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Garcia administration criticized for raise in Peru ministers salary

Living in Peru
Israel Ruiz

Alan Garcia's administration was harshly criticized on Sunday after it was announced that the monthly pay for his cabinet members would be increased.

According to estimates made by El Comercio newspaper, a minister's salary will rise from 15,600 soles to 22,800 soles per month.

When asked about this increase in pay, Environment Minister Antonio Brack affirmed it had been Alan Garcia's idea because "being a minister means being dedicated to the job 24 hours a day".

Brack explained ministers were at a disadvantage because they were so busy they couldn't hold another job to make extra money.

"We didn't ask for this raise," said Brack to RPP news radio, affirming that many ministers were on tight budgets and had received job offers where they could make two or three times as much money.

Prime Minister Yehude Simon agreed, stating this increase in pay would keep qualified professionals from leaving their jobs and serving Peru.

"This is an insult to the Peru's poor," said Congressman Isaac Mekler, pointing out that retired citizens were receiving 250 soles per month. He also noted that the government had recently denied doctors, police officers and construction workers an increase in their pay.

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# c. schmidt says :
5 January, 2009 [ 14:52 ]

Well Do we make sense here-it almost fits to  Mister AGP s statements from last year in Manchay- whre he verbaly wished  to have the gift of making water into wine-This guy means what he is telling – at least for  some ministers.Don’t you forget it – We are dealing here with eloquent, advanced, modern and experienced leadership. Especially that we since last year know from President Garcia “that Peru wont be affected from the economical crisis”- even so some especial list denies this statements.Well with inner countries basic prizes for food up and advanced poorness there (.rural self studies: sierra areas prize for milk in latas raised up from 1. 50 to 3 soles and so on, prize of  bread, inflation rate (based on statements of well known economists)  ministers in Peru definitely should get more, double it , triple it-
What do I tell-give it all.Poor minister of Defense- he declared somehow that he would be tie of money without further raising.
Dr. Antero-  I have  certain respect for you because indoubtless you are a person of certain democratic conviction. 
and wont we both forget it- It was just so fine and brave to take straight ahead iniciative and call  me  last Peruvian spring  personal on my home phone line about the issue of “possible illegal trafficking of diesel which might had  involve possible some persons from Peruvian Marina de Guerra" .
( I make it very clear again - I deeply respect Peruvian Marina de Guerra Peruana as an institution in general). How about returning to investigate this little  issue instead off asking for possible raise- Especially after so many articles about gazolinazos and possible involvement of ex army chief in some little eventual diesel overshoppings which he had difficulties to declare to higher fiscal autornities.

Would be quit something I think.
Hope I am not alone here with my "braindrain"- and my very best wishes for a happy new year to all my fans and indoubtless strong opposition.  

# Mike says :
5 January, 2009 [ 15:34 ]

A pay increase may have been due, but more than 31%?  Seems a little ridiculous.

# c.schmidt says :
5 January, 2009 [ 16:01 ]

And only this 31  percent guar ant food or basic needs for at least 100 Peruvians –I was just thinking- Is mister AGP tired and looking somehow for a way to go out before??? It almost seems like it. Because this kind of announcements cant be given by serious assessment- Does mister AGP is getting cold feets for upcoming eventual negative effects on Peruvian economy?Today it was explained again from very different international levelsSeeing the whole problem/origin with very different few and political optics. But no matter either we do like it or not  results will be:1-     there will be definitely strong recession2-     GDP in Latin America will slow down harsh (today numbers spoke about 5.5 percent in 2009, Economist economical forecast writes about around 4 percent, it would be less than half  of Peruvian this year GDP)- to make grow “feelable2 GDP should be over 6. 5 percent. 3-     Remetientes will be less4-     Export is already affected since December and will be effected this year5-     And so on(Toledo criticized on weekend in front of  of TV cameras besides of doing a little bit campaigning the economical approach Peruvian government does to face all this upcoming possible events and  recommended urgently To mister AGP to promote foreign investment. . Some Fujimoristas declared their strong doubts about raising upp incomes from ministers, most and general concern came from opposition)

# Dean says :
5 January, 2009 [ 16:28 ]

Politics is the best job in Peru.
Good money without doing anything!

# CapitanDan says :
5 January, 2009 [ 19:33 ]

This doesn't seem to be the time to raise salaires... I believe President Garcia just asked local businesses to not layoff workers as the economy contracts...Dean is right about Politicians having the best job... Not just in Peru though ... Politicians it seems are like the bacteria in a cesspool... The worse it gets the more they seem to thrive. Chau Friends

# AjideGallina says :
5 January, 2009 [ 20:05 ]

The government finds this a priority, but does not pay its rural doctors, nurses and dentists sometimes for months at a time.  Sad.

# Mike says :
5 January, 2009 [ 20:25 ]

Well, those medicos don't work very hard - they spend most of the day relaxing and playing golf.

# Rene says :
6 January, 2009 [ 06:54 ]

Mike, I do not know which medicos you know, but my fiancee's aunt is a rural nurse and she works quite hard...

Funny...ministers work 24 hrs a day and do not have time for an exta job...yeah, you need that in Peru with that salary?!?!

# Mike says :
6 January, 2009 [ 09:15 ]

Rene;

I was being sarcastic.

# c. schmidt says :
8 January, 2009 [ 13:01 ]

good news since yesterday- no raise in income 

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