Dominican Government pays US$51.2M “shadow” road toll

Santo Domingo.- Public Works minister Gonzalo Castillo on Sunday revealed that the government will pay a RD$2.1 billion (US$51.2 million) "shadow toll” to the Santo Domingo-Samaná highway management contractor this year, as a penalty for the road’s meager vehicle traffic.

The official, looking to shield president Danilo Medina’s presidency from the embarrassment, noted that the previous administration signed the contract which called for quarterly payments.

The official, interviewed by Viviano de Leon on Punto de Equilibrio, said Public Works is in contact with the contractor Autopistas del Nordeste, to seek a halt to the payment. "We have to sit with this road’s contractor to see how we can work together and try so the government doesn’t have to pay this so-called very high shadow toll each year."