For the president of the Chamber of Deputies the Dominican government only has two options to balance the 2022 national budget. Either Dominicans pay more taxes or the government will need to borrow more, passing the bill to future generations.
Meanwhile, local prosecutors are investigating cases of billions in irregular operations in government. Investigative journalists almost every day publish reports on wasteful spending in the past and present government. An Extinction of Domain bill is under study in Congress.
Historically, legislators are high up on wasteful spending. Senators and deputies have passed legislation that enables them to import luxury vehicles and provides billions more in perks and privileges. While the legislation has passed a social security package that reduces pensions to bare minimum for most Dominicans, legislators enjoy in generous health insurance and millionaire retirement plans.
Recent statements by Alfredo Pacheco (PRM-National District), the president of the Chamber of Deputies, are getting bad feedback on social media. Pacheco believes that the Dominican people have two options: to accept more or higher taxes, or for the country to take on more international debt. The third option would be to reduce capital investments. Reducing spending is not on the agenda of the politicians.
Diario Libre reports on how the Chamber of Deputies is carrying out a tender for a purchase of mosquito nets and baby baskets for its constituencies.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has announced the need to pass a fiscal reform. A Fiscal Pact is long overdue. National Development Strategy Law established that the Fiscal Pact would be passed by the Social and Economic Council (CES).
President Luis Abinader took a seat in economy to fly to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021. Yet, the action is the exception in government. Less wasteful spending does not seem to be in the books of most in government, as media points out to considerable cases of wasteful spending… SUVs, high wages, billions for propaganda, all continue.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario
El Caribe
Diario Libre
Julissa Cespedes – Reporte Especial
Diario Libre
25 October 2021