Appointment to Sustainable DR Oversight Commission questioned due to potential conflict of interest
The recent appointment of Alliet Ortega Rabassa as coordinator of the Citizen Oversight Commission of the Public-Private Trust for the Integrated Management of Solid Waste (DO Sostenible) has sparked intense debate across various sectors of civil society. The central concern lies in an apparent conflict of interest that could affect the impartiality and independence necessary for the oversight duties of this body.
The Oversight Commission was established through Decree 498-26, with the primary objective of acting as an advisory body that guarantees transparency and accountability. The current legal framework, specifically in its article 5, requires each member to sign an ethical commitment that endorses their total autonomy and the absence of ties that compromise their judgment.
Institutional links under the microscope
The friction point arises because Ortega Rabassa currently serves as Vice Rector of Administration and Finance at the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC). This academic institution maintains an active Framework Collaboration Agreement with the DO Sostenible trust, which includes joint projects such as the Dominican Solid Waste Observatory.
Legitimacy and public trust in oversight processes depend directly on transparency. It is essential that the competent authorities clarify these links before the supervisory body begins its formal operations.
Legal experts and social activists.Questions about the selection process
- Was the alliance between INTEC and DO Sostenible formally declared upon signing the ethical commitment?
- What is the current legal status of the collaboration agreement between both entities?
- Which official body was responsible for evaluating the independence of the members selected for this commission?
Given that the role of the commissioners is limited to observation, monitoring, and the formulation of recommendations, various social sectors emphasize that any shadow of doubt regarding the independence of its members must be dispelled. The demand for clarity seeks to protect the integrity of the oversight system and ensure that the trust meets the standards of probity expected by the citizenry.
