Loreto and Ucayali, two important regions of the Peruvian jungle, have similar problems. On a political level, two of its regional governors, who were elected in the most recent 2018 election process, have serious questions.
Elisban Ochoa Sosa of Loreto has been under investigation since March of this year for an alleged crime. misappropriation to the detriment of the State, along with other officials, for irregular food and lodging contracts for displaced families during the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19.
Francisco Peso Torres of Ucayali is serving 36 months of pre-trial detention after he was arrested last December for alleged crimes. corruption and organized crime. Instead, Ángel Gutiérrez Rodríguez headed the regional government of Ucayali.
Less competitive regions
At the socio-economic level, both regions also have similar problems. Peruvian Institute of Economics published the Regional Competitiveness Index (INCORE), which measures the economic and social conditions of a country’s regions. In this ranking Ukayali D Loretto they are ranked 23rd and 25th respectively as the least competitive regions on a national scale.
Loretto remains the least competitive region for the second year in a row, while Ukayali down five positions from last year. “This is mainly due to the fact that both regions reach low scores in health and education. For example, Loreto is the region with the lowest core vaccination coverage for children, while Ucayali has the second highest rate of childhood anemia. In turn, Loreto has the lowest primary and secondary school performance in the country, and Ucayali has the lowest school attendance,” says Paola Herrera, the economist responsible for this study.
Whoever becomes the next regional authority in Loretto And in Ukayali, will receive comprehensive regional management and with greater support obligations. Who applies for these Regional and municipal elections – 2022 in each region and what experience do they have?
Candidates for Loreto
in Loretto, Fernando Melendez Celis apply for Alliance for Progress. He was the group’s congressman from 2020 to 2021. He was Governor of Loreto from 2015 to 2018. Since 2014, a prosecutor’s investigation of the alleged crime has been ongoing against him. money laundering derived from drug trafficking. He is accused of funding his campaign with illegal money.
His brother, Jorge Enrique Melendez Celis, is also running for regional chairman, albeit from the Together for Loreto movement. He was a congressman from 2016 to 2019. held a post Minister of Development and Social Inclusion during the reigns of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Martin Vizcarra, a position he held for only 24 days after the broadcast of some audio recordings that compromised his involvement in the “cumaleros del Oriente”, a criminal organization involved in the timber trade.
Another candidate Oscar Llapapasca Samaniegowho is running for the Loreto Independent Movement – Mi Loreto and is facing an investigation into crimes against the public administration while performing his duties as Social Development and Forestry and Wildlife Development Manager in the current administration of Gov. Elisban Ochoa.
For postulates of popular power Juan Carlos del Aguila Cardenas. He was a congressman from Loreto between 2016 and 2019. He was one of the strongest opponents of Peru’s signing of the Escazu Agreement, a document whose purpose is for the countries that accede to guarantee the state’s transparency on environmental issues to its citizens. .
His position is striking, especially since he now claims to be the governor of the region, which recorded threats and killings of environmentalists for protecting ecosystems from Amazon predators, drug trafficking and the illegal economy.
“Any state can sue the Peruvian state and go to international court, paralyze the project and compensate environmental rights activists who are only looking for bonuses and economic incentives to justify the transfers they receive from abroad. These are Peruvians We cannot accept, he told the Regional Communications Network (RCR) at the time. In July this year, Congress refused to ratify the Escazu Agreement.
For Augusto Vargas, a lawyer from Loreto, expectations from current applicants are zero, especially since some of them have already held public office. “Regional authorities were ineffectiveThey had a short-term vision and were dedicated to fattening up the administrative apparatus with their electoral clients, and besides, bound by corruption, they did not have the long-term vision that Loreto needs,” he warns.
Applicants are also applying for Loreto for the first time. Frank Marreros Perez for the Amazonian political independent movement “General Will”; Yoshi Lam Elespuru on Free Peru D Juan Torres Baldeon The independent movement Reivindicamos Loreto.
Candidates for Ucayali
Candidate Abel Vasquez Panduro apply for Free Peru. He has a 2009 alimony sentence. Manuel Gambini Rupai with Movimiento Independiente Regional Cambio Ucayalino, who is seeking to return to the post of governor after being a regional authority between 2015 and 2018. He also faces a tax investigation into alleged crimes related to the sale of land and asset laundering.
Candidates also apply Brooke Romero Macedo parties Country Success, Celia Prado Seijas from People’s Action, Doris Mendoza Fababa on Alliance for Progress D Elva Reategui Davila on We are Peru.
Roger Grandes, director of the Institute for Socio-Economic Development, regrets that the lack of political governance has resulted in regions such as Ukayalithat have the potential to thrive have regressed so much. “For the subject Ukayali it is necessary to rebuild its entire agro-industrial apparatus, which was weak in recent years as a result of the regional authorities, which did not know how to balance their development processes very well, even the governor elected in the last elections had to be imprisoned on the fact of embezzlement of funds,” he said .
Fundamental challenge for Loretto, from my side. this should initiate a change in the production matrix based on its independence from the oil industry, adds Grandes. “But this is not achieved overnight, it should be seen as a continuous policy for at least ten years,” he argues.
In the case of both regions, it is important that their next regional body lead the defense ecological resourcesencourage protection of indigenous communities various threats that affect them, give rise to Work and properly manage economic resources to provide better services in health and education.
AS WELL ASThis is the position of two important regions of the jungle. Find out more about your candidates and their experience on the website informvote.jne.gob.pe.
Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.