Youth Minister Kinsberly (Kimberly) Taveras said on Monday, 19 October 2020, she has requested a leave of absence without pay from her duties at the Ministry of Youth to dedicate time to the investigations into her worth statement and her private businesses, as reported in Acento. The case is being reviewed by Wilson Camacho, the Anti-Corruption Agency (Pepca) prosecutor. She has been summoned for questioning on Friday, 23 October.
The review of her wealth came after investigative journalist Nuria Piera interviewed her to ask about how she had accumulated more than RD$77 million in assets. The minister is 33 years old and is a self-made millionaire. Previously, she was known as the mayor of the small town of La Guayiga, and then as mayor of Pedro Brand in northern Santo Domingo. Only after the presentation of her wealth statement have her successful ventures come into the open.
“All the cards are on the table,” said Taveras. She said she will be visiting the Anti-Corruption Agency as a citizen, so she is taking the leave of absence from her new job at the Ministry of Youth. She said she has to defend her honor and the dignity of her family.
Investigative journalist Piera had presented evidence of irregularities and asked the authorities of the Ethics and Government Integrity Agency (DIGEIG) and state prosecutors to investigate the minister for possible corruption in a first report. On a subsequent Saturday, she investigated, presenting evidence of other irregularities.
Piera explains that she has presented much more serious evidence of corruption regarding other government officers in past investigative TV programs. These were met with little if any response from the general public and the government. She says it seems society has changed and that has made the difference.
Last week, the Procurement Agency (DGCP) announced the suspension of the State Suppliers Registry allocated to Minister Taveras and the beginning of an investigation to determine if her companies have benefited from public contracts.
Read more in Spanish:
Acento
Listin Diario
DR1 News
DR1 News
DR1 News
19 October 2020