The Coalition for Transparency and Institutionalism (CTI) considers that there is a lack of political will to confront corruption in government given that corrective measures that should have been taken in some instances have not been implemented, and suggestions and observations made to the Executive Branch by civil society aimed at eradicating corruption have not been taken into account either.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday where the contents of the letter were released to the press, CTI spokesman Luis Scheker Ortiz said that he hoped that the letter would appeal to the President’s sensibilities and lead him to confront the problems in his government regarding transparency and corruption with greater decisiveness.
In the open letter to President Leonel Fernandez the CTI says that the investigation into the tender held for the government’s Electronic Portal has not proceeded, despite indications that point to the director of the Presidential Office of Technology of Information and Communication (OPTIC), Domingo Tavarez, who violated administrative procedures, as reported in Hoy newspaper.
CTI also criticizes the acceptance of Gustavo Montalvo’s resignation from his post as coordinator of the technical unit of the government’s newly created Ethics Commission. Montalvo resigned for being in disagreement with Presidential decisions that in his judgement were against the principles of institutionalism. He criticized the fact that a replacement has not been appointed.
Scheker also highlighted the delay in passing a decree that would prohibit the so-called “grado a grado” procedure where the government handpicks contractors for public works and purchases. He said that this impedes the implementation of a transparent government procurement and contracting system that is in line with international regulations.
The letter to the President is signed by the coordinating team of the CTI, which is made up by the Centro de Planificacion y Accion Ecumenica (CEPAE); Accion Comunitaria para el Progreso (ACOPRO); Asociacion Nacional de Jovenes Empresarios (ANJE); Fundacion Institutionalidad y Justicia (FINJUS); Centro de Servicios Vision Mundial and Participacion Ciudadana, among other organizations.