A month after the murder of then Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera in his office at the Ministry of Environment, President Luis Abinader appointed his replacement. In the meantime, President Abinader had named Vice President Raquel Peña to be acting Minister of Environment.
Vice President Raquel Peña herself swore in her replacement on Friday, 8 July 2022.
President Abinader chose to send Minister of Economy Miguel Ceara Hatton to the position. At the same time, the President promoted the No. 2 at the Ministry of Economy, Pavel Isa Contreras to the position of Minister of Economy & Planning. Both Ceara-Hatton and Pavel Isa Contreras are highly respected economists.
The position at the Ministry of Environment is especially challenging due to the many conflicts of interest. State prosecutors say that Jorge Mera was murdered when he did not authorize certain environmental permits.
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Presidency
Presidency
El Caribe
11 July 2022