Investigative TV reporter, Alicia Ortega aired a show revealing nepotism, political patronage, wasteful spending, including padded payrolls under the administration of the State Sugar Council (CEA). The government division was divested of its sugar cane mills and operations, but instead of gradually shutting down has become a bastion of corruption, as evidenced by the report.
In the report, Ortega says that the administrative director of the CEA argues that his relatives had been hired prior to his appointment. The CEA has not been able to provide evidence of tenders held to comply with procurement rules.
The director Pedro Mota says that the assets are land and property owned by the sugar mills. Only two of the 12 sugar mills are in operation, Barahona that was leased to a Central American group and Porvenir that was returned by the owners. Nevertheless, the number of employees has been growing, despite these being in ruins.
Journalist Huchi Lora says that the sugar mills have been dismantled with the materials irregularly sold.
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Noticias SIN
24 July 2018
