It has been a very long time since I have updated progress on the Project.
Covid has impacted the DR very hard and they continue struggling to get things under control. Tirso our guard/site manager has been fighting covid or something similar for over a month but thankfully is improving and now tests negative. The government has had a curfew in place for quite a long time and it has recently been extended into September. Construction was stopped for a few months at the outset of the pandemic but work has been allowed to resume with restrictions on the workers in place.
During the pandemic their presidential elections were delayed from May to July with the results being that a new party took over on August 16th. Luis Rodolfo Abinader, a businessman who has never held elected office, ended a 16-year hold on the presidency by the previous party. This could be beneficial to the project because Dr Canario is a member of this party.
Frank and I continue communicating and discussing what is next on the list and he is doing an amazing job of working to get tax exemption on the finish materials we are now needing. Victor our Engineer is also doing a super job pushing ahead and completing facets of the project, doing the design work needed to work out the details - just see the beautiful generator enclosure as an example of his work.
Amin, our electrical engineer is also looking out for the project and finding the best prices for the expensive electrical materials his team is installing.
Talks have been underway with our Medical Equipment Supply partner MEDSHARE who has been helping world-wide with the pandemic but is slowly being able to focus on our project's needs. There is a more immediate need for pandemic supplies and they hopefully will be able to help the Solid Rock staff and the existing clinic obtain desperately needed PPE and other supplies. The existing clinic has remained open and is very busy.
Many facets of the construction are continuing to move along - here is a summary Frank provided recently, my more recent updates are in RED:
Sidewalks. I am working in the parking areas, not yet on the perimeter of the building.
Lights: I have bought 15 (4x4) lighting poles because I got it at a good price in San Juan the others were ordered to Santo Domingo, we must wait for the Tax Exemption, they are working with these 15 pole. As I told you, we will only use light poles in the front of the project and some points that need lighting, we will use the building in the south, east and west parts for lighting, this will save many light poles.
Grass. On the unevenness of the land due to the filling of materials in the south east areas we will use grass and not concrete, this will also save a lot of money. I will buy more grass but we have a good quantity reproduced that we are using to transplant them in other areas
Asphalt roof tarpaulin: Hotels are already open (so workers from out of town have a place to sleep). The works were restarted; I hope that by the end of the month everything is ready.
Roof Openings: I have spoken with Maneta to restart this week with the installation of the domes. I will follow your suggestion and we will try to install them without you.
(Most of the metal frames are now installed)
Electricity: The internal installation of all electricity wiring has continued. (The generators are all but wired to their proper switching panels, and we hope to start up the smaller unit once the fuel tank is installed)
Front fences: All columns are plastered. The installation of the gates began (see pictures below!)
Front structure: We have a new design proposal for this structure, I think we will save a lot on materials. The request for all materials, metals for the 3 metal structures of the front was made. We have to wait for the approval of the taxes since the supplier does not want payment in advance. We want to keep the idea of the Dompalom, I know it is expensive but I think it is much better than the plastic thermal, please if you have the information of the company to pay a visit again and see the quantity that we will need now.
Floors: We haven't restarted with the floors yet. One of the main workers is not in good health and they are from Santiago. (Workers are now at the site working since they can stay at a hotel)
Ceramics for bathrooms: I am making several quotes, most likely we will buy it from a local supplier. (Tile is now onhand)
Doors and windows: We will not use an intermediary for doors and windows. The first purchase of doors to the factory has already been ordered. We hire an installer to put your workshop on the project and do everything here, the viewers and installation etc. A trip was made to Santiago to put the installer and the factory in contact. The doors come with the transom frame as you wanted. The pieces will be in fixed hammered glass. I hope that at the end of the month we have that first game.
Air Conditioning: We have to decide regarding this, I sent you a proposal, when you can tell me what you think of that proposal. (hoping to compare DR costs to connections with US manufacturer thru Moore Electric)
About Tax Exemption: We have 3 tax requests waiting: 1 for the doors, one for the metal materials of the 3 front structures and one for mostly electrical materials.
Covid 19. That we know, Until now we have only had the case of Ing. Sandro and he is already recovered and integrated into the working (Tirso, our long-time site guard and manager is currently home with covid)
Electric plant: In the process of installing the fuel tank.
Finally, you can click THIS LINK and see a one minute video showing the site and progress on the building.
This shows how LARGE this facility is! It is really looking good!
Thank you for taking the time to get updated on this very important project. I remain confident that funding will come together and we will open the doors allowing people to serve those in need and truly change lives both physically as well as spiritually.
Ken
