Page 12 - aruba-today-20190817

A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 17 auguSt 2019
AP Interview: Puerto Rico governor to stay, fight corruption

By DÁNICA COTO with the chairman and ex-
Associated Press ecutive director of a fed-
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) eral control board over-
— As a child, Puerto Rico's seeing the island's finances
newest governor said she amid the economic crisis.
would stand on her balco- Like Rosselló, she said she
ny and hold imaginary tri- opposes austerity measures
als, always finding the sup- imposed by the board in-
posed defendants guilty. cluding pension cuts to a
Now, after more than 32 public system facing more
years of public service as a than $50 billion in unfund-
district attorney and justice ed pension liabilities: "They
secretary, Wanda Vázquez need (the money). We
finds herself leading a U.S. cannot cut them and force
territory of 3.2 million peo- them all into poverty."
ple following a Supreme But in an allusion to Ros-
Court ruling last week that selló's public relationship
ousted her predeces- with the board, she added,
sor and appears to have "We're not going to adopt
calmed the political turmoil a combative stance. ...
that led the island to have We're going to collaborate
three governors in less than because I want to pull Puer-
a week. to Rico out of bankruptcy. I
As justice secretary, Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez poses for a photo during an interview with the Associated want the board to finish its
Press at the La Fortaleza, the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto
Vázquez was automati- Rico, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. job, but without sacrificing
cally next in line to become Associated Press the people."
governor after the court's Despite all her upcoming
ruling, a historic move she funds and an obscenity- up of local and federal of- are still people who don't plans, being governor is
said will allow her to truly laced chat in which the ficials to crack down on have roofs ... There are still not a job Vázquez initially
work for the people and governor and 11 other corruption. She said all people who don't have wanted.
respond to their needs be- men including public offi- government contracts will windows, who don't have In a recent Sunday tweet
cause she is free of all politi- cials mocked women, gay be investigated, including doors, who completely lost that created a media fren-
cal ties or obligations. people and victims of Hurri- those awarded as part of their homes, who are liv- zy, Vázquez said she was
"I don't have that weight cane Maria, among others. a billion-dollar hurricane re- ing with relatives. There are not interested in the posi-
on my shoulders," she told She said her priorities are construction effort. people ... who are still feel- tion. But she posted the
The Associated Press in an to fight corruption, secure She also said she would be ing like they are not being tweet just days before the
interview. "I don't aspire to federal hurricane recovery pressing the administration treated equally, who feel court in a unanimous vote
political office." funds and help pull Puerto of U.S. President Donald they are being discriminat- on Aug. 7 found that the
Vázquez is expected to Rico out of its 13-year re- Trump for funds that are ed against, and we have swearing in of nominated
finish the term of former cession. sorely needed on an island to fight that." secretary of state Pedro
Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, who Vázquez told the AP that still struggling to recover Vázquez said restructuring Pierluisi was unconstitution-
resigned on Aug. 2 follow- in the coming weeks, she from the Category 4 storm part of Puerto Rico's more al.
ing popular protests fueled plans to create a special that hit on Sept. 20, 2017. than $70 billion public debt "That's when I decided I
by anger over corruption, team within Puerto Rico's "I have to fight for those load also is important, add- wasn't going to reject the
mismanagement of public Justice Department made funds," she said. "There ing that she met this week challenge," she said. q

Mexico president opposes

prosecuting predecessors

ing ex-presidents has taken public service." The president also charac-
new life with prosecutors' "Mexico's president has terized as "legal sabotage"
pursuit of Rosario Robles, all of the information," a judge's order Thursday
an ex-Cabinet minister of López Obrador said. "All to stop construction of a
former President Enrique presidents know what hap- new commercial airport
Peña Nieto. pens." for the capital at the Santa
This week a judge ordered López Obrador said if the Lucia military base until an
that Robles be held in jail public really wants to go injunction requested by
In this July 1, 2019 file photo, Mexico's President Andres Manu-
el Lopez Obrador delivers his speech during rally to celebrate pending trial for alleg- after an ex-president he organizations opposed to
the one-year anniversary of his election, in Mexico City's main edly knowing about the would consider holding a the project is resolved.
square, the Zocalo. diversion of $260 million of public vote on it. He has "Seeking injunctions against
Associated Press public funds going back made battling corruption all the projects we're going
to 2014 and not doing a centerpiece of his ad- is the national sport," López
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mex- dents even as he said that anything. The judge also ministration, but consistent- Obrador said. "I hope it's
ico President Andrés Man- a president would know told prosecutors to clarify ly said he doesn't want to resolved quickly."
uel López Obrador repeat- everything that happened whether Peña Nieto knew pursue his predecessors. He The judge's decision could
ed Friday his opposition to during his administration. about it. Robles is accused has said he wants to move be appealed by the
prosecuting former presi- The question of prosecut- of "wrongful exercise of forward, not seek revenge. government.q