President Leonel Fernández announced changes in his cabinet yesterday. The most important of the changes are the following: Minister of Interior and Police Norge Botello was replaced by Ramón Andrés Blanco Fernández. Botello was appointed executive director of the Dominican Port Authority. He replaces the President’s father, Antonio Fernández Collado. The position of Minister of Agriculture was left vacant. The former minister was Frank Rodríguez who was appointed director of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI). Carlos Amarante Baret is the new general administrator of Bienes Nacionales (the government real estate department), replacing Henry Garrido, who was sent to the Oficina de Desarrollo de la Comunidad, a community development department. Juan Antonio Ceballos is the new administrator of the Instituto Dominicano de Seguros Sociales (IDSS), replacing Pablo Yermenos Forastieri who will be the new Dominican consul in Madrid. Euclides Sánchez was sent to the Santo Domingo Water Corporation (CAASD) replacing Manuel de Jesús Pérez who will now direct the National Aqueduct Institute (INAPA). Faustino Jiménez was sent to the Sugar Institute (INAZUCAR), replacing Jimmy García Saviñón. Manuel Paula was named president-administrator of the Cooperative Institute (IDECOOP), replacing David Contreras Duarte. Eliseo Rondón Sánchez was appointed medical counsel to the Executive Branch. Major General Hugo Rafael González Borrel is the new chief of the Air Force. General Brigade José Eliseo is the new Chief of the Army, replacing Major General Andres Apolinar Disla who was appointed Deputy Minister of the Armed Forces. The President also retired former chiefs of the Police, Rafael Guerrero Peralta and Camilo Antonio Nazir Tejada. Dr. Mariano German Mejía is the new attorney general of the nation replacing Dr. Abel Rodríguez del Orbe who was appointed special assistant of the President of the Republic with the rank of honorary minister.
