, the legislator recalled that for several years users have reported the deterioration in fundamental areas of the terminal.

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He cited problems such as “leaks, deterioration in escalators, unsanitary conditions in the bathrooms, lack of maintenance and scarcity of basic services that affect the country’s image and national security.” Espiritusanto added that the nearly nine-hour blackout that occurred last Sunday highlighted the vulnerability of the airport terminal. In his speech, he questioned that improvements have not yet been seen despite the announced investment: “The investment of 16 million pesos in the renovation of the airport is still not evident. The deterioration of these facilities damages the international image and affects the country’s main economic activity: tourism, which depends on the terminal operating to high standards,” he said. Furthermore, he maintained that “the Las Américas International Airport is a critical international security structure, which makes the oversight of the contract and the operational conditions of the terminal even more urgent.” Finally, he remembered that the renegotiation of the contract with AERODOM was justified with the promise of modernization and improvement of the passengers’ travel experience. The resolution also requests a visit to the terminal to verify the current conditions of the airport, as well as the progress of the works and the investments made. The debate over the contract has been rekindled following the energy failure that left nearly 5,000 passengers stranded, affecting multiple flights. According to the renegotiation, this represents a benefit for the Dominican Republic of between 1.905 and 2.155 billion dollars. These sums will be received through different channels, including an initial payment to the State of 775 million dollars for operating rights, the extension of the concession term and an investment of 830 million dollars for improvements in the six airports operated by AERODOM, including Las Américas.