Santo Domingo. The president’s appointments Luis Abinader have included new faces within the government trainas well as changes in functions of figures who until today held positions since the first administration started in August 2020.
Among the new appointments is Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosmewho was appointed Minister of Agriculture through the Decree number 2-26.
Espaillat Bencosme is agricultural engineergraduated cum laude of the Pontifical Catholic Mother and Teacher University (PUCMM)and has more than 30 years of experience in the national rice sector. His career has been linked to processes of agricultural modernization and, in 2021, it was recognized by the Dominican Agribusiness Board as Agribusinessman of the Year.
Espaillat Bencosme replaces Limber Cruzwho was in the position since the first government administration, which began on August 16, 2020.
Through the same decree he was appointed Pedro Porfirio Urrutia Sangiovanni as general director of the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII)replacing Luis Valdez Veras.
Urrutia Sangiovanni is certified public accountantwith master’s degree in Tax Law and Tax Consultingin addition to being founding partner of the firm Moore ULA. He has actively participated in the development and review of legal frameworks linked to the system tax and corporate of the country.
Earlier, President Abinader Jorge Subero Isa was sworn in as Legal Consultant of the Executive Branchduring an event held at the Ambassadors Hall of the National Palacereplacing Antoliano Peralta Romerowho will serve as attorney general.
Change of positions
In addition to Peralta Romero, among the position changes is Gloria Reyes Gomezwho was appointed Minister of Women. Reyes Gomez is lawyerwith training in International Law and Microfinanceand it was deputy for constituency number 5 of the National District during the period 2016-2020.
Before assuming this new role, he served as general director of the Supérate programfrom where he led the execution of social assistance and development policies.
In the social area, the decree establishes the designation of Mayra Jimenez as director of the Directorate of Social Development Supérate.
Jimenez was Minister of Women since 2020 and has extensive experience in regional and international forums related to equality policies and women’s rights.
Likewise, Geanilda Vasquez will assume as coordinator of the Social Policies Cabinet. Vasquez is doctor of lawwith master’s degree in Public Managementand has held various positions in the public administrationincluding functions diplomatic and institutional management.
President Abinader reported that with these new appointments the Government begins a new stageoriented to deepen the transformationswith the aim of continuing improving the quality of life of Dominicans.
Through a message broadcast on his official WhatsApp channelthe president explained that these decisions seek leave a legacy of institutional transformation and a better future for the country.
“We are beginning a new stage of our government, with which we aspire to leave behind a transformation that brings with it a better future and a better quality of life for all Dominicans,” said Abinader.
For now, Limber Cruz, Luis Valdez and Tony Peña Guaba remain without functions.
Other changes
— Key positions
In the afternoon the president announced Decree 3-26, in which he appointed Eduardo Sanz Lovatón as Minister of Industry and Commerce, Víctor Bisonó in the Ministry of Housing and Nelson Arroyo in Customs.
