Public employees, beginning with those who work in the National Palace, started to receive their December paychecks yesterday afternoon. Checks for the remaining governmental workers will be distributed today and tomorrow. Typically, government paydays fall on the 25th of the month, although by tradition, December salaries are paid on the 23rd. But that tradition was broken this year by order of President Hipolito Mejia who determined that there was too much money in circulation. According to Presidential Assistant, Pedro Franco Badia, the Chief Executive acted like "a good head of the family," in conserving some of the employees’ earnings for the New Year’s Day celebrations, and "Three Wise Men Day" (January 6th), when Dominican children receive Christmas gifts. Dominicans, Badia explained, like to "go on a spree" (chacarero) at this time of year, and spend money too freely. So Mejia and took "precautionary and preservationist" measures on their behalf by holding up their paychecks over Christmas.
