Local Government?

Danny W

Bronze
Mar 1, 2003
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I have a home and family in Sosua, and I have no idea how the local government functions or is structured. My full time residence is in New York, but my adopted family is Dominican and lives full time in Sosua and I plan to move there in the not to distant future.

I see things happening, like roads being repaired and police being assigned different tasks, but i have no idea where those decisions are made. Is there a city council, a mayor, a DA, a budget?

How can I learn about my local government? - D
 

Rick Snyder

Silver
Nov 19, 2003
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The government as it is intended to work at the provinces and below.

Each province has a governor which is appointed by the president. The governor works directly for the president and within his/her province is in charge of all;


Public health departments
Public education departments
Public police departments
Public hospitals
Public civil registry departments

Each city has an Ayuntamiento which is tasked with the running of the city. It derives its monies from the state government by means of the Camara de Cuentas who give out monthly payments to the Dominican Municipal League (LMD) which then take their 5% and distribute the rest to each Ayuntamiento,
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=19926

There is presently a bill before congress trying to lower the 5% to a 0.8%. Of the monies presently given to the Ayuntameientos the law states that 25% be used for personnel expenses (fixed or seasonal), 35% for municipal services and operational expenses, and 40% for infrastructure expenditures. They are trying to change that to 25%, 25% and 50% respectively. Likewise, there is a movement to establish an access to the monetary workings of the municipalities by the public. Some Ayuntamientos, such as Higuey, publish their records on a board in front of their office each month and there are others such as here in El Seibo that are completely secret and unattainable. At the same time there are a number of people trying to do away with the LDM as it is an obsolete entity to an anachronism of the Trujillo era.

It is the Ayuntamiento that is responsible for the roads, trash and other aspects of city life. It is made up of the Sindico, Vice-Sindico, President of the Ayuntamiento and a number of Regidores. All these positions are obtained through local elections.The position of the Vice is mute as he has no vote or true function. The Sindico is the head but must have approval of the president of the Ayuntamiento and the Regidores to take any action.

Law1740-86 governs how the Ayuntamientos will function. As stated above 25% of their funds are to be spent for personnel expenses (wages) both fixed and seasonal. This is to include the 13th paycheck given out in December of each year. As this expense is supposed to be figured in then the reality of the situation is that no loans should be taken out for the payment of said 13th paycheck.

I hope this helps you in understanding how the system works and who has control of what.

Rick
 
C

Chip00

Guest
Is this bill the same one I saw floating around that is trying to curb misappropriation of funds that are supposed to go infrastructure improvements but instead go to new jipetas and two story houses with ac? Isn't this the same issue where one of the politicians recommended in it's place the put in place a slush fund of RD$600,000 monthly or is it just another example of the pervasive ineptitude of the system here?
 

Rick Snyder

Silver
Nov 19, 2003
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Chip there are so many bills presently before congress that I have no idea as to what is what. Unlike the US you can?t get on your computer and bring up a screen showing what bills are presently before the administration much less as to how the representatives have voted. So much for the thought of transparency.

LF knows the amount of money that is lost each year to the ONG?s and is therefore trying to shore-up that huge sucking chest wound. Upon saying he wouldn?t allocate funds next year in the budget for the ONG?s his buddy, Senate president Reinaldo Pared Perez, quickly initiated a bill allowing all senators and deputies to acquire a RD$600,000 a month slush fund for their personal, help the poor?, endeavors. This article indicates the people don?t want this to happen but we will see what happens.

Rick
 

Danny W

Bronze
Mar 1, 2003
999
12
0
The government as it is intended to work at the provinces and below.

Each province has a governor which is appointed by the president. The governor works directly for the president and within his/her province is in charge of all;


Public health departments
Public education departments
Public police departments
Public hospitals
Public civil registry departments

Each city has an Ayuntamiento which is tasked with the running of the city. It derives its monies from the state government by means of the Camara de Cuentas who give out monthly payments to the Dominican Municipal League (LMD) which then take their 5% and distribute the rest to each Ayuntamiento,
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=19926

There is presently a bill before congress trying to lower the 5% to a 0.8%. Of the monies presently given to the Ayuntameientos the law states that 25% be used for personnel expenses (fixed or seasonal), 35% for municipal services and operational expenses, and 40% for infrastructure expenditures. They are trying to change that to 25%, 25% and 50% respectively. Likewise, there is a movement to establish an access to the monetary workings of the municipalities by the public. Some Ayuntamientos, such as Higuey, publish their records on a board in front of their office each month and there are others such as here in El Seibo that are completely secret and unattainable. At the same time there are a number of people trying to do away with the LDM as it is an obsolete entity to an anachronism of the Trujillo era.

It is the Ayuntamiento that is responsible for the roads, trash and other aspects of city life. It is made up of the Sindico, Vice-Sindico, President of the Ayuntamiento and a number of Regidores. All these positions are obtained through local elections.The position of the Vice is mute as he has no vote or true function. The Sindico is the head but must have approval of the president of the Ayuntamiento and the Regidores to take any action.

Law1740-86 governs how the Ayuntamientos will function. As stated above 25% of their funds are to be spent for personnel expenses (wages) both fixed and seasonal. This is to include the 13th paycheck given out in December of each year. As this expense is supposed to be figured in then the reality of the situation is that no loans should be taken out for the payment of said 13th paycheck.

I hope this helps you in understanding how the system works and who has control of what.

Rick

Rick - This is a great start for me, and I'm sure I will have many questions. My first question is which province governs Sosua? - D
 

A.Hidalgo

Silver
Apr 28, 2006
3,268
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0
I have a home and family in Sosua, and I have no idea how the local government functions or is structured. My full time residence is in New York, but my adopted family is Dominican and lives full time in Sosua and I plan to move there in the not to distant future.

I see things happening, like roads being repaired and police being assigned different tasks, but i have no idea where those decisions are made. Is there a city council, a mayor, a DA, a budget?

How can I learn about my local government? - D

Danny W here is an example of the Ayuntamiento of Santiago (could not find Sosua) . I wish there were more transparency. As Rick mentioned they should publish their financial transactions. There is a page in the site for that but when you try to retrive this info nothing comes up. I wish more Dominicans become more involved in the workings of the government either local or national. Since change is not coming from the top, the bottom is the way to shake things up.


Portal del ciudadano
 

Rick Snyder

Silver
Nov 19, 2003
2,321
2
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Hidalgo your link is too much. Hehehehehehehehe.

There in big letters is the word transparencia you are taken to transparencia financiera
but when you click on any and all categories of incoming or out going monies you get ????..No existen documentos con la categor?a seleccionada

Vote in the survey and what do you get?

?Te gusta el portal de Santiago?


S? 86%( 338)

No 14%( 55)


Rick
 

A.Hidalgo

Silver
Apr 28, 2006
3,268
98
0
Hidalgo your link is too much. Hehehehehehehehe.

There in big letters is the word transparencia you are taken to transparencia financiera
but when you click on any and all categories of incoming or out going monies you get ????..No existen documentos con la categor?a seleccionada

Vote in the survey and what do you get?

?Te gusta el portal de Santiago?


S? 86%( 338)

No 14%( 55)


Rick


Too much?????? I no comprende, slow tonight.
 

Rick Snyder

Silver
Nov 19, 2003
2,321
2
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I am just referring to the typical ___________. It all seems to be a contradiction in terms which I find typical here. Added to that is the survey on the right side and when you vote as to whether the portal is good or not you find an 86% approval rating.

Isn't that typical??????????

Rick

Is there no humor in that???? Maybe I've been here too many years. Oh well!!!!! Sorry.
 

A.Hidalgo

Silver
Apr 28, 2006
3,268
98
0
I am just referring to the typical ___________. It all seems to be a contradiction in terms which I find typical here. Added to that is the survey on the right side and when you vote as to whether the portal is good or not you find an 86% approval rating.

Isn't that typical??????????

Rick

I know what you are saying. I just wanted Danny W to see the real deal for himself and know what to expect from a typical DR government web sites.
 

Danny W

Bronze
Mar 1, 2003
999
12
0
So who determines the amount of money that goes to each province, the Camara de Cuentas, the LMD? And once the money goes to the province, is there a statutorial method of determining the province's budget?
 

Rick Snyder

Silver
Nov 19, 2003
2,321
2
0
You asked for it

Danny W,

The LMD is a typical Dominican monstrosity. The LMD is supposed to be the technical and advisory body to all municipalities in the Dominican Republic. Perhaps more importantly, it controls the budgets of all municipalities. Whether Trujillo started this organization to honestly help the municipalities is a debatable issue of which I don?t wish to get into. It presently receives 5% of the national budget of which it takes 5% of that for the supposed operational costs of its organization. I don?t have the percentage figures prior to 1997 but as an example, in 1995 RD$ 318,019,729.92 went to the nation?s municipalities. In 1997 the percentage was raised to 4% under the law (17-97) and for that year RD$ 1,177,594,898.49 went to the nation?s municipalities.

The present president of that organization, Amable Aristy Castro, came to that position in 1999 but there was some turmoil produced in getting him in that position. The leadership of the LMD has always been a power struggle between political parties without the thought about what is best for the municipalities and the people. In the election in January of 1999 a number of electors held their meeting in the PRD headquarters in Santo Domingo where the elected a PRD representative as president. At the same time the other electors held their meeting in San Pedro de Macor?s and those other electors chose the PRSC candidates. Though the PRD held control of the majority of the municipalities in 1999 the PRSC won out and has been in power ever since 1999.

The Camara de Cuentas disburse the required money monthly, (see note 1 below), to the LMD and the LMD is the controlling authority as to who gets what. It is because of this control that out of two municipalities of approximate similar size the one that may have a Sindico belonging to the PRSC political party is more than likely to receive much more monies then the other municipality even if the other is larger.

*Note 1 - The laws establish the fact that the municipalities must supply a monthly budget report to the Camara de Cuentas before they will receive the next months monies. Because of the LMD such reports, if they are submitted, go through them first before being passed on to the Camara de Cuentas. A major problem exists in the fact that the Camara de Cuentas many times fail to receive any budget report from a number of municipalities and therefore hold out on the dispensing of monies. Needless to say that when this happens a large number of employees throughout the country at times fail to receive their paychecks and there is turmoil. Due to the failure on the part of the average Dominican knowing how the system works the municipalities tell their employees ?it isn?t our fault the government doesn?t want to pay you? when the reality is that it is their fault.

I wish to also add that aside from the military Amable Aristy Castro is the only government worker that has a helicopter that was purchased for him with government funds. His daughter has been the mayor of Higuey since 2002. Higuey is in La Altagracia providence and each election Amable Aristy Castro is elected as senator of that providence but each time of swear-in he turns down the position and it gets assigned to a friend. This is done so that he may stay in the position as president of the LMD and to insure the La Altagracia providence, where he and his family own a lot of holdings, stay in control of the PRSC. It is because of the distance of La Altagracia and Higuey from the capitol that he uses the helicopter.

I have compiled some reading material for you below;

http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=14317
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=10254
http://www.dr1.com/news/2002/dnews081902.shtml#4
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=19926
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=19710
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=19563
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=19085
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=17715
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=17316
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=16083
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=15471
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=14317
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=11956
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=11380
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=7467
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=6604


Rick
 

Danny W

Bronze
Mar 1, 2003
999
12
0
Rick -

This is fascinating. I'm going to try to absorb this now. I'm sure I'll have more questions.

(Interestingly, there is an owner of a condo in our complex in Sosua, who people refer to as el sindico. He and his group are from Santiago and are said to have tremendous financial and political power, although they don't appear to be outrageously wealthy. )

thanks - Danny
 

Danny W

Bronze
Mar 1, 2003
999
12
0
Rick - Once the funds have been received by the local Ayuntamientos, who actually ovesees the disbursal of funds, the Governor, Sindico? Also, when and how is the actual budget arrived at? I assume that before a disbursal there is some allowance for it in the budget. - D
 

Rick Snyder

Silver
Nov 19, 2003
2,321
2
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Danny W,

Sorry for the delay in responding. I?m kind of laid up.

Concerning your questions;

The Camara de Cuentas cuts a monthly check and gives it to the LMD.

The LMD cuts a monthly check for each municipality.

The Sindico and President of the Ayuntamiento receive said check.

The budget for the municipality is determined by the Regidores.

The state goes to each municipality 2 times a year to audit (?????) and check things out.

Don?t know about any other municipality but here in El Seibo the LMD just gave the Ayuntamiento $ 9.5 million pesos.

Hope this helps.

Rick

Edited to add;

The employees are paid once a month by check.

With everything being done by check I would think it would be easier to audit and control as checks leave a paper trail. I don't know if these checks are computer generated and that would make the trail so much easier to follow if it is done so. I'll have to check that out.
 
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planner

.............. ?
Sep 23, 2002
4,409
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Rick - thanks for explaining all this in such an easy to understand manner! It is fascinating.

You seem to truly understand this stuff.......
 

Rick Snyder

Silver
Nov 19, 2003
2,321
2
0
Planner oh how fortunate I was that I didn't have a liquid in my mouth when I read your post. I'm sorry but it took me 3 minutes of fits on the floor to be steady enough to respond to your post. For the top point in my day I thank you.

Thank you for the compliment and excuse me for the earlier fits but it had to do with your words "You seem to truly understand this stuff". In reality I really don't but that in itself is a long story. Thanks anyway.

Rick
 

planner

.............. ?
Sep 23, 2002
4,409
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Rick - now you are making me laugh too.

In response - your understanding compared to my understanding it huge. But I understand that your understanding is not truly understood in that as you understand it you really don't understand it all.

Now I understand! :cheeky: :cheeky: :cheeky: