President Danilo Medina appointed 60-year old accountant Antonio Peña Mirabal his new Minister of Education. He replaces architect Andrés Navarro who had resigned to seek the presidential candidacy for the ruling PLD party. At the time of his appointment, Peña Mirabal was the director of the Promese /CAL program of the government, the low cost pharmacy program. Prior to his appointment to Promese in September 2016, he had been vice minister in charge of finances at the Ministry of Education.
In the same Decree 71-19, President Medina appointed former Santo Domingo mayor, Esmérito Antonio (Roberto) Salcedo Gavilán, as minister without portfolio for citizen security to replace Franklin Almeyda Rancier.
News commentators say that the 16 changes made purge these positions of persons known to be followers of former President Leonel Fernández. Fernández seeks to be the PLD presidential candidate in the 2020 general elections. Franklyn Almeyda was one who promptly thanked Medina for his removal, saying he would now fully dedicate himself to the Fernández presidential campaign project.
Others appointed are: Enriquillo Matos to direct Promese/CAL. Luis Miguel Piccirilo McCabe, director of the State Sugar Council (CEA), replacing Pedro Mota Pacheco. Pedro Mota Pacheco is named governor of the province of San Pedro de Macorís, replacing Luis Miguel Piccirilo McCabe.
Juan Francisco Caraballo to direct the Fondo Especial para el Desarrollo Agropecuario (FEDA), replacing José Casimiro Ramos. José Casimiro Ramos is named director of the Instituto Nacional del Tabaco (Intabaco), replacing Juan Francisco Caraballo.
Miguel Mercedes is named manager of the Lotería Nacional, replacing José Francisco Peña Tavárez.
Milton Reyes is named rector of the Instituto Técnico Comunitario de San Luis (ITSC), replacing Víctor Hugo Deláncer. Deláncer is named advisor of the ITSC. Rosa Emilia Martes Jiménez is appointed vice administrative rector of the ITSC replacing Julio Peña, who had resigned.
Raquel Hernández is named manager of the Parque de Mirador Santo Domingo Norte replacing Leandro González Mejía.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
25 February 2019