SANTO DOMINGO.- An Accounts Chamber audit of the Dominican Municipal League (LMD) found that the entity paid RD$70.4 million in "aid" for people in cash; RD$89.2 million for food rations without documentary support; RD$32.3 million for employees who don’t exert any function, and payrolls for departments that don’t physically exist, as verified in a survey of posts and a visit to the East region.
The "preliminary report’s” March, 2008 date is for the period between January 1 and December 31, 2006, but wasn’t made public.
According to the audit the LMD owed the Retirement Plan RD$234.8 million, of which RD$171.8 million corresponded to loans, with a concentration of the funds in the entity’s plan, jeopardizing its beneficiaries.
In that period the LMD paid RD$20.6 million in publicity.
Accounts Chamber auditors verified that the contracts were neither written nor validated by the legal consultancy, with contradictions between duration and renewal.
The LMD also bought a Colibrí Aviation helicopter model EC120 B, US registry N 279 EH, series 1279, via the company Servifenix, represented by Joaquin Ruiz, for US$995,000, with a US$295,000 down payment, with letters of credit generating interests of US$134, 547 (around five million pesos).
The remaining US$700,000 was to be paid over six years with US$414,000 paid with 36 consecutive monthly payments of US$11,500.
For the helicopter’s maintenance a petty cash box of RD$75,000 was created to cover the cost of fuel, which consumed RD$1.2 million during 2006, plus an undetermined amount for repairs and other expenses.
The audit also shows RD$7 million for the purchase of Christmas baskets via the account "Assistance," but handed out to different “personalities" nationwide and a RD$2 million payment through letter of credit for the company Small Wonder, also for purchase of Christmas baskets for mayors and members of City councils.
None of the baskets’ content are specified nor is there evidence they were delivered, although the vouchers annexed to the checks say they were given to Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, Monsignor Agripino Núñez, ex president Hipólito Mejía, Interior and Police minister Franklin Almeyda, among others.
Also registered is a RD$232,000 payment to the company Logroño Thompson for Christmas cards which don’t mention the LMD, and to cite its General Secretary Amable Aristy and his family.
Large sums
The LMD’s funds go a long way much, according to the audit.
That year the LMD transacted RD$117.5 million and the analysis verified that it made “donations” through checks and letters of credit directly issued by the State-owned Reservas bank under the name of the beneficiaries.
The report shows that the organization issued 747 checks for a total of RD$5.3 million, 424 of which are for beneficiaries whose ID cards don’t match the first endorsement, as verified in the Central Electoral Board’s data base.
Deviation of funds
As deviation of funds the Acount Chamber lists check number 14660 for RD$250,000 in the name of Ana Carolina Viñas, to support her participation in the international Coffee pageant and in Miss International.
Its Military and Security equipment account registers 55 firearms; 13 shotguns, four revolvers and 48 pistols, 95% of which are in the hands of local police auxiliaries, deputies, mayors and councilpersons. Also 16 vehicles located in the City Council of Higüey, whose mayor is Aristy’s daughter, Karina Aristy de Logroño.
Amable Aristy, despite being a member of the opposition PRSC party, obtained the LMD’s top post with the support of the ruling PLD party.
From: United States
Dominicans got what they voted for.
Pathologically corrup[t society where ripping off anyone including tourists is a way of life exempt from any legal and judicial reprocussions.
Written by: curlando, 4 Oct 2010 8:51 AM
From: United States, Bronx
What a suprise? Corruption in the Dominican Republic.
From: United States
Transparent, pathologically corrupt cockroaches.
LF another corruption you can be proud of and do NOTHING about.
Written by: generoso, 4 Oct 2010 9:00 AM
From: United States, Quisqueya
In a transparent society the Liga Municipal should be disbanded and Amable Aristy jailed for 200 years, sadly this will never happen in DR.
From: Dominican Republic, NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER FORSAKEN!
He had to buy some piglet.
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... (Look, beyond the words)
This as well will be swept under the rug and never to be seen or heard of again.
Written by: Atabey, 4 Oct 2010 10:04 AM
From: United States, NYC
Au contraire,
This must be given the full publicity it deserves because ONLY IF these episodes are made public and their functionaries made visibly exposed will we ever stand a slim chance of making Corruption a less accepted form of making a living in society at large. We can't say let's fix corrupt practices and then when instances of its use are exposed say, look nothing will happen. Expose and demand jail time and penalties. The public at large most DEMAND via massive demonstrations and other forms of Civic displays that they want change. Why aren't political organizations and other civic organizations taking these developments and demanding change? Even if they should have to do so every week! The student organizations?? LF and the others will only move with determination IF People will engage these changes massively. Amable Aristy and the rests need to be front and center of placards with Corruption the National Theme.
Written by: juanb, 4 Oct 2010 10:25 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Why I can't understand is why we waste the money to do these audits to find out what we already know, and then ignore the results. Is it any wonder why Castro doesn't want to assume his position as Senator? He couldn't afford the drop in income.
LF: Now that you snuck back into the country under the cover of night, how about getting your ass in gear and do something. Of course, take a week or two first to recover from your exhausting vacation first.
Written by: generoso, 4 Oct 2010 10:45 AM
From: United States, Quisqueya
juanb
Entirely correct, lest not waste the money on audits, if nothing will be done after the results are made public anyway.
Anyway the timing of the publication of the results of this audit, that dates to 2008, coincides with the campaign that LF and others are gearing up to get rid of Amable Aristy, so it does serve a political purpose as well.
He better run and try to get sworn in as a senator, if that is still possible, because the dogs of war have been let loose to bite his behind.
Written by: THINK, 4 Oct 2010 2:06 PM
From: United States, SDQ -- Mia --NY
We all know the problems of the corruptions in DR, but what is the remedy? where is it? Who has the couragment to fix it?
Written by: generoso, 4 Oct 2010 2:53 PM
From: United States, Quisqueya
THINK
Corruption in DR is endemic and in the genes. Only Trujillo decreed that he was the only thief that was authorized to steal in the DR.
After his assassination, some mice came out and started eating on the cheese, (Trujillo's assetts) now the mice has multiplied and has many offspring, some that feel that the state is a private inheritance for them, and some that are the sons and daughters of previous "greased" public servants, and elbow their place in the dinner tables as well.
Solutions? Autocratic government, but who will support it? if the system itself has also been compromised, and corruption is the way of the land in DR.
Written by: Atabey, 4 Oct 2010 3:31 PM
From: United States, NYC
We need a hungry cat set loose Generoso. But after fattening himself will he go away? Or decide to stick around and become an autocrat? Will he do as Cincinnatus?
"Cincinnatus was a Roman farmer, dictator, and consul from the legendary period of Roman history. He gained fame as a model of Roman virtue. He was a farmer above all, but when called to serve his country he did so well, efficiently, and without question, even though a prolonged stay away from his farm could mean starvation for his family. When he served his country, he made his stint as dictator as brief as possible. He was also admirable for his lack of ambition.
Cincinnatus was plowing his field, when he learned he had been appointed dictator. The Romans had appointed Cincinnatus dictator for six months so he could defend the Romans against the neighboring Aequi, who had surrounded the Roman army and the consul Minucius in the Alban Hills.
From: United States, Brooklyn
and this a-hole (amable) wants to be president... We'd be going back to Hipolito if we were!!
Written by: Atabey, 4 Oct 2010 4:32 PM
From: United States, NYC
Cincinnatus rose to the occasion, defeated the Aequi, made them pass under the yoke to show their subjugation, gave up the title of dictator sixteen days after it had been granted, and promptly returned to his farm.
Cincinnatus was appointed dictator for a later Roman crisis in the wake of a grain distribution scandal. According to Livy, Cincinnatus (Quinctius) was past 80 at the time:
"whilst those who knew nothing of the plot asked what disturbance or sudden outbreak of war called for the supreme authority of a dictator or required Quinctius, after reaching his eightieth year, to assume the government of the republic."
Who will be our Cincinnatus Generoso? BTW, he needs to have curly hair.
Written by: generoso, 4 Oct 2010 8:23 PM
From: United States, Quisqueya
Atabey
Curly hair? BTW at the rate the Haitians are coming in daily (3500 a day) BTW the Jesuits today announced that all it takes is RD$1,500 pesos to cross the DR-Haiti border, as a bribe to the military in charge. 15 Outposts at RD$100 pesos each, that is about $3 for every inspector. The Jesuits were probably complaining about the high cost.
Haiti keeps exporting their poor to the DR as public policy, promoting the DR as a haven for Haitians.
There are no jobs in DR for Haitians, and they have to become self employed or beg. It is estimated that there are 2 million Haitian illegals in DR at present, and about 3,500 cross the border illegally daily into DR. So do the math:
3.500 x 1500 pesos each= RD$5,250,000 pesos a day. For a "guardia" in a remote outpost that influx means divided by 15, RD$350,000 a day or a bit less than US10,000 dollars. The illegal migration at this rate will never end, unless radical measures are set in place.
Written by: Atabey, 4 Oct 2010 8:33 PM
From: United States, NYC
The Name Cincinnatus:
The name given to Lucius Quinctius was Cincinnatus -- because of his curly hair.
That's why I put it there. Look, I agree with you that the situation is tragic, and may yet unleash a torrent of desperation on the part of our population towards this chaotic and highly combustible issue.
From: United States, NYC
Let's fix the corruption and open borders with our brothers in Haiti.
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Pathologically corrup[t society where ripping off anyone including tourists is a way of life exempt from any legal and judicial reprocussions.
Transparent, pathologically corrupt cockroaches.
LF another corruption you can be proud of and do NOTHING about.
In a transparent society the Liga Municipal should be disbanded and Amable Aristy jailed for 200 years, sadly this will never happen in DR.
This must be given the full publicity it deserves because ONLY IF these episodes are made public and their functionaries made visibly exposed will we ever stand a slim chance of making Corruption a less accepted form of making a living in society at large. We can't say let's fix corrupt practices and then when instances of its use are exposed say, look nothing will happen. Expose and demand jail time and penalties. The public at large most DEMAND via massive demonstrations and other forms of Civic displays that they want change. Why aren't political organizations and other civic organizations taking these developments and demanding change? Even if they should have to do so every week! The student organizations?? LF and the others will only move with determination IF People will engage these changes massively. Amable Aristy and the rests need to be front and center of placards with Corruption the National Theme.
Why I can't understand is why we waste the money to do these audits to find out what we already know, and then ignore the results. Is it any wonder why Castro doesn't want to assume his position as Senator? He couldn't afford the drop in income.
LF: Now that you snuck back into the country under the cover of night, how about getting your ass in gear and do something. Of course, take a week or two first to recover from your exhausting vacation first.
Entirely correct, lest not waste the money on audits, if nothing will be done after the results are made public anyway.
Anyway the timing of the publication of the results of this audit, that dates to 2008, coincides with the campaign that LF and others are gearing up to get rid of Amable Aristy, so it does serve a political purpose as well.
He better run and try to get sworn in as a senator, if that is still possible, because the dogs of war have been let loose to bite his behind.
We all know the problems of the corruptions in DR, but what is the remedy? where is it? Who has the couragment to fix it?
Corruption in DR is endemic and in the genes. Only Trujillo decreed that he was the only thief that was authorized to steal in the DR.
After his assassination, some mice came out and started eating on the cheese, (Trujillo's assetts) now the mice has multiplied and has many offspring, some that feel that the state is a private inheritance for them, and some that are the sons and daughters of previous "greased" public servants, and elbow their place in the dinner tables as well.
Solutions? Autocratic government, but who will support it? if the system itself has also been compromised, and corruption is the way of the land in DR.
"Cincinnatus was a Roman farmer, dictator, and consul from the legendary period of Roman history. He gained fame as a model of Roman virtue. He was a farmer above all, but when called to serve his country he did so well, efficiently, and without question, even though a prolonged stay away from his farm could mean starvation for his family. When he served his country, he made his stint as dictator as brief as possible. He was also admirable for his lack of ambition.
Cincinnatus was plowing his field, when he learned he had been appointed dictator. The Romans had appointed Cincinnatus dictator for six months so he could defend the Romans against the neighboring Aequi, who had surrounded the Roman army and the consul Minucius in the Alban Hills.
and this a-hole (amable) wants to be president... We'd be going back to Hipolito if we were!!
Cincinnatus was appointed dictator for a later Roman crisis in the wake of a grain distribution scandal. According to Livy, Cincinnatus (Quinctius) was past 80 at the time:
"whilst those who knew nothing of the plot asked what disturbance or sudden outbreak of war called for the supreme authority of a dictator or required Quinctius, after reaching his eightieth year, to assume the government of the republic."
Who will be our Cincinnatus Generoso? BTW, he needs to have curly hair.
Curly hair? BTW at the rate the Haitians are coming in daily (3500 a day) BTW the Jesuits today announced that all it takes is RD$1,500 pesos to cross the DR-Haiti border, as a bribe to the military in charge. 15 Outposts at RD$100 pesos each, that is about $3 for every inspector. The Jesuits were probably complaining about the high cost.
Haiti keeps exporting their poor to the DR as public policy, promoting the DR as a haven for Haitians.
There are no jobs in DR for Haitians, and they have to become self employed or beg. It is estimated that there are 2 million Haitian illegals in DR at present, and about 3,500 cross the border illegally daily into DR. So do the math:
3.500 x 1500 pesos each= RD$5,250,000 pesos a day. For a "guardia" in a remote outpost that influx means divided by 15, RD$350,000 a day or a bit less than US10,000 dollars. The illegal migration at this rate will never end, unless radical measures are set in place.
The name given to Lucius Quinctius was Cincinnatus -- because of his curly hair.
That's why I put it there. Look, I agree with you that the situation is tragic, and may yet unleash a torrent of desperation on the part of our population towards this chaotic and highly combustible issue.