SANTO DOMINGO. - The economist Carlos Despradel on Friday said that instead of demanding austerity from society, to confront the international crisis, the Government must correct its own “hypertrophy.”

Despradel said the Government doesn’t demonstrate austerity to the population because, while it urges citizens to adopt measures spend less and lower fuel consumption, its officials ride in the same SUVs and frequent the country’s most expensive restaurants.

“I believe that it’s necessary to show that here the State is in austerity. Showing it first by changing the vehicles they use and those permanent lunches of the officials in expensive restaurants. “Without that, you cannot demand sacrifices from society,” he said.

The economist and former Central banker said at the time of crisis the fundamental instrument for a public policy is to lower spending. He said a way for the Government to lwer costs is eliminating some ministries and cabinet ministers without portfolio, which he said are nothing more than “sources of jobs for the political activism.”

He said entities such as the Price Stabilization Institute (INESPRE), among others, are only “inoperative agencies” which are a heavy burden for the Government. “We must eliminate those inoperative Government agencies, one of them is INESPRE and like it there are many others. Why don’t we take advantage now, when the president says that we’re in a time of crisis and which requires great decisions? Why don’t we say let’s reorganize the state apparatus?”