Audit Reveals Inconsistencies in Santo Domingo Monorail Project

An independent audit has uncovered significant inconsistencies within the Santo Domingo Monorail project's documentation, technical aspects, finances, and methodology. The findings suggest that these issues necessitate a thorough investigation to determine if errors, bias, or outright manipulation influenced the project's justification.

The audit, conducted by transport economics and infrastructure contracting consultant Carlos Bonnelly Ginebra, analyzed documents related to the procurement process and the project's inclusion in the National Public Investment System. The Ministry of Finance and Economy provided these documents to Mariano Germán, secretary of Public Works for the People's Force party.

The project, slated for construction with an approximate investment of $900 million and a 48-month execution timeline, is intended to benefit over a million residents in Santo Domingo Este and the National District during its initial phase. However, the audit report highlights grave and repeated deficiencies in the project's maturity, timeliness, coherence, comparability, and traceability, despite the existence of studies and administrative acts.

Key findings indicate a lack of verifiable chain supporting the technology selection, procurement, socioeconomic profitability, and financial sustainability. The audit also points to chronological inconsistencies in the process, with essential procurement steps occurring before the project's admission to the National System of Public Investment. Furthermore, the technical evaluation's multi-criteria matrix appears to produce results inconsistent with visible scoring, raising concerns of error or manipulation. The financial assessment also faces scrutiny due to unreproducible profitability indicators and omissions regarding crucial costs like maintenance and subsidies.

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The anomaly is compatible with error, hidden formula, ad hoc adjustment or manipulation.