An investigative report in Diario Libre published on 3 December 2019 reveals that the government has spent big on orchestras and even more during pre-electoral times. According to Diario Libre, government spending to pay for bands during Christmas 2018 was 255% more than in the previous year. A close look into expenditures shows that the Ministry of Hacienda (the National Treasury) paid Big Films RD$2.7 million to hire orchestras, party hosts, and a comedian for their Christmas party in 2018.
Diario Libre reports that spending to hire orchestras for the Christmas parties was RD$59.2 million in 2015, RD$26 million in 2016, RD$15 million in 2017 and RD$53 million in 2018.
In the first government council held by President Danilo Medina, six days into his first government, he announced austerity measures that banned spending for parties, luncheons, receptions, celebrations and other similar activities. The only exceptions were those carried out by the Presidency or the Ministry of Foreign Relations to honor visiting heads of government. The Medina administration discontinued the austerity measures in 2014, reports the newspaper.
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Diario Libre
4 December 2019