The comment made on 23 June 2021 by journalist Huchi Lora during an interview with Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ignacio Paliza has become a trending topic. Lora highlighted in the interview that more than 40 deputies and senators are owners of betting shops, including many representing the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party. Lora said the political parties need to act responsibly. He said that Paliza, as president of the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), should take action. Lora mentioned the betting shops pay the least in taxes of any company. The legislators also maneuvered so that the betting shops not be included in the money laundering law.
During the interview with the Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ignacio Paliza had addressed the need to reform the government’s National Lottery and regulate the betting shops. Appointed in August 2020 by President Abinader to direct the National Lottery, Luis Maisichell Dicent is now accused of a scam within the lottery to benefit select betting agencies. He had presided an association of betting shops before his appointment.
TV host Lora expressed the difficulties of the government in doing something about the matter when dozens of deputies or senators have strong ties to the betting businesses. Lora commented on the boom of betting businesses and how political parties are open to these because they have the cash to carry out expensive political campaigns.
Hoy reports that among the ruling PRM party deputies that are known owners of betting shops are Manuel Miguel Florián Terrero, Melvin Alexis Lara Melo, Orlando Antonio Martínez Peña y Alexander Javier Cuevas. Eduard Espiritusanto Castillo is a deputy for the Fuerza del Pueblo, the political party of former President Leonel Fernandez. Domingo Eusebio de León Mascaro, Juan Carlos Echavarría Milané and Carlos José Gil Rodríguez are deputies that represent the Dominican Liberation Party in the Chamber of Deputies.
Over the years, thousands of betting shops have opened in all neighbors. News analysts comment these serve for money laundering with the complacency of the authorities of Hacienda over the years. The director of Fenabanco, Ruben Jimenez, had recently said during an interview on Esta Noche con Mariasela, that they have requested the Ministry of Hacienda to regulate the sector, but the ministry has been lax in doing so, despite threatening to shut down all the betting shops.
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Hoy
El Caribe
Hoy
Esta Noche con Mariasela
24 June 2021