Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP) reported the suspension of 264 State supplier registrations for the same number of municipal officials, namely mayors and councilors who took office on April 24.
The Dominican Republic has 158 mayors; 1,164 councilors; 235 directors; 735 members; 158 vice mayors; 1,164 substitutes and 235 deputy directors.
According to article 14 of Law 340-06 on Public Procurement, municipal authorities, such as mayors, councilors, directors of district councils and members, cannot be bidders or contract with the State to supply goods, works and services to government institutions.
He also urged congressional officials who will be sworn in on August 16, and who appear as suppliers to the State directly or indirectly, to voluntarily suspend their registrations since otherwise the entity that directs it will do so, since they are already identified.
“If you are an elected senator or deputy, registered as a state supplier, request your suspension yourself, otherwise we will suspend you on Monday, August 19, because we have already identified you,” he said during his participation in the Corripio Communications Group’s Weekly Luncheon.
In general terms, Pimentel said that for the first time in the history of the institution, nearly 500 records of state suppliers have been suspended for deputies, senators, mayors, district directors, councilors and members throughout the country.
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“We have contributed to generating trust because for the first time in history, the General Directorate of Public Procurement has suspended, in the case of supplier registrations, almost 500 suppliers whose share composition is in the incompatibility regime,” he said.
He also pointed out that never before had 100 suppliers been disqualified for registering false documents in the bidding process, as they have been until now.
Pimentel pointed out that, by implementing the “Due Diligence Practice” program, reputational risks and conflicts of interest have been detected, thereby ensuring the integrity of the processes.
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He also highlighted the implementation of the compliance program in the contracting system, with which they have a presence in 17 institutions and two trusts.
He highlighted the level of coordination, exchange and collaboration between the judicial bodies responsible for prevention, control and investigation of corruption, with the DGCP.
Pimentel was accompanied by Carlos Romero, Director of Management of the National System of Public Procurement and Contracting, Katherine Gutiérrez, in charge of Standards and Procedures, and Jennifer Polanco, in charge of Verification of the National System of Public Procurement.
