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SANTO DOMINGO.- Foreign Minister Carlos Morales yesterday said he supports cuts in spending even if it jeopardizes diplomatic and consular posts, but noted that 92% of foreign service workers belong to the ruling PLD party and the rest are to the PRSC, which he presides.
"There are 350 vice consuls. I don’t think we (the PRSC) reach 24 vice-consuls. There are 45 Consuls and I don’t think we have four consuls."
He said he PRSC has been an ally of the PLD in recent elections for which it has had a strong representation in the Foreign Ministry, both during the government of ex President Leonel Fernandez and now with Danilo Medina.
"We have always believed and we have supported everything that has to do with the rationalization of spending and sometimes certain information has been manipulated suggesting that most of the Foreign Service positions are being filled by PRSC members."
He said as the result of the Economic Partnership Agreement around 50,000 jobs have been created since 2008. "So when there’s an Economic Partnership Agreement, which is related to trade negotiations, we obviously have to increase staff, but in a rational manner," Morales said, but didn’t specify how many posts would be eliminated.
According to press reports, the end of last year's payroll totaled 1.163 foreign service officers, representing an expenditure of more than RD $ 4 billion a year.
According to diariolibre.com, the Foreign Ministry website’s "Foreign Service Personnel List," an Ambassador’s salary is US$3,000 per month and a chargee de affaire, US$ 2,000.
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Among "BICHO," Lie-onel and this neo-Trujillista who is the biggest LIAR!
Would an ambassador get living expenses, in addition to stipulated salary of only US$3,000.00? Certainly, here in the US, that would be an inadequate income to live on, considering the high cost of renting a home or apartment, not to mention food and clothing. Heck, I'd suspect that such icnome would put him/her at the poverty line.
Please remember that ambassadors represent both government and country overseas, and that they promote both culture and business and, as such, would need to dress and live in a manner that is commensurate with those responsibilities. Certainly, they would not be able to afford those needs on stated income.
In my opinion, a salary of US$75k-US$100k would be barely appropriate, given the standard of living they must maintain.
MJEV.
All these posts are not needed only adds to more botellas. As to the pay mentioned of US$3,000
and US$2,000 you must have meant weekly,since it just makes it in USA for reasons mentioned
above by glomarexplorer. Yearly salaries of US$156k,US$102k is no money for these people
abroad, having the cost of living so high.You most have meant for the staff workers at the consular
level.Am sure the embassadors make over US$5000,000 plus all the stipends cover as diplomat
So who are we kidding?Regardless what party they belong to.You are inchargedof 50,000botellas
in salaries?To my understanding no negotiation are done unless the DR congress gets their
hands greased in order to approved anything which takes place in DR, Not by your inneficient
cosulates and vice consuls which when needed are no where to be found .Leave the embassys
at each acredited country as they are and start slashing 90% of these positions created in 2008.
Not only are these people parasites in a foreign country,but elude paying for a parking tickets by
flashing out their diplomatic immunity badge and pissing off the law in those respective countries
aside not paying taxes for services they get. If these are good example of Dominicans,then you
can keep them where they think they are above the law.Keep them all at home and make them all
Generals.
Rule one of working for an embassy... NEVER pay for anything out of your own pocket..
The number of 3,000 has to be per week.. I could not imagine in any wild dream these people are doing it for less than 3 g a week.. especially being members of the PLD...
One embassy per region. 1 For North America, 1 for South American, 1 for Europe.. Asia...
"Colombia has 3 in RD - we have 30 there. Hellooooooo; a bitr top heavy by 1,000."
Nothing more needs to be said...!
Australian has 22 and is the 12 on the Economy list...
Canada has 22 and is 11 on the Economy list.
Need I say more? money wasted on people not needed in places no one goes.....
Like I said other than the US and Spain the rest are very difficult to justify, especially with our children in a 16th century school "system"!
Am In full agreement with you