Government-by-Government Assessments: Dominican Republic
During the review period, the government published an executive budget proposal, enacted budget, and end-of-year report online within a reasonable period. Budget and information on debt obligations were widely and easily accessible to the public, including online. The enacted budget was substantially complete and considered generally reliable. The end-of-year report, however, was incomplete. The budget did not include allocations to and earnings from major state-owned enterprises. The supreme audit institution did not meet international standards of independence. While it published an audit that covered the entire annual executed budget, the audit report did not contain substantive findings or recommendations. The government specified in law or regulation and appeared to follow in practice the criteria and procedures for awarding natural resource extraction contracts and licenses. Basic information on natural resource extraction awards was public.
The Dominican Republic’s fiscal transparency would be improved by:
* Publishing a comprehensive end-of-year report;
* Publishing budget allocations to, earnings from, and debt of major state-owned enterprises;
* Ensuring the supreme audit institution meets international standards of independence; and
* Ensuring audit reports contain substantive findings.
Tags
Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Division for International Finance and Development Dominican Republic
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs