President-elect Hipólito Mejía said that he would reduce his salary from RD$90,000 to RD$60,000 as of 16 August 2000. He said that RD$60,000 is enough to live well in the DR. He also said he would increase the salaries of lesser employees, but would reduce those of ministers and deputy ministers. While Mejía has announced his decision to eliminate what he considers excessive appointments of deputy ministers, his government prepares to appoint hundreds of new staff to the newly created Ministries that will start under his government. These include the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Diaspora (for expatriate Dominicans affairs), Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Transport, among others that may soon be announced.
