In its editorial on 31 October 2024, Diario Libre board president Anibal de Castro calls shrinking the state a pressing need. The editorial comes at a time when the Abinader administration sought billions in new revenues from taxpayers. Hundreds of citizens say making government smaller would resolve the problem.
The Abinader administration boasts it has underway a zero bureaucracy programs, but the reality is different.
Anibal de Castro writes:
“The Dominican state has grown disproportionately. Hundreds of public entities form a system that, far from improving citizens’ lives, has become inefficient and costly.
“This bloated structure, with one agency for every 10,000 inhabitants by some estimates, is not only unsustainable but also the result of an old patronage system that prioritizes partisan interests over the real needs of the population. It’s an old story, a burden for society.
“Billions of pesos are spent annually on paperwork and ineffective regulations. The social cost of just a handful of institutions drains billions of pesos from the GDP. Meanwhile, essential services like health, education, and transportation remain deficient.
“This scheme benefits patronage networks more than ordinary citizens, who finance with their taxes a state that, despite the efforts of this administration, yields little.
“It is unsustainable to maintain a state apparatus that, in addition to duplicating functions, creates unnecessary obstacles and makes processes more expensive for citizens and businesses. The priority should be to reduce the size of the state, merge or eliminate redundant agencies, and correct inefficiencies. However, any attempt at fiscal reform will be insufficient if the country is not prioritized over partisan interests.
“The future of the Dominican Republic is at stake. To achieve efficiency and financial sustainability, it is necessary to break the vicious cycle of a state at the service of political patronage. It is time to act with courage and responsibility, putting the citizen at the center of decisions. Only then can a future of development and well-being for all be guaranteed, beyond the next election cycle.”
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Diario Libre
31 October 2024