Mayan Train Signs Deal With UIF Amid Criticism
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Mayan Train Signs Deal With UIF Amid Criticism

Photo by:   Milenio
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Thu, 10/22/2020 - 18:31

Milenio reported on Wednesday that FONATUR has signed a deal with the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), a department of SHCP, to analyze the entirety of financial activities of public institutions and private contractors involved in the Mayan Train project. This announcement follows a new wave of criticism against the project. One of the particular sources of this criticism is former SEMARNAT leader Víctor Manuel Toledo Manzur. After leaving his job due to the controversy of his recorded criticisms of the current administration, Excelsior reported yesterday that Manzur left a comment through his personal Facebook page on a public video in which SEMARNAT praised the Mayan Train project. In his comment, Manzur claimed that the video represented “the birth of a new environmental demagoguery within the 4T.”  

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CONAGUA Praises Water Agreement With US 

CONAGUA’s head Blanca Jiménez said that water supply for 13 border cities was secured after yesterday’s agreement with the US. She said Chihuahua dams have “even more water” than what they normally have, this during the president’s morning conference. “It is a very beneficial treaty for the country because we get four times more than what we give on an annual basis. We receive 1,850 million m3 and we contribute with 432 million m3,” Jiménez said. SRE Deputy Minister Roberto Velasco said that Mexico cannot delay two consecutive cycles of water supply, as specified in the signed agreement. “The US accepted a clause that it would cooperate with Mexico for humanitarian reasons in the event of an extreme drought or some other emergency,” Velasco said.

All Mexican Beaches Now Public: AMLO

President López Obrador said that all of the country's beaches are now public and will no longer be handed over to private companies. “Beaches are no longer being handed over to private companies. They are public. Before, only those who staying at hotels could enter the beaches,” he said. On Wednesday, the president signed a decree published on the Official Gazette of the Federation that guarantees access to beaches to any citizen who lives near the coastal areas of the country. President López Obrador noted that a fine of up to US$67,000 will be applied to those “who prevent, discourage, restrict or hinder access to the beaches.”

No Public Gatherings Allowed During the 2020 Holidays 

Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell reiterated on Tuesday’s daily morning press conference that the pandemic in Mexico is still active and asked people to prevent gatherings during the Day of the Dead on Nov. 1 and the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, since both celebrations represent a high risk for contagion. “The more people congregate, the greater the risk,” he said. López-Gatell also stated that SEGOB and the Mexican catholic church are analyzing changes to the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe celebration, where an annual mass pilgrimage to the Guadalupe Basilica could take place with people coming from all over the country.

Chiapas Going Green

President López Obrador announced that the state of Chiapas, one of the most visited in Mexico, will likely advance to green in the COVID-19 epidemiological traffic light. “It is very likely that Chiapas will enter a green traffic light next week. Campeche remains also in green status,” he said. The president noted that eight states have seen a mild increase in cases but that no new outbreaks or a second wave of contagion has been confirmed. Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell highlighted that the number of infections has been decreasing for 12 consecutive weeks in Mexico.

Photo by:   Milenio

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