The Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico

Puerto Vallarta's Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña has announced the free delivery of backpacks, supplies, uniforms, shoes and school insurance to students in the basic levels of our public schools. It is through these types of programs that go one step farther towards a prosperous city.

Mexico's Congress approved a legal reform on Thursday that will allow foreign immigration and customs agents to bear arms while in the country, an issue that has been a source of tension with the United States.

PUERTO VALLARTA: Mexico's Congress approved a legal reform on Thursday that will allow foreign immigration and customs agents to bear arms while in the country, an issue that has been a source of tension with the United States.

Security personnel for high-level foreign officials will also be permitted to carry arms during visits to Mexico.

An unarmed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was killed in 2011, after his car was ambushed by drug gang members in central Mexico.

The reform still needs to be signed into law by President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Puerto Vallarta, Jal.- State Governor, Roberto Sandoval, attended the 48th Governors National Conference (CONAGO). It took place in Durango, Durango and was led by President Enrique Pena Nieto.

At this conference the President expressed his appreciation for the determination of members of the regional parliament to speed up the creation of the Anti-corruption National Organization

The President and Governors agreed that Mexicans are also demanding from their authorities to improve security and justice conditions. Governor Roberto Sandoval expressed his willingness to support the President by maintaining an efficient and unambiguous fight against organized crime.

The President also said that is mandatory for everyone to work together so that elections 2015 run in a peaceful and democratic manner all over the country.

He also mentioned that CONAGO is an example of unity and strength of the Federation; it is an example of civility and of strong political principles in our democracy. He also expressed the need to continue promoting open and honest dialogues to come up with solutions and to continue strengthening the Institution.

The Conference took place in the Bicentenary Cultural and Convention Center. Durango Governor, Jorge Herrera Caldera – current president of CONAGO – presented the report on the activities and accomplishments of the organization. The announcement was made that CONAGO 49th conference will be in Tlaxcala.

[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Puerto Vallarta, Jal. – Puerto Vallarta welcome 150 thousand tourists during this past long weekend, the first long weekend vacation in 2015; generating, according to Oscar Perez, Director of Tourism, an estimated profit of one thousand 425 million pesos.

“This past long weekend, hotels, specially the three stars one, were a little more than 90 % full to capacity. We were visited by 150 thousand tourists. It is important to point out that the quality of service we provide, as well as the kindness of our people is what motivate tourist to return to our city”, expressed Perez.

Perez also added that, three cruisers are expected to arrive this week, bringing a total of seven thousand five hundred passengers.
According to information provided by Port Authorities Each passenger spends about US $ 90.00; therefore, Puerto Vallarta is expecting to make a profit of US $ 675,000.00 a day.

“Even though cruise passengers remain on land only for a couple of hours, they do leave a very significant amount of money in town. We also get the advantage that because of the way they are received and the nice experience they encounter in Vallarta, they might want to return by other means and stay for a longer time”, stated the Tourism authority.

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Roberto Sandoval received 2 millions 800 thousand pesos (about US $193,103) for this program.

In the framework of the Meeting of the International Association of Explosives and Investigators Experts, Luis Carlos Najera de Velasco, Director of Public Prosecutions, was named interim President of Region 7 of the Mexican Association Chapter.

Upon receiving his appointment, Najera de Velasco stated: “this Association is fundamental to those responsible for peace and safety in their countries. This kind of organizations trains us to work together and to exchange intelligence information, on how to stop criminals and terrorists from hurting innocent people.

To fight crime in any way, we need the best tools and the best training and guidance. That’s why it is so important to Mexico and to the State of Jalisco to be part of such an important Association”.

Earl Anthony Wayne, US Ambassador to Mexico, acknowledged that the Director of Public Prosecutions, Luis Carlos Najera, received the appointment of Interim Director of the Mexican Chapter of the Association, not by chance, but because of his qualifications; he took a course on Post explosions Effects and Investigation; he is a certified technician in explosives, and understands the effectiveness of collaboration among agencies and the training of police entities. The Ambassador also pointed out that Najera has also been a great allied for the professionalization of Mexico Security Forces.

In relation to the close collaboration among authorities of both countries, Anthony Wayne reminded everyone of the operation that, in collaboration with the US Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agency, the Attorney General and the District Attorney, took place in 2014, and that resulted in the confiscation of 2 places where weapons were manufactured, and four people were captured.

The meeting will go on for several days in Puerto Vallarta. The agenda includes training courses and sharing of experiences. Experts from USA, Canada, England, Colombia and Mexico are participating in this important reunion.

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[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

With the purpose of expanding training opportunities, ICATEN, Nayarit’s Institute of Work Training, added a workshop called Herbolaria (Herbal workshop). In this workshop, students will learn to relate with the curative and healing values of some plants and in this way they will learn how take advantage of nature and use its benefits for health care.

This course on Herbal medicine is designed for health professionals or any other person with natural aptitudes or previous studies in the health care field; also for those who know nothing about the topic, but would like to understand the deepness of western herbal medicine.

The basic theory of the therapeutics herbal components; herbal base formulas preparation, prescriptions and doses; curative herbs for many different illness, and how to obtain the right and proven curative formulas, are some of the topics to be studied in this course.

Paulina Sanchez, person in charge of ICATEN, explained that besides learning the properties of many medicinal plants, students will also learn how to plant and cultivate them in case they want to harvest home grown medicinal plants. We will also have them practice to prepare tints, ointments, pills, syrups and other natural products.

Students will also lean to administer and prescribe natural medication to family, relatives and other patients.
 
Classes will be on Saturdays, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. starting February 7.

To register, look us up in Face book ICATEN Nayarit; call (311)211 0697, or send us a Whatsup message at (311) 191 59 35, (311) 107 56 93.  You may also approach us directly at 66 Calle Hidalgo, at Xalisco, Nayarit’s office.

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[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

During the present forest fire season, the Government of Nayarit, through the Nayarit Forest Commission (COFONAY), is taking preventing actions and is providing citizens with some recommendations to avoid and reduce these incidents.

The number of fires increases during the first semester of the year because of cool weather and low water level, together with other factors such as humidity, high temperatures and accumulation of burning materials on the ground. Given the above mention circumstances, COFONOY is carrying out awareness and prevention campaigns around the 20 municipalities.

Miguel Tello Flores, Director of COFONOY recommends not to light bonfires and to always have in mind that forest fires are incidents that cause major danger to people and constitute a contamination problem. For the rural areas he recommends avoiding burning pasture in their lands, and to drivers, not to throw cigarette butts on streets and highways since these can generate a fire.

The Government of Nayarit is doing preventive work to inspire in our citizens, a culture of prevention, conservation and preservation of our natural recourses.

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[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

The housing booming and building constructions is history for Puerto Vallarta; but, however, the Office of Property Registration shows an increase in their income of approximately 10 per cent, during the last few years, when property registration accounts went from 80 to 90 thousand, informed Ricardo Martinez, head of the institution.

The growth, which distinguished Puerto Vallarta for some years, no longer exists; but there are new accounts due to housing developments are being regulated, and to the property deeds that were distributed by the National Agrarian Registry.

Another reason is that people are getting more conscientious about their obligations and report new constructions or any modifications done to their houses in a more spontaneous way. They also come voluntarily to pay their property taxes.

For the last few years, people have been aware of their obligation to pay property taxes because they see how it benefit them; they see their returns in transportation, street lights, patrol cars and many other public services.

Thanks to that awareness, funds collected from property taxes incremented and went from one hundred seventy five million pesos (more than twelve million dollars), to 185 million pesos (close to thirteen million dollars). People see the improvement in their neighborhood and on the roads. It is worth mentioning that the census has not yet been completed. Not everyone has been registered, stated the functionary.

At this moment, he explained, about 60 percent of all those that are registered, fulfill their obligations in time, which indicates that more and more people are becoming aware of their property tax responsibility. January and February are usually the months when more people pay. During those two months, a 15 % discount for “fast pay” is given.

For the month of March the discount is only 5 %. Besides those discounts, there is also a discount for disabled people, widowers and retirees; they get 50 % off their property taxes on the first two millions of the value, but only on the house they live in, and only for one property. People 60-64 years old, also have 50 % off on the first two millions of the value of the in which they reside.

From 75 to 79 years old, they get 50 % off and from 80 years on, the discount on their property taxes is 80 %. Ricardo Rene Rodriguez invited all citizens to approach the installations to fulfill their fiscal duties.

He also said they are trying to make it easy on people, therefore they have open different offices where people pay: downtown at the office of the town presidency, at the administration office, and there is a box at Unirse. People can also go to Las Palmas, Ixtapa, Las Juntas y el Pitillal. Payments can also be made on line through the Internet at www.PuertoVallarta.gob.mx There are plenty of places where payments can be made.

Ricardo Rene Rodriguez stated that some properties are being registered through of the program that was implemented to regulate housing developments. There is also some common land that need to be taken care of, and requires services because people are already leaving there; therefore they need security, garbage collections, etc.; but these people do not pay taxes. They should know and understand that they are not obligated to pay taxes on the land, but they should pay on what they have built on that land. It is very important to mention that even if it is common grounds, if they have built something on it, they are under the obligation to register and pay property taxes on whatever they built.

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[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Nayarit Governor Comes to The Rescue of a Senior Citizen Couple

Medical attention was given to Silvia and Gabriel, a senior citizen couple. All their debts were also paid for, and a house will be build for them.

One of the priorities of Nayarit Governor, Roberto Sandoval is to help those that have so little and lack so much; reason why he brought justice to 72 years old Silvia Aguirre and her 72 year old husband Gabriel Manjarrez, who, thanks to a neighbor’s report, were found abandoned by their children and living in misery.

Nayarit DIF System, directed by Ana Lilia Lopez de Sandoval, approached the place where these two seniors were found, and they witness the precarious situation in which they were living. Zaira Rivera, program director, stated: “thanks to Nayarit’s Government, we will have a house built for them; today we paid all their debts, we provided them with gas, kitchen utensils; we also supplied them with a stock of food, so that they have enough to cook their own meals. They were also included as beneficiaries of PROSA (food program)”.

After a medical checkup in Nayarit’s Medical Center, they were given Salud Digna (Decent Health Program) vouchers. With those vouchers they will be able to have an electrocardiogram, eyes checkup, blood work to detect hypertension and diabetes; in this way, Silvia and Gabriel will be able, from this day forward, to have a better quality of life.

Deeply moved and with teary eyes, Silvia thanked the Governor for the aid received: “I thank the Governor Roberto Sandoval and his wife for everything they have given us. We use to pray and ask God to have someone come to our rescue. We are happy because they are going to give us a little house where we can enjoy nice warm meals every day”.

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[readon1 url="index.php?option=com_sobipro&pid=1&sid=703:mar&Itemid=212"]Source:www.VallartaToday.com-by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Mexico is in the midst of a human rights crisis. President Enrique Peña Nieto’s government, however, is focusing almost exclusively on its economic and political agenda and leaving human rights aside.

Reports of torture and ill-treatment have increased by 600 percent in the last decade, and enforced disappearances continue to occur widely. In August 2014, the government acknowledged that there are around 22,000 missing persons.

On September 26, a group of students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers’ College of Ayotzinapa went missing in the city of Iguala after police opened fire on them without warning. Six students were killed in the confrontation, and another 43 were taken into custody and never seen again.

In the search for the missing 43 students, unrelated mass graves have been discovered in the state of Guerrero, and the government’s complicity with organized crime has been in the spotlight.

This is far from an isolated issue. Other gross human rights violations include the murders of 17 peasants in Aguas Blancas (1995), 45 indigenous townspeople in Acteal (1997), 72 immigrants in San Fernando (2010), hundreds of women and girls in Ciudad Juárez (since 1993), and 22 civilians in Tlatlaya (2014).

Outraged by these human rights violations and the country’s 98 percent impunity rate, and mobilized by the mass kidnapping in Iguala, people from diverse groups in all regions of Mexico are raising their voices in protest.

People are demanding justice for the victims and their families, chanting “You took them alive. We want them back alive.” The protests have been mainly pacific, creating an environment of indignation and union against impunity.

The Mexican government has responded to the protests with more human rights violations, trying to inhibit the social protest by threatening to use force.

In November, Mexican authorities placed 11 people in maximum-security prisons for participating in a demonstration. Those 11 protesters were released without charges, but the investigation into whether they were mistreated by police officers (as witnesses have claimed) is still pending.

The message of the government is quite clear: Social protest is not welcome.

States like Puebla, Mexico City, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas have enacted laws that interfere with the right to protest. A new law allowing police to use firearms to break up demonstrations in Puebla resulted in the death of a 13-year-old boy during a protest in July.

Protest is a way of taking action. The big challenge we have is finding a way to transform all of this solidarity and discontent into actions that can make a real difference.

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[readon1 url="http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/01/16/protests-in-mexico-a-rallying-cry-against-impunity/"]Source:cyprus-mail.com[/readon1]