The PLD presidential candidate, Leonel Fernández, said on television last week that corruption costs the nation RD$30 thousand million every year. In a speech on television he explained his four point anti-corruption program. He said that first he would seek to develop loyalty among public officers, whereby the state recognizes and awards their work in a systematic manner. Secondly, the state’s workers would be given health insurance and other social protection programs. Third, he said, would be a scheme of financial control for the state, via the Controller of the Nation. Fourth will be judicial reform, and a special school of judges to appoint dedicated and trustworthy judges for the courts.
He said that, as things stand today, any contractor or government supplier who wants to get paid has to forfeit a commission, anyone who wants any service, the same. In judicial matters, favorable verdicts shave to be bought, and even important legislation needs to come up with financial backing in order to get through Congress.
He said all these “under the table” payments are overheating the economy.