NewsWhore
04-08-2008, 04:40 PM
Economy and Planning Minister Temistocles Montas has urged the Chamber of Deputies to re-examine the proposal for the creation of the National Institute for Development of Tourism (Indetur). Tourism Minister Felix Jimenez and former President Hipolito Mejia have actively campaigned for its approval as sent from the Presidency. Montas told Diario Libre that the bill would create a new body in conflict with attributions of the Ministry of Tourism itself and several other government ministries. He recommended that if the idea is to reform the institutions in the tourism sector, this should start with bringing the legal framework of the Ministry of Tourism up to date. "In that order, and in line with the general reform of the state, the strengthening of institutions, before creating parallel organizations with underhand duties, and which often have more weight than the lead institution," he explains in a letter sent to the Chamber of Deputies. He cautions that there would be a duplication of duties with the Ministry of Tourism and other central government bodies, such as municipalities, the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Ministry of Environment, in regards to territorial planning.
Furthermore, he warned that the body would not be subject to government control organizations, only to its own controls. "That is an open violation of the Law of the Controller of the Republic and the Chamber of Accounts, both organizations that are responsible for the controlling of government departments," said Montas.
Jose Tomas Perez, director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute, also opposed the Indetur as drafted. He complained that Indetur would take over the US$1 dollar per passenger departure and entry charge that the IDAC receives, money that Perez says is crucial to the development of the department's plans and projects.
The special commission of deputies that is studying the bill, and was expected to approve it this week, now announced it would take another 30 days to continue their discussions. Members of the commission are Victor Terrero, Luis Jose Gonzalez Sanchez, Agnes Berenice Contreras, Miguel Vasquez and Lethi Vasquez.
The bill has much support in Congress because Jimenez has campaigned for it, indicating that it will bring resources for development to areas where tourism has not yet caught on.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
Furthermore, he warned that the body would not be subject to government control organizations, only to its own controls. "That is an open violation of the Law of the Controller of the Republic and the Chamber of Accounts, both organizations that are responsible for the controlling of government departments," said Montas.
Jose Tomas Perez, director of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute, also opposed the Indetur as drafted. He complained that Indetur would take over the US$1 dollar per passenger departure and entry charge that the IDAC receives, money that Perez says is crucial to the development of the department's plans and projects.
The special commission of deputies that is studying the bill, and was expected to approve it this week, now announced it would take another 30 days to continue their discussions. Members of the commission are Victor Terrero, Luis Jose Gonzalez Sanchez, Agnes Berenice Contreras, Miguel Vasquez and Lethi Vasquez.
The bill has much support in Congress because Jimenez has campaigned for it, indicating that it will bring resources for development to areas where tourism has not yet caught on.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)