On Monday, 1 November 2021, TV journalist Alicia Ortega revealed evidence that senator Alexis Victoria Yeb (PRM-Maria Trinidad Sanchez) has close ties to companies that have been major suppliers to the government. The report was part of a series on the irregularities in transactions and deals of senators in the Dominican Republic.
When the investigative report aired, senator Victoria Yeb sent an inquiry to the Procurement Agency saying he would resign if the agency could prove he owned companies that were suppliers to the government.
The Procurement Agency response is in. The Procurement Agency says it has disabled the license of several companies that sell to the government and are owned by the senator. The Procurement Agency confirmed Victoria Yeb companies had received 14 procurement orders since August 2020, when the senator began his term in Congress representing the government party in the province of Maria Trinidad Sanchez.
The Procurement Agency certified that RD$1.7 million in minor purchases and direct purchases were paid to Victoria Yeb S.A. and Dronena S.A.
Senator Alexis Victoria Yeb had said on the findings of Alicia Ortega: “If any of my companies have been awarded after being senator, tomorrow I put my resignation to the honorable Senate of the Republic.” At the time, El Informe con Alicia Ortega had revealed he had ties to at least seven government contracts.
The Procurement Agency also identified that the senator was a shareholder and representative of Cristalia Dominicana, a major government contractor, until May 2020, three months before the change of government in August 2020. Cristalia has benefited from 118 contracts with the government, with a value upwards of RD$$472.8 million from August 2020 to date.
On El Informe con Alicia Ortega, a telephone call placed to Cristalia was answered by a person who identified the company as “Victoria Yeb” despite the official change of shareholders.
Diario Libre reports that senator Alexis Victoria Yeb did not attend the Tuesday, 9 November 2021 session.
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10 November 2021