Puerto Vallarta, Jal. - Given his vast experience in public services and his commitment to Puerto Vallarta, Oscar Ernesto Perez Flores has been named Puerto Vallarta’s Director of Tourism by the town president, Ramon Guerrero Martinez. Perez Flores replaces Carlos Gerard Guzman, who presented his letter of resignation a few days ago.

Perez, born in Puerto Vallarta, has since a very young man, demonstrated to be a responsible and valuable person for services to the community. He has worked in public and private institutions as well as in Educational and Social organizations.
Between October 2012 and June 2014, he was the Town President Private Secretary. Later he became the person in charge of Strategic Projects; position he held until a few days ago.

Starting Friday, Oscar Perez takes over the Directorship of Tourism. He will continue with the town public policies and promotions that, together with the private sector and different government entities, are implemented in order to strengthen all touristic activities.

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[readon1 url="notivallarta.com/2015/01/16/nombran-a-oscar-perez-flores-nuevo-director-de-turismo-municipal-en-puerto-vallarta/"]Source:notivallarta.com-Translated by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Director of SAEPAL Puerto Vallarta (Puerto Vallarta’s Potable Water, Drainage and Sewer System), Cesar Abarca Gutierrez, accompany by Jalisco Secretary General, Roberto Lopez Lara, made the symbolic donation of 22 new vehicles to make the work of Business, Registration, and Property Registry offices, more efficient.

When President Barack Obama addressed Mexican students at the National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City in May 2013, he had high hopes for the growth of the Mexican economy. “In fact, I see a Mexico that has lifted millions from poverty,” Obama said. “Because of the sacrifices of generations, a majority of Mexicans now call themselves middle class, with a quality of life that your parents and grandparents could only dream of.”

While this may be true, data gathered by the Center for Economic and Policy Research in a report published in February 2014 indicates that poverty levels are, percentage wise, about the same as in 1994, when the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Mexico took effect. According to this report, this translates to an increase of approximately 14 million people living under the poverty line in 2012 compared to 1994.

While some sources may point to NAFTA as a primary cause for Mexico’s economic decline—with various subsidies and economic policies that made it difficult for Mexican industries to compete—not all of Mexico’s economic decline in the past two decades can be attributed to NAFTA. Mexico has suffered its own crises, including the currency crisis of 1994, when the Mexican peso suffered a quick and dramatic drop in value.

But because Mexico does rely so heavily on the U.S. for its markets, financial downturns such as the housing crisis of 2006-2007 and the recession of 2009 have also hurt the Mexican economy.

Since 2005, government leaders from the U.S., Canada and Mexico have met annually at the North American Leaders Summit to discuss ways to become better partners in the NAFTA agreement.

The most recent summit took place in Toluca, Mexico, on Feb. 19 when Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to discuss an agenda that included better economic policies, energy reform and regulatory cooperation.

While immigration and the war on drugs remain important issues of concern between Mexico and the U.S., Peña Nieto has emphasized improvements in the economy as a primary means of treating Mexico’s emigration epidemic of the past couple decades.

In his first two years of office, Peña Nieto has opened up the oil and gas industry in Mexico to foreign investment and taken measures to combat monopolies, among other economic policies. He has also taken strides to engage in more foreign trade, and is actively involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an agreement that, if approved, would increase trade options with pacific territories such as Japan and China.

In addition to economic policies, Peña Nieto has also taken some steps toward fighting corruption. While campaigning in early 2014, he established the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

However, the disappearance of 43 students abducted by police during a protest in September 2014 appeared to throw all vows to fight corruption out the window. According to Univision Noticias, it was later discovered that the mayor’s wife who called in the police to disrupt the protest had familial ties to Guerreros Unidos, a local drug trafficking group responsible for killing the students.

Following this mysterious disappearance, Peña Nieto did not give a statement reaching out the families immediately after the incident, and police offered no concrete statement as to what happened to the students. A congressman in a press conference is noted as saying, “Ya me cansé,” which translates to “That’s it. I’m done.” This phrase became a rally cry across social media and in protests.

Finally, in December, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Peña Nieto and agreed to help the Mexican president in establishing a separate police force specifically to fight corruption.

This, however, comes at a time when Peña Nieto’s spending has recently come under fire from the Mexican people.

Jorge Ramos, a renowned Mexican journalist who won the 2014 Burton Benjamin Award for lifetime achievement in journalism, said in his acceptance speech, “There is a huge conflict of interest in Mexico. A government contractor is financing the $7 million home of the president’s wife. That’s not saving Mexico. That’s corruption.”

Mexico’s disdain for Peña Nieto’s response to the disappearance of the 43 students and the construction of the Casa Blanca for his wife led students to demand that Peña Nieto resign in December. Peña Nieto did not resign, instead meeting with John Kerry and, most recently, Obama in Washington—a meeting greeted by a wave of protests in the American capital district.

Have U.S. relations with Mexico improved since Obama and, more specifically, Peña Nieto, took office? One could argue yes, based on new committees, programs and initiatives aimed to ignite the two economies. These events and meetings should be taken with a grain of salt, however.

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[readon1 url="http://world.einnews.com/article/244115994/hS8U6_-rK8UII2XI"]Source:world.einnews.com[/readon1]

In the framework of his work tour through Amatitlan de Canas, the Nayarit governor, Roberto Sandoval Castaneda, announced that this year he will start promoting the idea that Amatla de Canas and El Rosario, be considered a Magical Town.

Elaborating some more in the topic, the Governor said: “I want people to know that Nayarit has beautiful places, with a very important historic legacy which we need to let everyone know that it exist so as to promote tourism in these areas; We visited El Rosario, a natural rich colonial town, with great touristic attractions, and I will be the first to promote and drive people into visit Amatlan de Canas. I will make of these communities, Magical Towns”.

At the same, time he mentioned that the quality standard of his people will be the main characteristic for the touristic success in these towns. Both communities meet all the characteristics needed to obtain the title of Magical Towns.

These towns should be let known to the world. If you allowed me to do it, I will be the first one to promote tourism in Amatitlan de Canas. A Magic Town is a reflection of our Country, a reflection of our roots. It reflects what we have become and who now we are. That should make us feel very proud; proclaimed the Governor.

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

With the visit to 30 communities and an offered of 35 million pesos for road work, health, education, public work, and social programs, the Nayarit governor, Roberto Sandoval Castaneda, completed this past Friday, his three consecutive work trip to Amatlan de Canas.

Upon evaluating the results of this intense work trip, the governor informed that through his journey, initiated in the town of Cerritos and ending in El Pilon, he distibuted thousands of support projects and benefits for woman, field workers, students and senior citizens. People were very pleased with the governor’s visit, since they had not been visited by a government authority for 30 years.

“This was a historic visit; we spent three full days on the road. We visited more than 30 communities of Amatlan de Canas. We listened to the people; attended health and education issues; we solved field issues, handed out machinery, tractors, houses, and roads. We announced new projects for 2015” expressed Roberto Sandoval upon highlighting that during this trip he donated a new urban truck to transfer young students to the different school centers.

Among the most important work that the executive chief announced, we can mention the restoration of the Ahuacatlan-Barranca del Oro road, with an investment of 12 millions five thousand pesos; amount that has already been authorized by the President, Enrique Pena Nieto. Also, for 2015, the Governor will allocate 8 million pesos to pave the road that communicates La Yerbabuena village with Amatlan de Canas. This millionaire investment also includes the reconstruction of the Herradura Bridge, with a cost of one million pesos. The maintenance work of the road from El Rosario to Santa Cruz de Camotlan, with a cost of 5 million pesos, is also included in the budget.

Among many other things, the governor promised to promote tourism in those areas. “We have beautiful places. In Amatlan de Canas we found marvelous towns; a colonial town like El Rosario for example, place to relax and rest. We need to get to know our land, therefore I invite Nayaritas and all the people from Jalisco, Sinaloa and other places, to come and visit Amatlan”; the governor stated.

On his last day on the road, he visited the towns of La Estancia de Los Lopez, Banana de Oro and El Pilon. It was in El Pilon, that the governor gave a summary of what he had done on his three days trip. He highlighted the fact that Amatlan de Cansa needs 35 million pesos only for the year 2015.

He finished his tour by saying that he will continue visiting each Nayarit town, bringing social justice to those who have nothing. This is, so far, the second marathoner visit he has made during his administration.

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

Nayarit Governor Roberto Sandoval Castaneda make the announcement that goods provided by PROSA (a government program which provides food to the needed), will be delivered from house to house, by the state workers, starting this July.

Alfredo Castillo, the federal commissioner for security and development in Michoacan, will have to appear before Congress to explain his strategy to lawmakers in the wake of a wave of violence in the western Mexican state, legislative officials told Efe Thursday.

A working group from the Permanent Commission of Congress, which acts when the legislative branch is in recess, will meet soon with Castillo to discuss the public safety situation in Michoacan, but no date has been set for the federal official's appearance.

Congresswoman Lilia Aguilar Gil, of the Workers' Party, or PT, requested that the commissioner, who was appointed to his post by President Enrique Peña Nieto to develop a security strategy for Michoacan, appear before legislators.

Castillo will appear before lawmakers as the violence grows in the western state, where 11 people died in an incident last month involving rival members of a security force created to absorb the vigilante groups formed to fight drug traffickers in the region.

On Dec. 16, more than 80 vigilantes led by Luis Antonio Torres, known as "El Americano," attacked the barricades manned by followers of Hipolito Mora, founder of the vigilante movement that arose in Michoacan nearly two years ago to protect communities from the Caballeros Templarios drug cartel.

Mora founded the community self-defense groups on Feb. 24, 2013, to fight the cartel and the Peña Nieto administration sent Castillo to the state in January 2014 to deal with the wave of violence in Michoacan.

Castillo said on May 10, 2014, that the vigilante groups were being legalized and incorporated into the Rural Force.

The commissioner will also have to discuss the shootouts on Tuesday that left nine people dead during a federal operation to retake Apatzingan city hall from an armed group that had occupied the building.

Castillo said the deaths occurred during a shootout, but the Reforma newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing eyewitnesses, that at least three people were executed by Federal Police officers after they surrendered.

The Permanent Commission of Congress also plans to meet with National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido and Deputy Attorney General Mariana Benitez Tiburcio to discuss security issues.

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[readon1 url="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/01/08/official-to-appear-before-mexican-congress-to-explain-security-policy/"]Source: latino.foxnews.com[/readon1]

Cuba will be one of the main topics on the agenda when Obama and Pena Nieto meet Tuesday at the White House.

Citizens are reporting that starting Saturday. January 3, 2015, they are being charged 2 more pesos over the transportation fare. Nayarit transit authorities informed that they had not authorized such increase and are encouraging people to report to transit authorities if they are asked to pay more.

Maria de los Angeles Pineda Villa was, for the second time, placed under a twenty day restriction order
and brought before a federal judge for organized crime.

MEXICO CITY, 01/05/2015. Maria de los Angeles Pineda Villa, wife of ex mayor Jose Luis Abarca, was transfered from the Centro Nacional de Arraigos, to Nayarit federal prison.

According to the information obtained, the female was detained together with her husband , as the suspected couple directly responsible for the disappearance of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa, on September 26 in Iguala. She was taken to the Federal Center of Social Rehabilitation (Cefereso), located en El Rincon, Nayarit.

The office of Government Security confirmed that Pineda Villa was presented before a federal judge as the suspect of organized crime.

Pineda Villela was apprehended November 4 at her home at Iztapalapa, in Mexico City, where she and her husband remained hidding since right after the students’ disappearance. She had been put under a restriction order for 40 days, and at the end of its term, the authorities prolonged the restriction order 20 more days. The restriction order expired Sunday, Jan. 4.

On the other hand, Jose Luis Abarca is kept imprison in the Altiplano prison, situated in Almoyola de Juares, Mexico, accused of murder, kidnapping and organized crime.

This afternoon, the Attorney General will be holding a press conference to offer more information and give more details about the legal implications in the case of Pineda Villa.

[readon1 url="http://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/2015/01/05/1000871"]Source: www.excelsior.com.mx - Translated by MAR Translation Services[/readon1]

Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In 2014, Mexico and Canada marked their 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the 40th anniversary of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), and the first ten years of a partnership with shared goals. Both countries agreed to further deepen their relationship and to join together to strengthen cooperation mechanisms with a strategic reach.

In February, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made his first official visit to Mexico, during which the following were signed: the third Mexico-Canada Joint Action Plan 2014-2016; a Memorandum of Understanding for the Exchange of Resources for the Management of Forest Fires; an Air Transport Agreement; and the Export Development Canada-BANCOMEXT Memorandum of Understanding and Master Cooperation Agreement on commercial financing activities.

In education, various student mobility agreements were signed to train young people in areas of interest to both countries, including: a Memorandum of Understanding between the Education Ministry and the University of British Columbia to develop a cooperation program to promote the mobility of researchers and students; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions (ANUIES); and a Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Cooperation between the Mexican Foreign Ministry and the Governors of the University of Calgary, Canada.

During the sixth meeting for consultations with Canada on new and traditional security issues, good progress was made on facilitating the exchange of information, experience and best practices among government officials of the two countries to effectively address common challenges.

The Canada-Mexico Partnership was also restructured and an Executive Committee was created to make the partnership more dynamic. A High Level Dialogue on Best Practices and Consular Protection was also begun.

The Mexican government has also maintained an ongoing and proactive dialogue with Canadian authorities to discuss eliminating visas for Mexican citizens.

[readon1 url="http://world.einnews.com/article/242694770/KL0cOKCkYYF500SC"]Source: world.einnews.com[/readon1]

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has been under pressure after revelations linking his wife and his treasury secretary to a company that received a high-speed train contract. Mexico canceled the contract and will bid it out again. (Juan Karita/AP)

MEXICO CITY — Mexico will publish preliminary terms on Jan. 14 for a $3.75 billion high-speed train contract that was abruptly canceled in November, Mexico’s Transportation Ministry said Sunday.

The government revoked the single-bid deal shortly before disclosures that the Mexican president’s wife was acquiring a luxury home from a Mexican company that was part of the winning consortium led by China Railway Construction Corp.

The terms of the tender, which will be open for 180 days, will be similar to the original one, the government said.

A supervisor will oversee the process, the statement added, to ensure “the full transparency and legality of the process from the start of the bidding process.”

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is under growing pressure to end corruption since a group of trainee teachers was apparently killed after being abducted by police and handed over to a local drug gang on Sept. 26, prompting nationwide protests.

Revelations that his wife was acquiring a home worth nearly $4 million from Grupo Higa, whose subsidiary was part of the consortium that initially won the train contract, have added fuel to the fire.

The first lady said she would sell the house, but Mexican Finance Minister Luis Videgaray’s admission last month that he also had bought a house from the company has kept the conflict-of-interest scandal alive.

The Mexican government has said that CRCC can take part in the new bidding process and that the state-owned company will bid again, after expressing shock about Mexico’s reversal.

The government has said it does not expect Grupo Higa to participate in the second tender.

French engineering group Alstom SA and Canada’s Bombardier Inc. have said they would consider taking part in the new tender.

The 130-mile line to connect Mexico City and the central city of Queretaro is expected to move 27,000 passengers daily at speeds of up to 186 mph.

[readon1 url="http://world.einnews.com/article/242676748/93gqCANKmDqZ8rw-"]Source: world.einnews.com[/readon1]