Fabián Gutiérrez, President of the Deliberative Council of the Salta municipality of Aguas Blancas, where a 200 -meter spike wire will be built, in the passage with Bolivia, he was in favor of the security measure but warned that The decision “could harm the economic activity of the region.” The young libertarian councilor reached his bank as the most voted in his city, in May 2023.
After the ratification of the Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich and Governor Gustavo Sáenz to build the fence, Gutiérrez said he agreed that everything fits law and requested that an adequate infrastructure be guaranteed so that the customs control is agile. “We must not forget that the commercial activity between the two countries is the livelihood of many families, not only of white water, also from Oran and other locations. It is necessary to offer viable alternatives for border trade,” he said in an interview with FM Professional , from its province.
Asked about what improvement should be realized, by the hand of the wire, he explained that “the infrastructure of the integrated control area has not been extended or updated to respond to current demands, which generates long rows and delays in the migratory and customs procedures” . “The simplified regime for micro -importers promised in 2019 was not yet implemented successfully and this causes people to resort to unable steps. We need a system according to our reality and an adequate infrastructure to consolidate White Aguas as a border trade city” , he added.
Gutiérrez is the author of the ordinance that approved in December the Deliberative Council that declared Aguas Blancas as the Border Trade Citywith the aim of improving government control facilities and extending to 24 hours the operating hours of the international step. “We need measures that regularize and enhance our economy,” he said. This connection point with Bolivia shows intense activity in recent months because the exchange rate favors the acquisition of products with the neighboring country, from food to purchase of vehicles.
Another concern, he said, is the tax rule that limits merchants to enter products with a maximum value of 500 dollars per month, a figure that, according to Gutierrez, does not conform to the labor reality of the region. “We want to be recognized as the city of commerce and provide tools that strengthen our economy,” he said.
“In favor of smuggling”
In September last year, in the midst of fury of Argentines who crossed Bolivia to make purchases, in an interview he expressed “in favor of smuggling.” “In my city, irregular activities predominate such as smuggling that, in terms of law, it is a commercial custom, an activity that generates a certain community by custom and this is a legal conflict,” said the councilor in FM 96.5 that this Year plans to receive a lawyer. “Bancas Aguas lives from this trade that has caused this town and other surrounding not to fall into poverty, which generates direct and indirect benefits, even for taxi drivers and races,” he said.
“The people of outside will criticize this but as a neighbor and representative, I am in favor of smuggling because it is what has benefited our area so that they do not fall into a situation of economic marginality. It is a crime, but commercial custom is the source of law; I speak in the purely commercial, ”he reflected.
Gutiérrez entered the Deliberative Council with 51% of the votes, in the provincial elections Salteñas of May 2024, in the hands of the Organized Regional Federal Federal Party (FARO). He had long been linked to the economist Carlos Maslatónformer libertarium, that the day of the elections greeted him in X for the result obtained. “The best of tonight. Fabián Gutiérrez Tapia, from Aguas Blancas-Salta, a great personal and political historical friend, has been elected councilor with more than 50% of the votes,” said Maslatón, then. In his accounts on Facebook and Instagram, Gutiérrez also shows together with the president Javier Milei.
“We don’t have to agree with Bolivia”
Given the relevance of the announcement to raise a fence with wire and the controversy around the decision, even for the claim against the Bolivia government, gave a press conference Virginia CornejoDirector of Border Surveillance. “The work that will be done in the Aguas Blancas area is essential to control the entry of narcotics to our country. We do not have to agree with Bolivia to carry out these works, although the Argentine Foreign Ministry is in constant dialogue with the neighboring country On other issues of mutual interest, “he said.
The official stressed that while Bolivia has exercised control over the river on the border, “our country will take the reins of territorial control to eradicate drug trafficking, within the framework of a broader national security policy.”
He stressed, anyway, the importance of reaching consensus between the two countries in other aspects, such as the connectivity problems faced by the inhabitants of the awnings, in northern Salta, which depends on the passage through Bolivian territory to then access that little locality. “It is essential to work together to improve connectivity and resolve the inconveniences that affect the citizens of the region,” he concluded.
Source: Ambito
