DistantNews
Support us
Agribusiness head avoids questions on Agriculture Ministry audits
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic /Culture & Society

Agribusiness head avoids questions on Agriculture Ministry audits

From Diario Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • JAD President Osmar Benítez declined to comment on audits at the Ministry of Agriculture, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
  • The audits revealed 56 irregularities, including unsupported payments, overdue debts, and issues with financial reporting and asset management.
  • Benítez praised the current Agriculture Minister, Francisco Oliverio Espaillat, while emphasizing the JAD's focus on positive news.

Osmar Benítez, president of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), sidestepped questions regarding the results of two audits conducted by the General Controller's Office at the Ministry of Agriculture. Benítez, who previously served as Minister of Agriculture from 2018 to 2020, stated that he does not offer opinions on such delicate matters as audits.

We do not opine on such delicate matters as audits. We have no opinion on that.

— Osmar BenítezOsmar Benítez, president of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), stated his refusal to comment on the audits conducted at the Ministry of Agriculture.

The audits, covering September 2020 to December 2024, uncovered 56 instances of non-compliance with national control and auditing laws. Findings included payments and contracts lacking supporting documentation, outstanding debts to suppliers, and international financing without proper substantiation. Additionally, the audits noted issues with vehicle financing for employees, unelaborated financial statements for several years, and unregistered properties and vehicles.

Further inconsistencies highlighted were the lack of internal controls for revolving funds and petty cash, absence of bank reconciliations, discrepancies between book and reconciled balances, and outdated inventory records. The reports also pointed to incomplete employee files, public servants listed on multiple state payrolls, fuel allocations exceeding limits, and a mismatch between annual purchasing plans and operational plans.

The Minister of Agriculture we have is a good person, a healthy guy, a technician who is full of the best intentions to come out well from there.

— Osmar BenítezOsmar Benítez commented on the current Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Oliverio Espaillat.

Despite his refusal to comment on the audits, Benítez spoke positively about the current Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Oliverio Espaillat, describing him as a good, honest technician with the best intentions. Benítez reiterated that the JAD focuses exclusively on sharing positive news, a stance he took while being approached by the press at the DominiCoCo Summit, an event aimed at boosting coconut production and industry development.

from the Dominican Agribusiness Board nothing else do we give good news.

— Osmar BenítezOsmar Benítez emphasized the JAD's focus on positive news.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Diario Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog