The trip for two members of the JCE cost US$832 for each hour of training

The media coverage centers on a financial and operational dispute between the newspaper Diario Libre and the Central Electoral Board (JCE) of the Dominican Republic regarding overseas travel expenses. The controversy was sparked by an official trip made by JCE board members Hirayda Fernández and Samir Chami Isa to attend the Cybersecurity Summer BootCamp in León, Spain. According to the reports, the participation of the two officials resulted in an expenditure of $33,294.27 exclusively for travel allowances and tickets, which calculates to approximately $832 for each hour of training received.

In response to the publication of these figures and subsequent commentary, the JCE issued an extensive communication defending its international missions. The electoral body formally rejected the criticisms raised by the newspaper concerning the costs and duration of the trips, while providing what the media described as reasonable explanations regarding the institutional importance and necessity of fulfilling international responsibilities.