NewsWhore
08-18-2009, 05:12 PM
The business sector has thrown its support behind Celso Marranzini, the former president of the National Council of Business, who was named head of the State-Owned Electric Companies (CDEEE) on Sunday, 16 August. Marranzini replaced Radhames Segura who has been criticized for his markedly inefficient work at the helm of the CDEEE. Segura was also part of a corruption and nepotism scandal aired by TV journalist Nuria Piera. Listin Diario recalls that Segura multiplied by four since 2005 the then already bloated payroll at the CDEEE that today has 8,500 employees.
Marranzini had been president of the Board of Directors of the CDEEE in the second half of the 90s, during the first term of President Fernandez.
Leading business organizations, from the National Council of Business (Conep), the Association of Industries of the DR (AIRD), the Dominican Association of Electricity Industries (ADIE), and the National Organization of Shopping Malls (ONEC) issued press releases in support.
The Dominican Alliance Against Corruption also supported the appointment announced by President Fernandez.
Lisandro Macarrulla, president of Conep, said that there are now expectations a definite solution to the electricity problems can be found. He said the country can no longer postpone developing an efficient and competitive electricity system.
Manuel Diez Cabral, president of AIRD, stressed this is an opportunity to remove politics from the solution of the electricity crisis.
Economy and Planning Minister Temistocles Montas said the government would support Marranzini in his efforts. As reported in the Listin Diario, Montas said that the government last year disbursed US$1.3 billion in electricity subsidies, funds that should have gone to education and health services. He said so far this year, subsidies are at US$700 million, which he says is "irrational". Montas said the message Fernandez sends with the appointment is that the government is committed to a solution of the energy problem. "I definitely think the appointment of Marranzini is going to restore credibility to the energy sector."
PRD deputy Cristian Paredes nevertheless criticized the appointment on grounds Marranzini has always spoken of privatizing the CDEEE.
President Leonel Fernandez had appointed Segura his advisor on energy matters to the President, but Segura declined the position. As reported in El Dia, Segura in a letter to the President said that his efforts would be directed to cleaning up his name. Segura complained in the letter that the way he was removed leads to a perception it was for corruption in office.
El Dia reports that a great majority of high-ranking technical and administrative officers at the CDEEE have chosen to resign, while others await receiving their severance payments.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
Marranzini had been president of the Board of Directors of the CDEEE in the second half of the 90s, during the first term of President Fernandez.
Leading business organizations, from the National Council of Business (Conep), the Association of Industries of the DR (AIRD), the Dominican Association of Electricity Industries (ADIE), and the National Organization of Shopping Malls (ONEC) issued press releases in support.
The Dominican Alliance Against Corruption also supported the appointment announced by President Fernandez.
Lisandro Macarrulla, president of Conep, said that there are now expectations a definite solution to the electricity problems can be found. He said the country can no longer postpone developing an efficient and competitive electricity system.
Manuel Diez Cabral, president of AIRD, stressed this is an opportunity to remove politics from the solution of the electricity crisis.
Economy and Planning Minister Temistocles Montas said the government would support Marranzini in his efforts. As reported in the Listin Diario, Montas said that the government last year disbursed US$1.3 billion in electricity subsidies, funds that should have gone to education and health services. He said so far this year, subsidies are at US$700 million, which he says is "irrational". Montas said the message Fernandez sends with the appointment is that the government is committed to a solution of the energy problem. "I definitely think the appointment of Marranzini is going to restore credibility to the energy sector."
PRD deputy Cristian Paredes nevertheless criticized the appointment on grounds Marranzini has always spoken of privatizing the CDEEE.
President Leonel Fernandez had appointed Segura his advisor on energy matters to the President, but Segura declined the position. As reported in El Dia, Segura in a letter to the President said that his efforts would be directed to cleaning up his name. Segura complained in the letter that the way he was removed leads to a perception it was for corruption in office.
El Dia reports that a great majority of high-ranking technical and administrative officers at the CDEEE have chosen to resign, while others await receiving their severance payments.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)