Hundreds of municipal authorities, mayors and council members, gathered at the Municipal Federation to demand that the central government let them keep the heavy equipment that was ceded to them by the past administration. They also demanded the return of their municipal police forces (a total of 700 men nationwide, most offices), which were disbanded by ministerial decree last week.
The conflict is an obvious one: 90% of the local municipal governments are in the hands of the PRD, the party that suffered a crushing defeat in last May’s elections and wants to retain its patronage base and the ability to carry out “make work” projects in the various municipalities. The municipal police forces and the equipment are vital to these party interests. The PRSC is also interested in this issue, since their only power base is the Municipal League and the municipal government of Santiago de los Caballeros, the DR’s second largest city. During the assembly held at the Municipal League, Fausto Ruiz, the mayor of La Vega and president of the FEDOMU, and Amable Aristy Castro, the head of the Dominican Municipal League (LMD), condemned the resolution signed by Interior and Police Minister Franklyn Almeyda that dissolved the municipal law enforcement detachments. In a joint declaration, they said that they would go before Congress to introduce a bill that would legally create the municipal police forces. In addition, the PRD warned President Leonel Fernandez to stop his attacks on Congress and requested that he revoke the resolution of Minister Almeyda.