Latin American history has been marked with unrest, revolution, corruption and more. Since 1999, Latin America has experienced a series of changes in politics and attitudes toward the world in response to the expansion of capitalism and attendant ecological crises. In the last three years, many Latin American countries have chosen leftist governments.
In this special report, David Pazmino and the Hispanic Organization for Latin Americans (HOLA) presents a series of interviews from the Republic of Ecuador. In these interviews of government officials conducted and translated by Pazmino, we will hear the situation in Latin America from the best source, its people. This series of interviews is not meant to judge what is good or bad, but only to inform.
David Pazmino: Why did you decide to run for assembly member to help draft the new constitution?
Carmita Ponce Rodil: I received an invitation from six movements and political parties in recognition for my social work during the last fifteen years.
DP: Which party did you decide to join in your bid for assembly member?
CP: I decided to join the labor movement’s syndicates and decided to form movement 55.
DP: Is the assembly to form a new constitution necessary?
CP: We’re looking for a constitution that defends the civil rights and civil liberties of Ecuadorians. In this new constitution we need to reinforce the punishment for those that break the law. We are in favor of approving the death penalty for extreme cases.
DP: What actions will you take to conserve the environment?
CP: This is a very complicated topic. We humans have used and abused nature as we please, and now we’re living with the consequences of our actions. In the case of the Gal’aacute;pagos islands, we need to change their special constitution, and find ways to better conserve their environment.
DP: Should we, in the new constitution, keep the use of the American dollar.
CP: During the time of the Sucre, our old currency, there was a large inequality in the distribution of wealth. With the help of the dollar, we have created a more equal distribution; therefore, we need to keep the dollar at this moment.
DP: Do you agree that in the coming years we should switch to a regional currency?
CP: We have to see how the country develops economically in the coming years. We have to see the conveniences and the inconveniences of changing currency, always keeping in mind the best interest of the people, which will benefit us all.
DP: In what direction do you think the change in Ecuador is heading?
CP: All Ecuadorians are hoping to see a change that will represent Ecuador 100 percent. Ecuador sadly does not have the economic resources to undergo a large-scale change.
We need to create a country of workers, not of beggars. We need to create a more efficient progressive income tax, where those with more money pay more taxes. We need to create laws that will regulate the income that people receive, in order to assure that economic resources are being distributed fairly. We need to progressively increase the minimum wage in order to match the basic cost of living. We need a country where there are liberties, and where we all are respected and treated equally and fairly.
DP: Does your movement agree with the ideals of President Correa’s movement?
CP: We as a whole movement have decided not to unite with any other movement, but to go by our own ideals.
Note: She ran in general elections to become an assembly member to help draft the new constitution of Ecuador, which will be voted on this June.
However, she was not successful in her bid.