Policy
Bernardo Arévalo points out that fires are set to “harm the government”
The President points out that the deputies who voted once morest the state of Calamity “will have to explain to the people of Guatemala” why they made that decision.
La Conred reports more than 70 active forest fires in Guatemala. (Free Press Photo: Conred)
The President of the Republic, Bernardo Arévalo, had declared a state of Calamity in the national territory with the intention of addressing the issue of forest fires.
However, in the plenary session of the Congress of the Republic on Thursday, April 11, with 84 votes, the deputies disapproved of the state of Calamity decreed by the Executive Body due to the fires.
The disapproval was criticized for lack of transparency and limitation of constitutional guarantees.
The ruling party did not obtain the necessary votes for approval because the deputies doubted the transparency and restrictive regulations on constitutional rights.
This Friday, April 12, President Bernardo Arévalo, in statements to the press, following an activity at the San Juan de Dios Hospital, referred to the legislators’ decision not to approve the state of Calamity.
The president stated: “They did not approve it yesterday, now the deputies who voted once morest this will have to explain to the people of Guatemala why they refuse to give the government the opportunity to respond when we have a campaign of arson. 80% are provoked and are being done precisely to cause damage to property and health and of course to harm the government.”
He added: “We continue working,” then indicated that the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) is advancing and negotiations had begun with friendly countries to provide help.
“The Government does not stop, the Government will continue working to give an answer to the people and to respond to this problem, now go ask the deputies why they do not want to give the tools so that we can work for the people of Guatemala” , said the president.
On April 10, Arévalo declared a state of calamity due to the forest fires affecting Guatemala.
Last Tuesday, the Conred denounced that at least 37 forest fires in the current season have been setfor which he filed actions with the Public Ministry.
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