Foreign Ministry shakeup starts with powerful finance chief

Santo Domingo.- Foreign minister Andrés Navarro has conducted a major shakeup in the Foreign Affairs Ministry just three months into the post, stripping the Finance Dept. from Sarah Güémez Naut, one of the most powerful officials of the tenure headed by the recently deceased Carlos Morales.

Outlet Acento.com.do reports that Deputy minister Güémez’s only responsibility is that of Coordinator of the Ministry’s Office of Advisors to since October 29.

"In this regard, Managing director Freddy Radhames Rodriguez, and CFO Nelson Ortega have been instructed to immediately coordinate all administrative and financial aspects of the institution, as appropriate," says Navarro’s memo.

More expected

The shakeup is expected to continue, as the administration headed by Danilo Medina seeks to tighten its grip on government agencies headed by political allies, especially the right-of-center PRSC party, whose president Federico Antun (Quique) faces embezzlement charges in the State-owned Housing Bank (BNV).