Housing Minister Appears
Before Legislative
Commission
The ministro de Vivienda
(Housing minister),
Fernando ZUmbado,
admitted to a
legislative panle that
the us$1.5 million
dollars donated by the
government of Taiwan
that was to have been
used to build homes for
the poor were diverted
to other programs.
Zumbado appeared before
the legislators Thursday
afternoon to give an
account to a sesson of
the legislative
commission dealing with
public spending. This is
the first statement made
by Zumbado to the
commission, following
his comments to the
media last week that he
committed no
improprities.
The minister admitted
that the Taiwanese funds
were never used to build
homes for the poor in
Pavas in accordance with
the stipulation of the
donation.
Clutching a handful of
documents, the
legislator for the
Partido Acción Ciudadana
(PAC), Alberto Salom,
grilled Zumbado on where
the funds were
eventually used.
The agreement that
established the trust
fund between the
government of Taiwan,
the Ministerio de
Vivienda and the Banco
Centroamericano de
Integración Económica (BCIE),
clearly indicates a
us2.5 million donation.
However, Zumbado was
adamant that only 60%
(us$1.5 million) was
ever received.
ZUmbado is expected to
make more appearances
before the commission to
satisfy legislators of
their doubts over the
missing us$1 million. |
