The president of the Dominican Senate, Andr?s Bautista, dismissed 60 consultants and released 40 military and police officials from their duties.
In an effort to reduce payroll, due to his said-to-be unlikely re-election as Senate president, Bautista reduced the number of consultants to just 40, whose monthly salaries vary from RD$6,000 to RD$25,000.
According to stories in the List?n Diario and El Caribe, the military and police presence was increased after the murder of Santiago senator, Dar?o G?mez. The extra security personnel received stipends that ranged from RD$1,500 up to RD$15,000 per month.
The firings began about a month ago, according to the El Caribe, but last week reached their maximum number. The remaining 40 consultants, whose names and salaries appear in the El Caribe, will collectively draw wages of over half a million pesos per month. The announcement again makes evident that political clientelism comes at a high cost to taxpaying citizens.
Bautista was not available for comment to the press on the firings, nor on the considerable support staff retained on the congressional payroll.