President Danilo Medina has moved Guarocuya Felix from his post as director of the Tax Agency (DGII) to serve as the new general manager of Bandex, the newly created export bank. Felix entered into controversy with the Administrative Minister of the Presidency Jose Ramon Peralta over the level of tax evasion in the country. Peralta has made it clear that the government needs more money, which he says will have to come from a tax reform. The government has the majority it needs in order to pass a tax reform in Congress. Economist Magin Diaz, who has served as a deputy Hacienda Minister in charge of public credit since 2012 has been appointed to replace Felix.
Other new appointments include Sylvia Baez Andujar, who will be deputy director for tax collections at the DGII, replacing Manuel Matos. Rita Mena Peguero will now direct the department of planning and development, replacing Esther Hernandez.
At Bandex, Felix will replace Maria Teresa Nanita Espaillat, regarded as the last remnant of the PRSC in government. While the PRSC was a strong ally of the PLD throughout its first three terms, in 2016 general election, the party went on its own.
At the same time, Medina appointed former deputy Minister Nelson Rodriguez to head the Servicio Nacional de Salud, the government entity that will be pushing ahead the public health system reform to prioritize primary health care centers nationwide. He replaces Ramon Alvarado Mendoza who was appointed deputy minister of Public Health. Alvarado promptly announced that doctors would be seeing patients at public hospitals until 7pm in order to decongest hospital emergency rooms. There will soon be two shifts n from 8am to 1pm and from 2 to 7pm.
In other nominations, Cesar Mella, a PRD party ally, was designated as the new director of the Dominican Social Security Institute, a government department that should have been closed down 10 years ago.
Medina appointed also Radhames del Carmen Marinez as new manager of the EdeSur power distributor.
The appointments were made on Friday, 24 June 2016 via Decree 172-16.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/politica/medina-deja-mensaje-de-que-funcionarios-deben-bailar-la-misma-danza-MY4133187
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2016/06/26/424569/rodriguez-enfrentara-rebotes-de-pacientes
