QUITO (Reuters) – Ecuadorean Indigenous presidential candidate Yaku Perez has revealed his plans to revise mining concessions that do not comply with environmental and social rules. He would also ask creditors for breathing room amid spiking violence, according to his interview with Reuters.
More than 13 million Ecuadoreans are eligible to head to the polls on Sunday. However, the contest has been marred by the murder of anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio, highlighting the sharply deteriorated security situation. The current government blames drug traffickers for the increased violence.
The candidates vying for the presidency have pledged to combat crime and improve the struggling economy, as the country faces unemployment woes and increased migration.
Mining plays a significant role in Ecuador’s economy. However, Perez, a former water activist, stated on Thursday that he would request the country’s comptroller to review contracts suspected of causing environmental pollution. He aims to determine their continuity under Ecuadorean law.
Ecuador possesses abundant mineral reserves, but it has lagged behind neighboring countries like Peru and Chile in developing large-scale mining projects due to resistance from Indigenous communities and judicial decisions that hindered development.
Perez said, “If there are audits that say they are contaminating the environment, that they are poisoning water, that they haven’t done prior consultations (with communities)… they will need to be revised. If they have complied with social and environmental licenses they will continue.”
He emphasized the importance of responsibility, stating, “We are not going to premeditatedly pursue (miners), but there must be responsibility. I respect legal guarantees.”
Perez also plans to push for a constitutional reform to prohibit mining in areas with lakes, rivers, and other water sources. Initially, he intends to send the reform to the national assembly. If unsuccessful, he will seek a referendum for voter approval.
Perez supports two environmental initiatives scheduled for the ballot on Sunday – one aims to close an oil block in a megadiverse part of the Amazon, while the other seeks to ban mining in a forest near Quito.
If elected, Perez intends to establish an expert commission backed by the United Nations to trace corrupt funds by reviewing contracts from the past 20 years. He believes that by addressing distortions and corruption and taxing defaulters, there will be no need for new loans.
Furthermore, Perez plans to approach Ecuador’s multilateral creditors and bondholders to request payment extensions due to the challenging economic and security situation.
Since being heavily impacted by the COVID pandemic, Ecuador has relied on international financing. The country reached a credit agreement of $6.5 billion with the International Monetary Fund in late 2022.
Perez mentioned, “We are in a spiral of violence: there is no work, there is no education, people are fleeing the country. Hopefully, they will understand.”
If elected, Perez will prioritize agriculture as Ecuador’s economic driver, aiming to create 500,000 jobs. He also plans to implement better social programs and data-based security initiatives.
Perez emphasized the need to regain control of the borders, where drugs enter and leave the country, as well as reclaim control of prisons where crimes are ordered.
(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
