Turning to Congress' most important work 
, a bill has been introduced to create 5 new provinces: Constanza, Haina, Esperanza, Santo Domingo Oriental and Villa Riva.
The last administration, in its infinite wisdom, decided that San Jose de Ocoa needed to become a province. Its only town has a population of about 25,000 and is about 25 minutes drive to its former provincial seat at Bani. Remember that each new province gets two additional Senators, a federally funded provincial government and lots of patronage jobs. Apparently there are plenty of PRD supporters in Ocoa.
Constanza was not made a province then even though it has a population of about 65,000 and is a perilous two hour drive to the nearest provincial seat - Bonao. But Constanza is not in the same province as Bonao. Constanza is in La Vega province and the provincial seat is at La Vega city - another hour away further from Bonao still. Apparently, there are a shortage of PRD supporters in Constanza.
Based on population, I understand the desire to create Haina, Santo Domingo Oriental and Constanza provinces. I presume, though, that Esperanza and Villa Riva (they've got to be kidding us on the latter one in particular) are some kind of political pay off.
, a bill has been introduced to create 5 new provinces: Constanza, Haina, Esperanza, Santo Domingo Oriental and Villa Riva.The last administration, in its infinite wisdom, decided that San Jose de Ocoa needed to become a province. Its only town has a population of about 25,000 and is about 25 minutes drive to its former provincial seat at Bani. Remember that each new province gets two additional Senators, a federally funded provincial government and lots of patronage jobs. Apparently there are plenty of PRD supporters in Ocoa.
Constanza was not made a province then even though it has a population of about 65,000 and is a perilous two hour drive to the nearest provincial seat - Bonao. But Constanza is not in the same province as Bonao. Constanza is in La Vega province and the provincial seat is at La Vega city - another hour away further from Bonao still. Apparently, there are a shortage of PRD supporters in Constanza.
Based on population, I understand the desire to create Haina, Santo Domingo Oriental and Constanza provinces. I presume, though, that Esperanza and Villa Riva (they've got to be kidding us on the latter one in particular) are some kind of political pay off.
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