Number of military veterans receiving compensation could increase if Congress approves reforms to the law – 2024-07-05 00:06:53

For the third extraordinary meeting of Congress, scheduled for this Thursday, July 4, the agenda includes the discussion, in third debate, by articles and final draft, of bill 6231, which provides for the approval of reforms to Decree 51-2022, Temporary Law of Comprehensive Development.

This initiative was proposed by deputies Shirley Rivera and Sergio Arana in 2022 and received a favorable opinion on April 17, 2023.

The initiative reforms Article 5 “bis” which grants a period of 30 business days from the effective date of the Decree, for the Ministry of Social Development (Mides) to carry out a new phase of receiving applications from those interested in the Comprehensive Development program.

Decree 51-2022, the Temporary Law on Comprehensive Development, was approved in a context of protests by beneficiaries. In 2023, its discussion was accelerated in the midst of the General Elections and as a promise by former President Alejandro Giammattei.

The law provides for the allocation of Q36,000 to each beneficiary -troop personnel who performed military service during the internal armed conflict- which will be carried out over a period of three years with a monthly allocation of Q1,000 for participation in the project.

The condition to be part of the Program is to have completed at least 18 months of military service between 1960 and 1996.

Beneficiaries

The 2023 Mides data reveal that the majority of beneficiaries are concentrated in Jutiapa, Guatemala and Baja Verapaz; while Sololá, Petén and Totonicapán are where there are the fewest registered people.

So far, according to Mides, the beneficiary base has reached 44 thousand and they need around Q500 million for this. The Government assures that Congress must approve the budgetary extension to comply with this and other commitments.

Reform

The proposed change consists of a single substantive article (Article 5). The proposed amendment to Decree 51-2022 was presented as follows:

“Article 5 bis. A period of thirty (30) business days is granted from the day following the validity of this Decree for the Ministry of Social Development carry out a new phase of receiving applications from interested parties to the Comprehensive Development Programapproved in the Temporary Law of Comprehensive Development, Decree Number 51-2022 of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala.”

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Another initiative

This week, the Cabal party presented a new bill aimed at making further reforms to Decree 51-2022, the Temporary Law on Comprehensive Development.

For example, from Q36 thousand for three years that was originally stipulated, the Cabal proposal increases the payment to Q48 thousand for four years, at a rate of Q1 thousand each month.

In Article 1 of the Law, Cabal’s proposal includes troop personnel, and also widows, married or in common-law unions decreed in full compliance with the law, of veterans who have died and provided their military service during the internal armed conflict.

In the case of Article 2, they will add literal g) which states that they must receive “training and workshops on forest fire prevention, reforestation, classification of waste and solid waste and the different processes related to recycling.”