The Ministry of Economy’s Centro Nacional del Fomento y Promoción de las Asociaciones sin Fines de Lucro, (CASFL) was created in 2005 to supervise and regulate non-profit organizations. Previously little known, it seems now to be doing its job under newly-appointed Vielka Polanco. The department is in charge of regulating and overseeing the finances of non-governmental organizations that receive taxpayer funds.
As reported in Diario Libre, the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) was late in rendering its account on the use of funds for January-July 2021. Furthermore, when the report was delivered, it failed to present the required supporting documentation for the spending in many chapters. Secretary general of the COD, Gilberto García acknowledged in an interview with Diario Libre that the CASFL was “right” in making the demands.
The COD reportedly had requested RD$173 million, of which RD$42 million were approved.
For the lack of compliance, nevertheless, the budget was reduced by 20% for its allotment for 2022. Diario Libre reports that according to a source from the Ministry of Sports several irregularities found in the application of the funds received from the government caused the CASFL to recommend the complete elimination of the subsidy the COD receives from the government.
Diario Libre explains that Sports Minister Francisco Camacho intervened and the COD was only penalized with a reduction of 20% of the budget for 2022, that will now be RD$34 million. Diario Libre reports that the president of the COD Antonio Acosta of the COD says this sum was subsequently increased to RD$40 million after fulfillment of CASFL requirements.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
17 December 2021