The Minister of Economy stated that the new Ministry was created when the budget for 2011 had already been established and that it should use the funds of the institutions that make it up.
Juan Ossio, recently appointed Minister of Culture, assured he will propose President Alan García to allocate a percentage of the funds coming from the tax on mining to support the new Ministry.
“Just like Chile uses a percentage of the mining tax funds for arms build-up and if we are interested in disarmament, it could be possible to use a percentage of the tax on mining to support culture”, were his words.
He added: “Our country’s economy depends greatly on mining economy. We could use mining revenues to support culture and, thus, send a message to the world. This is what I would like to suggest to our President”.
PRIORITES ARE JUST BEING ESTABLISHED
Ossio Acuña specified that he will first revise Indepa and Law on Patronage’s budget (the latter was allocated to the Ministry of Culture) to then “establish real requirements, in order to guarantee a comfortable budget”.
THE MINISTER DISCARDED ADDITIONAL BUDGET
Mercedes Aráoz, Minister of Economy, stated a few hours before Ossio’s appointment ceremony took place that “the Ministry of Culture was being created when the last details of 2011 budget were being checked over. Thus, part of the Contingency Reserve provides for its creation; it will also operate with the funds of the institutions that constitute it.”
Aráoz also affirmed that “(Minister Ossio) must form a technical team Vice ministers”.