A song by composer Darío Gómez dedicated to Consul General Eligio Jáquez would seem to capture the feeling of Dominicans abroad that reject recent expressions and actions of the new Abinader government official. The song has gone viral on social media.
Jáquez had proposed taxing remittances of Dominicans abroad. Hacienda Minister Jochi Vicente promptly rejected the recommendation. Despite the pandemic, Dominicans living abroad sent around US$5.85 billion in 2020, about US$557 more than in 2019.
Jáquez understands the Dominican government would make better use of the funds sent by Dominicans to their relatives. “For this effort, we are in favor of a 1% tax on remittances and the creation of a trust fund to be used for social welfare works such as technical and specialized schools, baseball stadiums, dams, parks, irrigation canals and other infrastructures that directly benefit the population,” Jaquez had argued. “Part of that fund can also be used for the development of tourism projects,” he said.
Jáquez also has recommended increasing congressional representation for Dominicans abroad. He advocates for an amendment of the Constitution to add three overseas senators to the 32 senators at present. He proposed the creating of three overseas senators, the same way there are already seven overseas deputies in Congress. Several spokespeople for Dominicans abroad say the deputies have done little for Dominican expats and the creating of the overseas senator seats would just be another waste of taxpayer money.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
1 February 2021