Dominican Republic leader names technocrats to key posts

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s quest for ethics in government and institutionalism was stalled Wednesday when president Danilo Medina appointed two technocrats to head key posts in an Administration seen as lacking the political will to confront corruption.

Businessman and former leftist leader Antonio Isa Conde will head the Ministry of Energy and Mines, while minister without portfolio and veteran politico Jose Joaquin Bido Medina will head the of Government Ethics Commission, replacing Marino Vinicio Castillo, head of the FNP party. It’s the second time Bido heads that post.

Castillo, whose stance against Medina’s reelection bid led to the resignations of members of his party from several government posts, was known for his tough stance against drug trafficking.

Presidency spokesman Roberto Rodriguez Marchena announced the changes in a press conference, and include FNP leader Jose Ricardo Taveras, replaced by Army Gen. Ruben Paulino Sem as head of the Immigration Agency, among other designations.

Castillo’s son Pelegrin Castillo, who resigned as Energy and Mines Minister, was credited with important initiatives during his eight years in the Chamber of Deputies and with contributing to the creation of that agency.