Listín Diario shares a feature on those who have been in key government positions for decades. Among these are:
Héctor Valdez Albizu, named governor of the Central Bank during the Balaguer administration in 1994. He would remain on the position until 2000. He was removed by then President Hipólito Mejía but was recalled back to the job by President Leonel Fernandez in 2004 and is still on the job.
Máximo Castro Silverio has been a deputy representing the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano for 29 years. He has been elected for eight periods.
Marino Collante Gomez is the director of the Airport Department. Formerly he served several terms at the Chamber of Deputies. He was deputy for Santiago for from 1990 to 2016 when he resigned to take his present post in the Medina administration.
Amable Aristy Castro, senator for the province La Altagracia. He was elected on several occasions for the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano (PRSC), but now represents the Partido Liberal Reformista. He was first voted in as a deputy in 1982, and then became senator for La Altagracia from 1990 to 1998, when he resigned to take on the Secretaria General de la Liga Municipal Dominicana (LMD). In 2002, he returned to the senator seat for the province and in 2006 resigned to return to the LMD. Aristy Castro arranged for his cousin, German Castro Garcia, to take his seat in the legislature. In 2010, he resigned from the LMD, appointing to that position another cousin, and seeks the senate seat for La Altagracia, and was elected for the 2016-2020 term.
Euclides Gutiérrez Felix, member of the Central committee of the PLD, and who has held the positions of secretary of state, director general of the State Enterprises Corporation (Corde), and also Superintedent of Insurance in the PLD government 1996-2000. He has been secretary without portfolio, and in charge of the Superintendence of Insurance from 2004-2008 and 2008-2012, also during PLD government.
José Ramón Fadul, today Interior & Police Minister, is probably the person with the longest tenure in an important government position of those in the Medina cabinet. Fadul began as a deputy in 1982-1986 under a Balaguer administration, was mayor of Santiago 1990-1994, was back in the Chamber of Deputies 1994-1996, where he came president of the Chamber 1995-1996. He was also appointed secretary of state and liaison of the PLD with Congress in 1996, and then director of Corde, from 1997-1998. He was minister of Labor 2004-2008 and minister of Industry & Commerce, appointed 16 August 2008. He was also minister of Interior & Police in 2011, reassigned to the ministry of Labor, and then to Interior and Police, where he continues today.
Francisco Javier García, a member of the Political Committee of the PLD, held high positions during the three governments of former President Leonel Fernandez (1996-2000, 2004-2008, 2008-2012) and during those of President Danilo Medina (2012-2016, 2016-) he has been Minister of Tourism. He has also served as administrator of the National Lottery, president of the Petroleum Refinery, secretary of Industry & Commerce and director general of the Port Authority.
Alejandrina German, today minister of Superior Education, Science & Technology (MESCyT) entered the PLD government in 1996 when she was appointed president of the Consejo Nacional de Educacion Superior (Cones) with rank of secretary of state through August 1999. Then she was named Secretary of the Presidency until August 2000. Afterwards on 2004, with the return of the PLD government she was appointed secretary of Education until 2008, when she was named Minister of Women.
Listin Diario mentions others who have long careers in government key positions:
Eduardo Selman, today Minister of Culture, served many years as consul in New York.
Jaime David Fernandez has been senator, Vice President of the Republic, Minister of Sports and now member of the Monetary Board.
Bautista Rojas has been mayor, senator, minister of public health and environment.
Lidio Cadet has been secretary of state without portfolio, director of Pro-Industria and now director of the government ethics department.
José Joaquín Bidó Medina is a past record of the UASD, judge, deputy, president of the government ethics committee, among other positions.
Jose Tomas Perez, member of the PLD Political Committee, was named to Fomento Industrial, Civil Aviation, was senator for the National District and is today Dominican ambassador in Washington, D. C.
Felix Jimenez was minister of tourism for an eight year term under President Leonel Fernandez and is today president of the Dominican Refinery Council.
Danilo Medina, today President, was president of the Chamber of Deputies and minister of the Presidency under the Leonel Fernandez presidency.
Read more in Spanish:
Listin Diario
4 February 2019
