In an interview with Listin Diario, Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez highlighted efforts to streamline the foreign service. He spoke of the excess in personnel he found at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. As an example, he said that while the US had 122 staff accredited to the United Nations, China had 99, Russia 78, the Dominican Republic was fourth in accredited staff, with 68.
In the purge at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Alvarez said that 285 employees were removed from their jobs at the Ministry of Foreign Relations seat for savings of RD$15 million a month. The Ministry removed 765 persons from its foreign service payroll. Alvarez said this will bring savings of US$3.4 million a month. Overall, the Ministry has reduced its expenditures in the new government by RD$2.6 billion a year.
Miguel Núñez Herrera, chief of cabinet at the Ministry, said that those who did work felt unmotivated by the political patronage jobs. Many who did not work regularly were paid more than the working staff.
He also said the Ministry has corrected the situation whereby consular staff would be a permanent resident in the country where assigned. He pointed out that the New York consul Eligio Jaquez and Alfonso Rodriguez in Los Angeles both had US residency and had to resign from this status to keep their appointment as consuls.
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Listin Diario
28 January 2021