El Siglo newspaper explains today the reasons behind the shuffling of key Mejía administration officers. The newspaper says the transfers of Rafael Suberví Bonilla (former Minister of Interior & Police to Minister of Tourism), Pedro Franco Badía (from Administrative Secretary of the Presidency to Minister of Interior and Police) and Ramon Alfredo Bordas (from Minister of Tourism to director of Export Promotion Center) were intended to “throw water on burning fires” in three controversial departments subject to public scandals. Suberví Bonilla, who is also secretary general of the ruling PRD political party, had opposed the police reform supported by Chief of Police Pedro Candelier. Franco Badia is a strong supporter of Candelier. Franco Badía had been entrusted with sorting out Plan Renove, the US$150 million government vehicle purchase program that has made headlines for apparent corruption and influence peddling. Franco Badía had reworked the plan originally created by Oneximo Gonzalez of the Metropolitan Transport Authority and retired General Ramon Emilio Jimenez. He was replaced by Siquio Ng de la Rosa, who comes from a very successful tenure as mayor of the city of San Francisco de Macoris. Regarding Bordas, the newspaper says that his administration was seen by hoteliers as sluggish in regards to securing government funds for international promotion. Orlando Gil, political analyst for El Siglo, explains that the President’s interest in maintaining political balance within the ruling PRD party was also a factor in the shuffle.
