Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Attorneys representing Peru's housing ministry are pressing charges against twenty-eight people found illegally using government bonds that had been issued to help citizens rebuild their homes in areas affected by the August 2007 earthquake.

According to Housing Minister Enrique Cornejo, there is evidence that authorities and citizens, who do not qualify to use the 6,000-sol bonds have been taking advantage of them to build bigger homes or second homes.

Among those to be prosecuted is the mayor of the Limean district of Chilca, Pablo Nalda Quiróz along with members of his staff and municipal workers.

In addition, a Peruvian bank has pressed charges against six construction-supply distribution centers in the same district for colluding with earthquake victims to give them cash instead of material to build homes.

An investigation has been opened to evaluate all of the distribution centers working in areas affected by the earthquake, said Minister Cornejo.

The mayor of Chilca has affirmed that he and his office are being blamed to take attention away from corruption taking place in Pisco.

"In Pisco, people are negotiating their bonds and no one says anything. On the other hand, here (Chilca), where everyone is using their bonds appropriately, we are being accused of giving them to people that don't qualify," said Nalda.