Executive Branch Decree No. 101-05 creates the National Commission for Ethics and Fighting Corruption, a mixed public and private sector entity. President Leonel Fernandez swore in the members of the commission that is presided by minister sans portfolio, Jose Joaquin Bido Medina at the Presidential Palace yesterday. Government members in the commission that seeks to prevent corruption in the present Fernandez administration (2004-2008) are legal advisor to the President Cesar Pina Toribio, Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito, Gustavo Montalvo, who will serve as coordinator, Octavio Lister (Depreco), Daniel Omar Caamano (representing the Controller’s Office), and Julio Anibal Fernandez (representing the Ministry of Finances).
The civil society is represented by Father Victor Masalles (Catholic Church), Celso Marranzini (National Business Council ? CONEP), Ramon Tejeda Holguin (Coalition for Transparency and Institutionality) and Cristobal Cardoza (Christian churches).
The new commission will be based at the Presidential Palace and has funding and technical support from the US Agency for International Development.
The new commission has been entrusted with following through with anti-corruption commitments that were part of the agreements leading to the signing of the IMF stand by arrangement.