In his inaugural speech on 16 August, President Leonel Fernandez promised to begin a period of austerity that would reduce political patronage in government jobs. “We must eliminate the deputy minister positions in government that have not been written into the laws of each ministry,” he avowed.
Listin Diario political commentator Orlando Gil writes today that this pledge, however, has not been put into practice. He observes that the jobs are being filled regardless, not because they are needed by the administration, but to satisfy the appetites of fellow party members who want a taste of power. Gil also comments that the posts are not being appointed on the requests of the ministers, but rather are being imposed on the ministers, who are then forced to work with personnel they would not have otherwise hired. He states that this is only a small part of the problem, with the major downside being that it burdens the upper levels of government and reduces their efficiency. “As the days go by, the number of deputy ministers has shot up like wildfire. He said the ministers do not know where to place the new underlings that have fallen from the sky given that their job descriptions require an office, assistants are other things that come with the post.” He laments that while no one protests the decision a situation is being created where the work of others is being hindered.
Gil writes that international organizations that are crucial for economic cooperation are taking note of the situation. They feel the government needs to downsize, by spending less on employees and more on vital areas of development. Therefore, when they heard the President’s words the first day of his government, they thought their assistance would be more effective. They are now finding, however, that these were empty words. Gil says the international organizations are not willing to finance superfluous spending for the government again. The scandal-ridden Mejia administration was sufficient proof that foreign aid should be subject to rigorous auditing, he writes.
“And they do not lack any reason for dispensing with ‘more of the same,’ a doctrine that is now achieving citizenship status in the country, because government after government applies it shamelessly.” Gil writes that the national authorities, now more than ever, have to be aware that the country needs aid, and that this aid requires certain codes of conduct demanded both by multilateral organizations and European governments. “If these funds are to play a role partisan politics, with an insatiable political militance, or to wreak economic folly, [these bodies] would rather freeze their assistance and wait for better opportunities,” he explains. To contact the author, write to orlandogil@verizon.net.do