During the live broadcast of Vice President Karin Herrera’s visit to Quetzaltenango, the moment was captured when one of the mayors present was interrupted while addressing a few words to the official. The team justifies that it was an organizational confusion.
The visit was to supervise attention to forest fires in the department. In addition to the representatives of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred), the mayors of San Martín Sacatepéquez and Concepción Chiquirichapa spoke.
While Mayor Pedro Sánchez of Concepción Chiquirichapa offered a few words questioning the management of the governments for the good of the town, mentioning that “their backs are turned” and highlighting the actions of the migrants and the population of the municipality, he was interrupted by those who directed the event who opened the microphone for the round of questions from the media.
“I ask myself: why do we have a government? So that they always turn their backs on us? Honestly, your visit here, Madam Vice President, is so that you too, I understand, I am new to politics just as you are…” , said Sánchez when he was interrupted by the communication team to begin with the questions from the journalists present.
Mayor Sánchez continued with his speech and argued that he should stop being heard, just as those present shouted “let him express.” Herrera interrupted him to mention that she was going to answer Sánchez although, according to her, the mayor was “attacking” her.
The mayor continued his words, but for the second time it was indicated in the second microphone that the media would make their inquiries. At that moment the transmission on the official channel was cut.
Hours later the full event was broadcast again, Mayor Sánchez finished with his words in which he clarified the situation in the town and asked for the support of the central government.
Herrera responded to the requests by stating that the budget managed by the central government is that of the previous year and that all the necessary arrangements are being made.
“All citizens deserve to be heard and cared for and proof of that is that I am here today, proof of political will and all of this that I have heard and requests will be transferred to the executive secretary of Conred,” the official responded.
Vice Presidency talks about the incident
The Vice Presidency, when asked about the incident, assured that they apologized to the authorities and spoke with the leaders of the event so that it does not happen again.
“There was confusion on the part of the team leading the conference. When the mishap happened, the vice president asked them to let him finish speaking, since we give priority to freedom of expression,” the official version quotes.
They say that the confusion occurred because the activity lasted longer than scheduled and those directing the activity tried to speed it up when they realized the delay.
“The vice president spoke with the mayor, as you can see at the end of the recording of the event on the social networks of the Government of Guatemala, she answered his questions in which the vice president promised to provide a prompt solution to the situation,” adds the institution.
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