Guatemala to Trim
Government Fat
The Guatemalan
government analyzes
Tuesday an austerity
plan aimed at
eliminating unnecessary
expenses in civil
services to reorient
social programs.
According to
presidential spokesman
Fernando Barillas,
mobile telephones, fuel,
traveling expenses and
protocol events will be
restricted, to
prioritize health and
education.
"We will save millions
with those cuts," said
the spokesman, adding
that several government
posts have unnecessary
privileges.
President Alvaro Colom,
who took office January
14, denounced the
existence of several
anomalies in those
entities, which put at
risk the development of
his government plan.
According to Colom,
while some dependencies
have a lot of resources,
like 273 cars of the
Presidency' Executive
Secretariat, there are
hospitals without an
ambulance.
Unreported debts of
millions during the
presidential transition
process, administrative
disorder, and ghost
posts are some of the
irregularities detected
in the government
organizations.
To save resources and
avoid duplicity of
functions, the statesman
also announced the
suppression of
Presidential
Commissioners for
Security,
Competitiveness,
Transparence and
Tourism, created by
Oscar Berger's
administration.
The total savings the
austerity plan
represents for the
country will be revealed
February 14. |
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