Odebrecht scandal taints Dominican Republic’s ‘clean coal’ plants

Santo Domingo.- The CEO of Dominican Republic’s State-owned electric utility (CDEEE) on Wednesday railed against independent deputy Minerva Tavares Mirabal (Minou), who linked the scandal of Odebrecht in Brazil to the Dominican Government’s touted “clean coal-fired plant” at Punta Catalina (south), calling it “more severe than the purchase of the Super Tucano planes and the Sunland fiasco.

Ruben Jimenez Bichara said "I really don’t have time to analyze what Minou can say, to me a person living from a name who doesn’t work and who has become critical of everything and doesn’t do anything doesn’t merit me taking the time."

"Unfortunately blackmail and those who defend dark interests as she has so far cannot occupy my time," Jimenez said and urged the lawmaker "to take time to document herself, “if you want to do something decent and represent a congress."

The official‘s response came when reporters asked about Tavares’ accusation that the case of the plant at Punta Catalina are much more serious than that of the Super Tucanos and Sunland.

She said the contract has provisions such as US$84 million for ice, travel and other expenses, in addition to more than 10 million dollars in others; ad disbursement of $111 million for lease or rental of cranes. "

Interviewed on Colorvision Channel 9, Tavarez said before approving the plant’s contract , the talk in the halls of Congress was that it had to be approved because it would pave the way to obtain the funds for president Danilo Medina’s reelection bid.

The lawmaker also reminded Jimenez of the surprising change of attitude by deputy Carlos Gabriel Garcia, who desisted from taking the Punta Catalina legislation to court.