The Ministry of Public Works under Victor Diaz Rua spent RD$18.4 million on publishing the memoirs of the 2004-2012 years of the Leonel Fernandez administration. Reportedly, the government ordered a print-run of 3,000 copies with Serigraf S.A. The contract included 24 helicopter flight hours to take photographs of 40 public works. The mainly visual report does not include details of the costs.
La Lupa newsmagazine quotes comments by Francisco Alvarez of Participacion Ciudadana, political scientist Rafael Toribio and sociologist Jose Antinoe who concur that this is an example of wasteful spending and lack of respect for the Dominican people.
The book was published at a time when the public deficit was estimated at RD$100 billion, a total considered alarming. The actual amount is now estimated at RD$187 billion. In one of his first austerity measures announcements, President Danilo Medina banned the publishing of deluxe publications.
www.lalupa.com.do/2012/11/obras-publicas-gasto-mas-de-rd18-4-millones-en-su-lujosa-memoria/#more