MINIMAL CHANGES TO DOMINICAN LEADERSHIP - SO FAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANTO DOMINGO 000898

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR WSMITH, GSCHADRACK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL DR
SUBJECT: MINIMAL CHANGES TO DOMINICAN LEADERSHIP - SO FAR

REF: A. SDO 817

B. SDO 570

C. SDO 865

Classified By: Charge R Bulllen for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) As is the tradition, the President of the
Dominican Republic announced changes in his cabinet and among
his advisors on August 16. There have so far been no
sweeping or radical changes, but the following are noteworthy:
-- Celso Marranzini replaces Radhames Segura as Executive
Vice-President of the Dominican Energy Corporation (CDEEE).
Segura had been heavily criticized in the press, and
elsewhere , for many of the country's electricity woes, as
well as corruption (reftel A). Marranzini, who is from the
private sector, has been one of the most vocal critics of
energy policy under Segura. However, Segura will become an
"advisor" to the President on energy issues.
-- Vice-admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez (brother of Senate
President and ruling PLD party Secretary General Reinaldo
Pared Perez) will be the next Director General of Migration,
in lieu of Major-general Jose Anibal Sanz Jimimian, who has
not yet been given a new assignment. Emboffs have worked
well with Pared Perez in the past.
-- Rafael Evans, who appears to be a U.S. legal permanent
resident (LPR),was named to become the Dominican Republic's
new Consul General (CG) in New York.
-- Frank Rodriguez replaces Hector Rodriguez Pimentel as
Director of the National Institute of Water Resources
(INDRHI),which institution has also be been heavily
criticized for mismanagement and corruption (reftel A).
Rodriguez goes to the Dominican Agricultural Institute (IAD).
-- Counter-narcotics "czar" Marino Vinicio ("Vincho")
Castillo will also become head of the National Commission for
Ethics and Anti-Corruption. In so doing, Vincho replaces
Jose Joaquin Bido Medina, who will become presidential
"advisor" for "transparency policy."
-- Aristides Fernandez Zucco is replacing Andres Vanderhorst
as Director of the Airport Authority (reftel B).
Vanderhorst will, however, be a secretary of state without
portfolio.
-- Enriquez Martinez takes over from Jose Francisco Pena
Guaba as head of the National Lottery, an institution that
has also had corruption issues. Meanwhile, Pena Guaba goes
to the Dominican Port Authority.
-- Juan Francisco Matos Cantano will substitute for Enrique
Martinez as chief of the State Sugar Company (CEA). While
sugar has historically been very important for the Dominican
economy, the CEA has not refined sugar in some 10 years and
controls land with "bateyes" in some of the poorest
conditions of the country (reftel C).


2. (SBU) Post has also learned that the head of Naval
Intelligence will also be replaced. Vice-admiral Ramon
Betances will take over that agency, replacing Vice-admiral
Edwin Dominici, who has yet to be assigned a new post.


3. (SBU) Comment: The immediate reaction of some Dominican
contacts (and website commentaries) has been lukewarm. Some
think that additional, and more important, changes will
follow. Observers note that while a few people with poor
reputations have been replaced (e.g. Vanderhorst),several of
these have retained some sort of position, such as becoming
yet another of President Fernandez's many advisors.


4. (C) Comment (cont'd.): So far, Post's concerns about the
selection of new heads of the armed forces or the national
police have not materialized. The importance of the
appointment of Marranzini may depend on whether will have the
authority to make
significant changes in the GODR's energy policy and
operations.


5. (SBU) Comment (cont'd.): The nomination of Evans (a member
of the ruling PLD party's Central Committee) to be CG in New
York does, however, underscore the problem the U.S. has had
with the assignment, by the GODR, of LPRs or Amcits to work
in consulates
in the United States. This is a matter we have previously
raised with the GODR and Post is aware that Washington is
moving forward with a diplomatic note for the DR Embassy on
such consular issues. Evans also has the downside of having
once served as a
non-accredited "vice consul," in apparent contravention of
U.S. laws and State Department rules.


6. (C) Comment (cont'd.): Finally, the appointment of Vincho
as head of the National Ethics Commission, while he retains
his anti-narcotics chief position, is intriguing: It
suggests the GODR is making an implicit the link between

SANTO DOMI 00000898 002 OF 002


corruption and
narco-trafficking. End Comment.
BULLEN