Organizations demand Medina divulge lease on power plant lands

Organizations demand Medina divulge lease on power plantlands

Santo Domingo.- An umbrella group from southern Peraviaprovince on Monday demanded that presidentDanilo Medina and State-owned Electric Utility (CDEEE) CEO Ruben Jimenezdivulge the lease for the Vicini group’s land where coal-fired power plants arebeing built in Punta Catalina.

In a letter to Economic and Social Council president and ElectricalPact Coordinator monsignor Agripino Nuñez, the Catalina Professionals andTechnicians Association, the Bani Farmers Federation (FECABA), the DominicanTeachers Association (ADP), the National Commission on Human Rights amongothers said the public has a right to know the contract’s terms in Congressionalhearings.

They said the government and Vicini seek to materialize the50-year lease of around 2.3 square kilometers of land in a “clandestine manner.”

The organizations question the government’s handling ofthis and other coal plant transactions in “darkness.”

“It’s a widespread rumor that the government builds anoverpriced project with public funds to later give it to the owners of theland."

“The Government also has a clandestine agreements for a thirdcoal plant, and the contract to plant mahogany trees in the project’s area ??influenceand other transactions were carried out in complete darkness.”

It called on the people to join the human chain for theelectrical system’s transparency, headed by the Poder Ciudadano Collective (citizenpower) and other groups in front of CDEEE offices in La Feria, starting 4pm Wednesday.