Roberto Rodriguez Marchena, the spokesperson for the Fernandez administration, announced on Friday that the government would strive to reduce the information forthcoming from government in order not to cause undue concern to Dominican families. Rodriguez Marchena said that a study showed that Dominicans are fed up with the presence of government officers in their homes, and even the president, speaking of scandals and problems in the media. The remedy to the situation, he said, was their plan to release such information in doses. The statement caused alarm in the local press.
Vice-president of the Interamerican Press Association, Rafael Molina Morilla was quick to describe the plan as a “monstrosity.”
The “Que se dice” column of Hoy newspaper commented on Saturday that this statement was an attempt to justify manipulation of the information the government offers those it governs and asked, “Where are we headed?”
The Fernandez government has already restricted the press from covering the departures and arrivals of the President and other restrictions.
Over the weekend, Rodriguez offered an explanation, saying with the statement that while the government would manage the flow of information and wants to be the media’s ally. He affirmed that the idea is for government officers to avoid sending out contradictory signs to the economic players, given the fragility of an economic situation that could be affected by an unnecessary statement. He denied there was any official study showing people did not want bad news and explained that these views were formed from feedback he had received from citizens exasperated by the statements of officials of the previous government. The speaker said that the Dominican press is free to access and publish all new it considers to be of interest.