NewsWhore
09-01-2009, 05:30 PM
A news report by TV investigative reporter Alicia Ortega on "El Informe" of Channel 7, revealed that the legislators' special fund, "el barrilito," is used by senators to employ many of their family members, including their children, spouses, parents and even in-laws. Hoy reports that the funds used by the senators total RD$17 million per month. This special fund also pays monthly wages to people who are deceased. The fund has increased by RD$3.6 million since 2006.
Many of these persons are labeled in the payroll as assistants, security, chauffeurs, secretaries, despite not carrying outs these duties.
According to Hoy, the investigation came when following a lead of a domestic employee at the house of a senator, who unknowingly was being issued RD$20,000 in monthly salaries since 2008.
One of the concerns with the "barrilito" is that in 2007 the Senate ordered that only an average of RD$431,500 be used per month by the senators, but as of 2009, 53% of the "barrilitos" had payrolls between RD$506,000 and RD$537,000 and 25% of the "barrilitos" have payrolls between RD$550,000 and RD$587,000.
The provinces of Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Elias Pina and Azua have the largest payrolls in relation to the "barrilito," with payrolls of RD$684,000, RD$700,000 and RD$717,000, respectively.
Only three senators, Wilton Guerrero (Peravia), Reinaldo Pared Perez (National District) and Andres Bautista (Espaillat) kept the expenditures below the set amount.
The senator with the highest rate of nepotism is Azua senator Cesar Agusto Diaz who has six family members working with him. San Pedro de Macoris senator Alejandro Williams' has his wife and four brothers on the payroll, while Felix Nova from Monsenor Nouel has his father and various cousins on the payroll.
Investigative reports into corruption in government presented by Nuria Piera and Alicia Ortega have revealed the increasing practice of nepotism in government payrolls.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
Many of these persons are labeled in the payroll as assistants, security, chauffeurs, secretaries, despite not carrying outs these duties.
According to Hoy, the investigation came when following a lead of a domestic employee at the house of a senator, who unknowingly was being issued RD$20,000 in monthly salaries since 2008.
One of the concerns with the "barrilito" is that in 2007 the Senate ordered that only an average of RD$431,500 be used per month by the senators, but as of 2009, 53% of the "barrilitos" had payrolls between RD$506,000 and RD$537,000 and 25% of the "barrilitos" have payrolls between RD$550,000 and RD$587,000.
The provinces of Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Elias Pina and Azua have the largest payrolls in relation to the "barrilito," with payrolls of RD$684,000, RD$700,000 and RD$717,000, respectively.
Only three senators, Wilton Guerrero (Peravia), Reinaldo Pared Perez (National District) and Andres Bautista (Espaillat) kept the expenditures below the set amount.
The senator with the highest rate of nepotism is Azua senator Cesar Agusto Diaz who has six family members working with him. San Pedro de Macoris senator Alejandro Williams' has his wife and four brothers on the payroll, while Felix Nova from Monsenor Nouel has his father and various cousins on the payroll.
Investigative reports into corruption in government presented by Nuria Piera and Alicia Ortega have revealed the increasing practice of nepotism in government payrolls.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)