IDB to Help Dom Rep Gov. Clean Up Its Act

• The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will help the Dominican Republic to strengthen and consolidate its integrity mechanisms in the public procurement system, strengthen internal control, promote open government and public ethics, and support the implementation of public procurement policies, and transparency of public spending. 
• This assistance is well needed as the country has and continues to struggle with political risks, especially corruption. While Abinader and its allies hold majority in both houses of Congress, additional allegations tied to Adinader and top government officials may weaken his ability to pass reforms to combat corruption as was promised in his campaign. In Transparency International’s 2020 Corruption Perception Index, the Dominican Republic received a score of 28, tied for 137^th among 180 markets ranked. For reference, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago rank 69^th and 86^th
• During the Regional Policy Dialogue on Transparency and Integrity, in which President Luis Abinader participated, the general manager of IDB Invest, James Scriven, said that support shows a commitment to transparency and integrity in Latin America and the Caribbean, as this is a key element to promote sustainable and inclusive economic recovery in the post-pandemic within the Vision 2025 strategy. 
• According to Scriven, by supporting countries in advancing their transparency and integrity agendas, the IDB promotes better use of public resources and is giving a strong signal that the rule of law and its institutions are being strengthened in the region. These are important pillars for the attraction of private investments that will be vital pillars to sustain the continuous development of our region.

(Source: Dominican Today & NCBCM Research)