In other news out of municipal government, the San Ignacio Mayor Earl Trapp is once again locked in a dispute with his majority PUP councilors on the twin towns mixed slate.
The municipality is hiring a new administrator - and the first requirement on the advertisement clearly says that they must possess a bachelors' degree. an administrator is the most senior post in a council and they basically run all the towns affairs.
Earlier this week, the council with input form independent businesspersons - held screening interviews for about 6 candidates. In the end, the majority selected a candidate with a high school diploma - who got the highest score.
Today, Trapp said it is a step in the wrong direction - and he's written to the ministry of local government to try and stop it:
Earl Trapp - Mayor, San Ignacio
"The person with the highest points is the person with the least qualifications as it relates to academics. You know we had several candidates with a Bachelor's Degree/Master's Degree and of course experience but they chose the candidate with a high school diploma from 1981. I wrote a letter earlier to the Ministry of Local Government, to the director to intervene as I believe the person that was appointed does not meet the minimum qualifications of a Bachelor's Degree while we have 10 other candidate with a Bachelor's, why resort to a high school diploma? I think this a total disrespect to the people that have taken the finances and time out their busy schedule to study, to pursue a degree, to better improve their livelihoods and just to give this job to a person that has a high school diploma. I have nothing against anyone with a high school diploma but I believe we have elevated this town council to a level that were are suppose to uphold and we need the people with the proper qualification."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you believe he was selected because he is a PUP?"
Earl Trapp
"Mr. Jules I don't want to get political but definitely he serves the PUP party and I will tell you what, I have no objections for the council to select or appoint a person that supports their party, my major concern is to appoint a person that has the qualifications and the experience because the end of the day I will tell you that politics is a part of our lives but we have to know when to get professional. As the mayor of this municipality I am tasked with the responsibility to provide proper guidance and direction to this council and I believe this is where I am stepping in as a responsible leader to ensure that we get the person with the best qualification at this time I'm earnestly asking that we come together and do the right thing and appoint the person with the proper qualifications and experience."
Trapp says two o the 43 independent businesspersons on the screening committee selected the candidate with a master's degree.
