Sidewalk complaints, Ex-comptroller accused, SRI order called illegal, French film festival

Martes, 5/12/2016

Hola, Todos –

Pagina cultural –

Upcoming agenda events –

Libro – Carlos Váconez will present his book of stories, “Jardines Lewis Carrol” (Lewis Carroll Gardens) el viernes a las 18:30 in Pálier Café Libro at the Casa de la Cultura del Ecuador. <Reminds me of “A Child’s Garden of Verses.” Did anyone else grow up with that?>

Danza – The Primer Festival Nacional de Danza “Niña Ñan” to promote traditional dance will be Wed. in the Teatro Sucre. 7 groups from 4 provinces will be on stage.

Opening – Stone art by Gabriel Cabrera from Nabón will open el jueves a las 19:00 in the Galería de Oficios in the CCE. He makes both utilitarian and decorative items from stone.

Articles about –

María del Mar – This young writer won first prize in the “Primer Concurso Literario para Niños y Jóvenes” (First Literary Contest for Children and Youth) and she proposed compiling the stories of the 9 winners into a book. “Yo cuento” (I tell or I count) was published by Santillana under their “Loqueleo” (WhatIread) program.

Filme Francés – This film festival started Tuesday and runs until 15/12. 10 films will be shown, all at 19:00 in the auditorium of the Alianza Francesa. The first film was L’Assassin Habite AU 21.” Free.

5th Anniversary – UNESCO declared el Tejido Tradicional de Paja Toquilla del Sombrero de Paja Toquilla Ecuatoriano (Traditional straw weaving of the “Panama” hat) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage 5 years ago on 5/12/2012. There were activities in Parque Calderón and the Economuseo Casa del Sombrero Tuesday.

Tribute – There will be a concert Wednesday a las 20:00 en el teatro Carlos Cueva Tamariz with 3 university professor-musicians playing a tribute to cuencano rock. <If you’re a professor in performing arts, is a public performance the equivalent of the publish in “publish or perish?”>

Otras cosas –

Titular – El excontralor chantajeaba para cambiar informes (The ex-Comptroller blackmailed (officials) to change reports) – José Conceiçao Santos, the ex-director of Odebrecht in Ecuador called ex-Comptroller Carlos Pólit the “4th power” in the gov’t who allegedly blackmailed mayors, prefects, and asambleístas into changing reports. He also heard Pólit on the phone with Glas about altering reports from the Comptroller.

Vía Sígsig-Chiguinda-Gualaquiza – The road which is being built by the Chinese contractor Sinohydro, should be done in enero, 2018. The most critical stretch and two bridges still need to be built. The unfinished stretch is almost at the crown of the El Churuco hill and is critical because of its narrowness. <From the picture, I’d say this the scariest road I’ve seen. Uphill is an overhanging cliff, it looks to be one lane wide, curvy, and a straight drop on the downhill side with no shoulders and no paving.>

Tranvía – The city was scheduled to sign the $48,132,448.08 contract to complete the Tranvía Tuesday a las 16:30. <Note my pessimism about translating that the contract had actually been signed. I’d rather wait for confirmation in tomorrow’s paper.>

Deportiva Cuenca – The president of Deportiva Cuenca issued a surprise announcement just as El Mercurio was closing the issue, that he was resigning.

Reporting to SRI – The Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce noted that on 20/11, the SRI required natural and legal persons resident in Ecuador to report their monetary assets (bank accounts) outside of the country since 2014. The Chamber argued that the SRI Resolution is null because it is retroactive. The resolution requires people with $100,000 or more in 2014 to report by 29/12/2017. Report on years 2015 & 2016 until 31/1/2018, and on year 2017 throughout febrero. <Something to ask the experts about – like the SRI – not your next door neighbor who spends all day on the internet debating with people who know no more than he does about anything.>

Lawsuit avoided – Ecuador came to an agreement with the Burlington oil company. <Google it if you’re interested – my very iffy translation would be inadequate.>

Sidewalks – Citizens have been complaining about the state of some sidewalks where “no se puede caminar” (you can’t walk) because of damage and deterioration. If you want to make an official complaint, go to City Hall on Sucre across the street from Parque Calderón. Later, technicians will inspect the sidewalk in question. Some sidewalks that are going to be rebuilt are Juan Jaramillo, Manuel Pangol, av. Francisco Sojos, av. 24 de Mayo, La República, av. Viracochabamba, Carlos Arízaga Vega and calle Quisquís.

And that´s all for today so Hasta Mañana –

Jeanne