NewsWhore
09-17-2009, 06:00 PM
True to his words, Deputy Alfonso Crisostomo (PLD-Puerto Plata) has submitted a bill to Congress aimed at reducing citizens' freedom of access to public information. Crisostomo had said he planned to do this after journalist Alicia Ortega revealed that his father and brother were on a Senate payroll under his control. The new bill includes 17 new points, including one stating that the person requesting government department information must sign a sworn statement giving the reason for requesting the information.
The new bill is not expected to move in Congress. The spokesperson for the PLD block, Alejandro Montas, rejected the bill, explaining that government employees who handle pubic funds need to be transparent.
But the initiative is the just one of several that have been moving through Congress, following the journalistic reports of corruption in office. El Dia reports that others include a bill presented by La Romana senator Amarilis Santana aimed at obliging the media to grant space for promotions by government institutions.
Also, the Verification Commission for the Constitution has inserted the concept of "truthful information" where the Constitution refers to freedom of expression. There has been opposition to this from press sectors on the grounds that government officials could manipulate the clause at the expense of public liberties. The president of the verification committee, Frank Martinez of the PRSC said that the "truthful information" term was not approved in the first reading. He agreed it could be used to manipulate.
The new initiatives come at a time when Ortega, together with TV journalist Nuria Piera and online journalists have revealed scandals about the use and abuse of funds and vehicle exoneration facility granted to legislators as a perk.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)
The new bill is not expected to move in Congress. The spokesperson for the PLD block, Alejandro Montas, rejected the bill, explaining that government employees who handle pubic funds need to be transparent.
But the initiative is the just one of several that have been moving through Congress, following the journalistic reports of corruption in office. El Dia reports that others include a bill presented by La Romana senator Amarilis Santana aimed at obliging the media to grant space for promotions by government institutions.
Also, the Verification Commission for the Constitution has inserted the concept of "truthful information" where the Constitution refers to freedom of expression. There has been opposition to this from press sectors on the grounds that government officials could manipulate the clause at the expense of public liberties. The president of the verification committee, Frank Martinez of the PRSC said that the "truthful information" term was not approved in the first reading. He agreed it could be used to manipulate.
The new initiatives come at a time when Ortega, together with TV journalist Nuria Piera and online journalists have revealed scandals about the use and abuse of funds and vehicle exoneration facility granted to legislators as a perk.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#5)