Many not included in the Social Policy Cabinet package benefiting 70 popular singers and orchestras were the first to protest. Now it is known that while a custom in government, the practice of direct hiring of orchestras violates the law. The new Abinader administration government has pledged to follow the law.
Already, the head of the Procurement Agency, Carlos Pimentel has stated that the Social Policy Cabinet acted in violation of the Procurement Law. He again reminded those in government that the law allows for direct contracting only up to RD$147,000 per contract. Peña Guaba’s announced deal at the Social Policy Cabinet benefits the selected artists with a package of advance payments for RD$100 million.
Over the weekend, calls for the resignation of Tony Peña Guaba were trending. Also over the weekend, Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán of the Institutionality and Justice Foundation (Finjus) observed the hiring violated Procurement Law 340-06. Castaños Guzmán expressed his concern for disregarding procurement regulations, as reported in Acento.
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20 December 2020