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Ag. Natural Resources CEO Speaks About Corruption In His Ministry
posted (March 5, 2014)

Probably the most curious face in the whole socio-political shindig this morning was Lands Commissioner Wilbert Vallejos. Â He’s also the acting CEO in that ministry and while he had every valid reason to be there because it is a land labyrinth, he is not known for his public appearances. 

But, if we can connect the political dots, we see Willoughby airing a political advertisement and it features an endorsement from German Vega, the brother of the Natural Resources Minister Gaspar Vega. Â So, in that context them it’s not too unusual to see Vallejos at this morning’s event.

The media also used the opportunity to ask him about reports of recent firings in the Ministry – and almost “by the wayâ€￾, he gave a candid commentary on corruption in the Lands Department:

Wilbert Vallejos, Commissioner of Lands
"There are changes happening in the Ministry of Lands, strategic changes, I say, where some people are being moved indeed, and others are being put into place. The National Estate Officer, Miss Darlene Padron, has been transferred to a different ministry - a ministry where she can be of much more assistance - taking into consideration that she has a degree in sustainable development so she has been transferred to the Ministry of Fisheries and Sustainable Development. The other officer who has gone through a change is the deputy commissioner who has tendered his resignation as deputy commissioner of lands and service."

Mike Rudon
"Could you tell us if there are allegations of some sort of corruption? It is strange that three senior officers, those officers in particular, were just arbitrarily moved."

Wilbert Vallejos
"Well I don’t know if they were moved as a consequence of corruption. If we wanted to attempt to do that, we will have to move probably the entire department. But certainly, like I said, they were moved strategically. There have been a certain request - I have never gotten any directive from the Prime Minister. I know that Miss Darlene Patron has been transferred as a consequence of analysing and looking at the situation where she can be of better help and assistance in another ministry and giving someone else an opportunity who has a more in depth knowledge on land administration. Mr/ Hernandez felt that maybe it was time for him to move up or go out and he resigned. He submitted his resignation."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, are you fatigued by the various acts of - the Prime Minister said that ministry is a hotbed of corruption. Are you aware of this and are you fatigued by it?"

Wilbert Vallejos
"I am aware of it. I was aware of it from the very first day I joined the department; that was sixteen years ago. And I joined the public officers, the people who want to see acts of corruption minimized. I don’t know that we have the power to eliminate corruption entirely. I believe only god can do that. But yes, I’m fatigued with what I see and not necessarily coming from this level or that level. Corruption exists in many forms and manners. When a file goes missing, when a false report is missing, when a picture of another parcel is provided so much that there are sent to the people who are making the decisions and as a consequence of that we do not make the best decision possible because we sit in an office and we depend on the information that is provided to us. So to answer your question, yes, it fatigues, me, it fatigues anybody - anybody who wants to see a system move forward in the best way possible." 

As for the Deputy Registrar of Lands, Barony Hernandez, Vallejos says, he is not aware of any change in his employment with the ministry.

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