Controversy Over Education VP Hiring Brother As Personal Driver
The vice-minister, José Lino Rodríguez, of is in hot water again for patronage to his family members.

If you will recall that only last week, it was discovered that the vice-minister's wife, Montserrat Vindas, was promoted from an office clerk to a teacher and the corresponding salary in the lapse of only one day in our report "It pays to have connections in high places".

Well, it was made public yesterday that vice-minister is being driven around by his brother and paid for from the public purse. Orlanod Rodríguez is the. Brother José named Orlanldo to be his personal chauffeur, saying that he needs someone of trust as he ofter words late.

The news made the headlines because not only is Orlando the brother of the VP, but also because he is earning a lot of overtime pay, something that critics says smells of foul play and believe that violates the ethical standards set out by the current government for public officials.

"I have my brother assigned to be my personal driver, a person who has been with the MEP for more than 25 years and most of those years as a driver", said VP Rodríguez.

Joaquín Arguedas, director of the Servicio Civil , said that article 2 of the governments Ethics regulations asks that public functionaries to abstain from participating or subscribing to practices that are a direct benefit to family members.

Arguedas argues that the Ethics regulation is very broad and covers all sorts of situations, such as the case involving the Education VP.

However, the VP assures that that is not the case. "I don't see it, what I am doing is giving a trusted position to a person I have a lot of confidence in", said José Lino.