The president of the Association of Industries of Herrera and the Province of Santo Domingo (AEIH), Antonio Taveras Guzman, criticized the new appointment of three members of the National Commission for the defense of Competitiveness (ProCompetencia) in violation of transparency and due process. He said that Law 42-08 establishes that the President is required to submit a shortlist of candidates to form the council. He said it is unknown whether the Presidency complied with this legal provision.
He said that the names of Ivan Gaton, Juan Reyes and Victor Mateo Vasquez were approved by the Senate without making public if other candidates were proposed for the positions. He criticized that the three successful candidates are well known political activists of the ruling PLD party.
He remarked that another violation involved omitting representation of small business sector from the National Competitiveness Council (CNC). The CNC membership was recently expanded by the President to include more representatives of big business in the Dominican Republic.
18 December 2017
