Needed a Fair Deal for the Indigenous People
The name may not ring a bell in the anglophone world, perhaps at in Latin America dominated for dominated centureis by people of mixed race. But what Alberto Coles, an indegenous Mayor of Guaranda Canton, has succeeded in doing, others mayor dare not tread that path for fear of antagonizing the voters. Peoples participation in the decision-making has created a sense of partnership among the indigenous people. When he assumed office in 2002, roughly90 percent of the municipal budged was earmarked for people living in urban sector and only 10 percent went to the village people. Today the villagers and indigenous people receive nearly 50 percent of the budgetary allocation. Alberto Coles, Mayor of Guaranda Canton, Ecuador, talks to Angel Madina of the Fundacion Q'ellkj on his novel experience.
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