Santo Domingo.– The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations
(OBO) and Bureau of Administration announced today the award of a $148.8
million contract to build a new embassy compound in Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic.
The compound in Santo Domingo will be constructed by Caddell Construction, Inc. of Montgomery, Alabama. The
project consists of a chancery, a support annex/warehouse, Marine
Security Guard Quarters, recreation facilities, three compound access
control facilities, and related site development. The compound will be
constructed to accommodate more than 500 employees.
The compound
will replace the current embassy which was constructed in 1950. Today,
more than 15 U.S. Government agencies are located in eight offices
throughout Santo Domingo and the embassy compound will collocate all of
the employees and embassy functions. The current consular office
building provides services to more than 300,000 people annually, but has
inadequate waiting room space.
The 16-acre site is located in
the Altos de Arroyo Hondo area of Santo Domingo and was acquired from
Urbanizacion Los Robles, S.A. for $10.6 million. The scheduled
completion date for the Santo Domingo project is 2013.
Written by: pelaut, 2 Oct 2010 8:36 AM
From: United States
Alabama pals needed a $148M pre-election booster shot to keep them in line.
From: United States
We can only be thankful the Dominicans are not building it.
It would end up costing $500 million.
Written by: Atabey, 2 Oct 2010 9:16 AM
From: United States, NYC
And what man labor will they be using? Me thinks it dances merenque, bachata and hip-hop? This is going to help someone's re-election bid; yes, that someone ===>LF Sorry guys the USA will help their man in Santo Domingo get his way. I might be wrong, but that's how it looks to me.
From: United States
Atabey, please excuse me for my being unrelievedly mystified by your incomprehensible musings, but, once again, i request clarification. please explain to me how the relocation of the AMERICAN EMBASSY helps the reelection bid of the Dominican President. i notice that this is your new whipping boy, and i would just like to be clear on your thinking.
Written by: generoso, 2 Oct 2010 10:04 AM
From: United States, Quisqueya
Completion date is 2013 so the construction and investment of 5,557 million pesos, will benefit the local construction companies as well, that will be subcontracted, before and after the 2012 change of governments.
Hopefully the fixtures, cement, steel, will be purchased locally, but I stand to be corrected from the US experience in building embassies in other countries.
This investment underlines the commitment of the US, and their continue presence, fostering and growth of US-DR relations for the next generations, and should please timid investors.
From: United States
Generoso, although the construction of the Embassy will of course have spinoff benefits to the DR economy, it is not as if they are doing this to benefit their man in the DR, as Atabey puts it. they probably have security considerations, since the times have changed, everywhere. they probably had these plans in the pipeline several years ago, and had no idea who would be in power when the startup date approached. i just find any spin that it is some initiative to further the fortunes of Leonel to be a stretch , at best.
Written by: generoso, 2 Oct 2010 10:35 AM
From: United States, Quisqueya
We are fantasizing if we expect the federal government to ever do anything in the timeline that it was promised. Of course the building was not intended to benefit anyone presently in power, although it will benefit the present administration. Expect construction delays and other changes and probably it will not be inaugurated until 2014. With all probability and knowing how slowly and at the pace, that the federal government moves, the plans for the new embassy might have been in the pipeline for many years.
The decision to benefit a US construction firm, probably has to do with security regulations and the approval of "certified federal providers" under US law.
From: Dominican Republic
Wow, $6000 pesos a meter for the land.
The value of my property just went up!
Thanks, US Embassy.....
Written by: Escott, 2 Oct 2010 1:26 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
What do you think the values are in that area of the capital? 6000 is not out of line.
Written by: abc200, 2 Oct 2010 1:48 PM
From: United Kingdom, Dominican Republic
Stupid- the only reason they re-located the embassy in London is that they thought there could be riots and needed a compound that could be defended and with sufficient space to stop demonstrations.
S
From: United States
that is exactly what i said, ABC. the current embassy is too vulnerable in its current location
Written by: Atabey, 2 Oct 2010 2:25 PM
From: United States, NYC
As Generoso states, the present administration will gain benefits from the construction. A fact undeniable even by the die hard fans of negativism. When the decision was made to up-date the Embassy I agree, it was probably not based on helping LF. BUT the date may have been influenced by his, LF's, acceptable and pro-US handling of affairs in DR. Don't be surprised if the US looks the other way when LF decides to go for a Constitutional reform that allows him to seek re-election in 2012. Of course, if the US decides that their interests and the correct policy decisions can and will be followed by an acceptable domestic candidate other than LF, than perhaps they will do as they did in Colombia, and gently tell LF to sit-out the next election cycle. An acceptable and well paid position will await LF in one of the many international institutions controlled by the US Imperio. Perhaps a side job to lecture at one of the leading Universities in the States, Georgetown U?
Written by: juanb, 2 Oct 2010 2:56 PM
From: Dominican Republic
This won't really make up for the snub by the Vatican. But to LF, a photo op is a photo op.
Written by: Atabey, 2 Oct 2010 3:04 PM
From: United States, NYC
LF is power hungry and anything, it appears, that facilitates his continuation in power is positive for him.
From: Botswana, La reconnaissance est une lachete'
atabey
These guys just recently completed the same project in Haiti not too long ago, it's been about a llittle over a year since the new ambassy open it's door. Jamaica got a new one too. It's part of the State department new initiative after the Tanzania Ambassy attacked.
I did not recalled the Haitian economy getting any significant boost from that project except for the local ready mix cement Co, forThese good old boys usually barge in everything and everyone they need. Only Your local bars, and Ladies of the night will def get an increase in business from this set.
Written by: BASTA, 3 Oct 2010 12:10 AM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs
It would end up costing $500 million.= 1 part cement 7 parts sand 2 parts water and dry quickly
rebuild after 5 years
Written by: Atabey, 3 Oct 2010 10:48 AM
From: United States, NYC
PatDiamond,
I agree 50% with you, yes this decision was a product of the State Department wanting to increase their level of protection following that attack. But I think the size and scale of this one will have a bit more stimulant repercussions for DR economy, especially during the time period that a certain decision will be made concerning the next election cycle in 2012. I agree, it wont be a huge stimulant, but it just might help contribute to provide the bit that pushes LF over the heap. The next cycle will be very competitive and every little bit will help.
Written by: Vivacuba, 3 Oct 2010 10:59 AM
From: Dominican Republic
"Inadequate waiting space"? Who is waiting to go to the police state? Perhaps the line is forming for those renouncing their citizenships.
Written by: juanb, 3 Oct 2010 11:58 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Why aren't you living in Cuba?
From: United States
PatDiamnod, it will be of no help arguing with Atabey. he sees it as the USA's way of helping their "boy in the caribbean". no amount of logic will prevail. telling him that Haiti did not get any real stimulus from their reconstruction is pointless, because he can show you how the DR will. the American government is not calling in some local firm in Kingston, Jamaica, to build their embassy. sure, they will buy the cement and aggregates locally, but that is about it. some peons will get to mix mortar and so on, but there will be a lot of American guys in hard hats all over the place.
Written by: Atabey, 3 Oct 2010 12:42 PM
From: United States, NYC
Dread,
Only 2 years to tell who's right.
From: United States
that is the difference between us, Atabey. my purpose on this board is to learn from those who have something to teach me about things i do not know, and to impart what little knowledge i have in my areas of strength. you are here to win battles, and to prove " who is right". i am too old for games like those, and, consequently, do not attempt to baffle the readers with bullsh*t.
Written by: Atabey, 3 Oct 2010 2:58 PM
From: United States, NYC
You bring this on to yourself, I wonder why?
As I've stated many times before to stick with the merits of the argument and I have no problem with people disagreeing with me on the points; but if you want to go after me with put downs. Well, that's something a man of your age should have learned long ago serves no ones interests. But then you would have to assume you would have learned from previous encounters. You have had many I've learned? Sadly, this is not the case. I asked you that we should take Devin11 suggestion to heart; but you continue to demise the offer. The olive branch I still extend to you; but I can not force you to accept something that your heart and mind can not accept. Can I? Wisdom is not age specific.
Written by: Vivacuba, 4 Oct 2010 5:19 AM
From: Dominican Republic
From: United States
maybe you should not have said in the forum that i can go suck my you know what. them's fighting words.
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We can only be thankful the Dominicans are not building it.
It would end up costing $500 million.
Completion date is 2013 so the construction and investment of 5,557 million pesos, will benefit the local construction companies as well, that will be subcontracted, before and after the 2012 change of governments.
Hopefully the fixtures, cement, steel, will be purchased locally, but I stand to be corrected from the US experience in building embassies in other countries.
This investment underlines the commitment of the US, and their continue presence, fostering and growth of US-DR relations for the next generations, and should please timid investors.
We are fantasizing if we expect the federal government to ever do anything in the timeline that it was promised. Of course the building was not intended to benefit anyone presently in power, although it will benefit the present administration. Expect construction delays and other changes and probably it will not be inaugurated until 2014. With all probability and knowing how slowly and at the pace, that the federal government moves, the plans for the new embassy might have been in the pipeline for many years.
The decision to benefit a US construction firm, probably has to do with security regulations and the approval of "certified federal providers" under US law.
The value of my property just went up!
Thanks, US Embassy.....
S
This won't really make up for the snub by the Vatican. But to LF, a photo op is a photo op.
These guys just recently completed the same project in Haiti not too long ago, it's been about a llittle over a year since the new ambassy open it's door. Jamaica got a new one too. It's part of the State department new initiative after the Tanzania Ambassy attacked.
I did not recalled the Haitian economy getting any significant boost from that project except for the local ready mix cement Co, forThese good old boys usually barge in everything and everyone they need. Only Your local bars, and Ladies of the night will def get an increase in business from this set.
rebuild after 5 years
I agree 50% with you, yes this decision was a product of the State Department wanting to increase their level of protection following that attack. But I think the size and scale of this one will have a bit more stimulant repercussions for DR economy, especially during the time period that a certain decision will be made concerning the next election cycle in 2012. I agree, it wont be a huge stimulant, but it just might help contribute to provide the bit that pushes LF over the heap. The next cycle will be very competitive and every little bit will help.
Why aren't you living in Cuba?
Only 2 years to tell who's right.
You bring this on to yourself, I wonder why?
As I've stated many times before to stick with the merits of the argument and I have no problem with people disagreeing with me on the points; but if you want to go after me with put downs. Well, that's something a man of your age should have learned long ago serves no ones interests. But then you would have to assume you would have learned from previous encounters. You have had many I've learned? Sadly, this is not the case. I asked you that we should take Devin11 suggestion to heart; but you continue to demise the offer. The olive branch I still extend to you; but I can not force you to accept something that your heart and mind can not accept. Can I? Wisdom is not age specific.