Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Governor's across the country immediately responded after President Alan Garcia harshly criticized regional presidencies for not fulfilling their duties and not investing funds that had been given to them by Peru's central government.

Garcia affirmed that two thirds of this year's fiscal budget had been transferred to regional governments across Peru but that the money was not being invested.

"They have received the money but don't spend it on projects. Citizens should look for their authorities, if it's necessary in their homes and demand that they do their jobs," said Garcia on Tuesday in a speech given in the region of Puno.

Yehude Simon, a coordinator for the National Governors Assembly stated that Garcia's remarks were only going to contribute to more conflict.

He affirmed that these issues should be taken up with individual governors and in private.

Hugo Ordóñez, the Governor of Tacna affirmed that President Garcia did not have the moral authority to make these claims, stating regional presidencies had invested their funds better than the central government.

The governor of Cusco, Hugo Gonzáles assured that more investments had not been made because of bureaucratic barriers that had been set by the country's central government.

Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo explained that Garcia's remarks had not been directed at all governors, but those who were spending more time inciting riots and organizing protests than they were spending on helping the poor.