The overseas Deputies say they are being put under pressure by Dominicans who live abroad due to the closure of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) offices, which used to issue birth, death and marriage certificates and national identity cards (cedulas).
They held a meeting yesterday, Tuesday 29 January with JCE president Roberto Rosario and the overseas vote coordinator Rosario Graciano, to find out why the JCE took this step and Rosario explained that the provision of civil registration services overseas was neither in the Law nor in the Constitution.
He said that the JCE used to provide the services to help Dominicans living overseas but unfortunately they could not continue. However, when it came to the elections in 2016 he assured the Deputies that the offices would work as established by Law.
Rafael Vasquez, president of the Commission for Dominicans Abroad in the Chamber of Deputies said that although the decision had to be taken for economic reasons, and he understood the “totally reasonable” arguments put forward by Rosario, it was still a painful situation and they would continue to try and find a solution to the matter.
He said that they would continue to play their role of representing the overseas community because the Deputies were worried about the situation and that it was not the usual type of political issue but a State problem.
As well as Vasquez, Deputies Marcos Cross, Aurelio Agustin Mercedes, Jose Morel, Levis Suriel, Alfredo Rodriguez and Adelis Olivares were at the meeting.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2013/1/29/263992/Diputados-de-ultramar-dicen-que-reciben-presion-por-cierre-oficinas-de-la