President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic has initiated the appointments for his upcoming presidential term via social media platforms and WhatsApp. These announcements include several key appointments to his cabinet and other significant roles in preparation for his second term. Abinader begins his new term on 16 August 2024.
Among the newly announced appointments in Decree 390-24 are:
Porfirio Andrés Bautista García as Administrative Minister of the Presidency
Tomás Darío Castillo Lugo as Commissioner for State Reforms
Carlos José Valdez Matos as Minister of Youth
Rafael Jesús Féliz García as rector of the Technological Institute of the Americas (ITLA)
Sigmund Freund Mena as Minister of Public Administration (MAP)
Milton Morrison as executive director of the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant)
Igor David Rodríguez Durán, director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC)
Héctor Porcella Dumas as president of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC)
During the first government of Abinader, of those appointed Milton Morrison has served has director of the EdeSur power distribution entity, Sigmund Freund Mena has served during the first government of Abinader as director of the Public-Private Partnership Agency (DGAPP), and Igor David Rodriguez Duran had been temporarily appointed in January 2024 as Administrative Minister of the Presidency. Hector Porcella is the present director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation.
The newly appointed administrative minister of the Presidency, Porfirio Andres Bautista is a former president of the Senate. He was president of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) in its initial years, from 2014 to 2018 and senator for the province of Espaillat for four terms (1994 to 2010). He was also president of the Senate from 2001-2003 and 2004-2006.
President Abinader, through his decrees, also confirmed the appointments of José Marte Piantini as consul general in Madrid, Spain, and Miguel Ángel Vásquez Peña as consul general in Milan, Italy.
Other new appointments are those of Arleni Peña del Orbe as counselor at the Internal Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Elvis López del Carmen as Deputy Minister for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of the Presidency.
The Presidency says the appointments underscore President Abinader’s commitment to assembling a competent team dedicated to advancing necessary reforms for the progress and well-being of the Dominican Republic. With these new additions, the aim is to continue strengthening institutions and promoting an efficient and transparent government.
The appointments are effective 16 August 2024, with the exception of those of Andres Bautista, Sigmund Freund, Castillo Lugo, Valdez Matos and Feliz García which are immediately effective, as per Decree 390-24 and reported in Diario Libre.
Read more in Spanish:
Decree 390-24
Presidency
El Dia
18 July 2024