The Central Electoral Board (JCE), the body in charge of organizing municipal, congressional and presidential elections in the DR, called for a halt to further plans to politically divide the country. Political interests within Congress have favored the breaking up of provinces into municipalities and other territorial divisions and the creation of new provinces. Promoters are at the time intensely lobbying for the creation of a new province out of the eastern side of Santo Domingo. The new provinces are known to solve few problems, while creating new bureaucracies at the cost of taxpayers. The National Director of Elections of the JCE, Engineer Gilberto Cruz Herasme called for prudence and a halt to the divisions at least until 2002. During a seminar called by the Participación Ciudadana civil society organization he explained that the creation of new political units creates distortions in their work towards the establishment of electoral districts. The electoral districts are to be in place by 2002 and will put voters more in touch with their representatives. The smaller voting districts will enable the population to elect its representatives based on their track record at helping the area, more than on their political influence.
