Francisco Domenech

The allegations made by former Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard have placed under scrutiny a company that has expanded across multiple government agencies in recent years.

The group behind the Planning and Permits Code proposed by the governor of Puerto Rico lacked the academic diversity and expertise necessary to reform the permitting framework, resulting in proposals without metrics or rigorous studies to support them.

With great fanfare, Francisco Domenech, Puerto Rico’s chief of staff, announced new rules governing lobbying before the island’s government. But a year later, both agencies and lobbyists are flouting the protocol.

Nearly three months after the initial request, four agencies have not provided the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo with communications, investigative files or the names of officials designated under a memorandum issued by the Office of the Chief of Staff.

Under the direction of Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech the agency that serves as Puerto Rico’s fiscal agent has also become the hub for much of Gov. Jenniffer González’s advertising and public relations operation.

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