DR1 reported the following:
Does anyone think that this will make a difference in the corruption and inefficiency in the government? It doesn't seem like the Citizen Watch has any teeth. They monitor Congress and report to Congress. Presumably, Congress will ignore any of their findings.
Citizen Watch on Congress
As from 26 August, the ties between the National Congress and the civil population will be a lot closer, according to a proposal set forth by Participacion Ciudadana that would provide a ?citizen?s watch? over the Legislative Branch. While the citizens are represented by the various deputies and senators in the Congress, the new project will allow the different community organizations to have greater access and intervention in the legislative process. According to El Caribe, the watchdog group will be based on three fundamental components: legislation, representation and supervision. Regarding the legislative component, the members of the watchdog groups representing different civil community organizations will be trained on their participation in parliamentary activities such as public hearings, seminars and direct visits to legislators. In regards to the supervisory component, the groups will use mechanisms to verify that projects that are approved are really carried out by the authorities. The groups will also be able to follow, up close, the work of the legislators who represent the citizens, and complaints can be channeled to Congress. This will validate each legislator?s role as representative. At the heart of the project is a network of volunteers who will be responsible for serving as watchdogs on the legislative activities. The project, called Congress and Citizens, will be funded by USAID and managed by Participacion Ciudadana but the basic work will be done by the network of volunteers. While the project itself will be presented to the public during a seminar in Santo Domingo on 24 August, called ?The Congress and the Citizens? the watch group will begin their work on 16 August, at the start of the new legislative period.
Does anyone think that this will make a difference in the corruption and inefficiency in the government? It doesn't seem like the Citizen Watch has any teeth. They monitor Congress and report to Congress. Presumably, Congress will ignore any of their findings.