A Mexican Senator and former Mexicali Mayor introduced a bill to strengthen influence of ambassadors and consuls in order to promote a better image of the country and respond more appropriately to messages delivered overseas against Mexico.
Sen. Víctor Hermosillo, a National Action Party member from Mexicali, introduced a bill to reform the Mexican Foreign Service Law that, if enacted, would give Mexico’s representatives more power to influence officials, lawmakers and community members worldwide.
The bill also seeks to make sure positive information of the country is disseminated in order to have a better knowledge of the nation’s reality.
Mexico, he said, is one of the countries with more representatives globally with 81 embassies, 67 consulates, and 7 permanent diplomatic missions.
“The image and perception of our nation is as important as the protection of Mexicans outside our borders,” he said. “Although the message outside depends on the internal results, diplomacy has the obligation to launch more overwhelming impact and, as consequence, results that improve the image of the country in the exterior.”
Sen. Hermosillo recalled 6 million Mexicans live in the United States illegally, while 6 million more have permanent residence, and 23 million are American citizens.
“For decades, we have lived under a complex that has forbidden us from acting based on our interests, but thanks to the craziness of Donald Trump many have opened their eyes, because with his
discriminatory actions he has put us on the debate in both countries,” he said.
The bill was endorsed by 15 senators and sent to the Upper Chamber Exterior Relationships and Legislative Studies commissions.
State grew 6.3 percent in 2015
A Mexican agency said on a report the Baja California economy grew last year 6.3 percent, the third largest growth nationwide.
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography, or INEGI in Spanish, said the rate is the largest among the northern border states and the highest in the last 11 years.
According to the State Economic Activity Quarterly Report, Baja California’s primary economy –agriculture, livestock, and fishing- increased 8.7 percent, the secondary 9.4 percent, and tertiary –trade and services- increased 4.3 percent.
The same agency said as of March, the state had the lowest unemployment rate among northern border states and seventh nationwide with 2.95 percent.
Based on Mexican Institute of Social Security figures, the state has observed the opening of over 108,000 permanent jobs in the last two years.
Robbery suspect indicted
A man who allegedly committed several robberies against businesses was indicted, said the Attorney General’s office.
Assistant Attorney General in Mexicali Fernando Ramírez said the suspect was identified as Jonathan Jordi “Doe”, 23.
The suspect was arrested April 20 after the owner of a water business located at Misión de San Diego Avenue and De las Galerías Street reported a robbery.
The business owner said the suspect arrived and threatened her with a knife to deliver money.
The suspect considered the money was not enough and inspected the site to find additional funds but to no avail.
The suspect then hid the knife and fled from scene on foot.
Police agents found and arrested the suspect moments later.
Ramírez said the judge gave prosecutors one month to close the investigation.
Robbery suspects arrested
Six men were arrested by state police officers for having active arrest warrants for robbery, said the Attorney General’s office.
Among the arrested men authorities said Rubén Rodolfo “Doe”, aka “Rodo”, was arrested in connection to a June 2015 residential robbery at Camino Nacional Avenue and Zacatecas Street.
Authorities said the suspect along with two other men entered a residence and hit the victim with a tube.
The suspects left the residence with an air conditioning unit, the victim’s wallet with 1,500 pesos or close to U.S. $100, and a cell phone.
Another suspect arrested was identified as Francisco Javier “Doe”, who along with two other men arrived at a residence at Fraccionamiento Villa Verde and brandished a firearm against the victim and a neighbor to rob them cell phones, wallets, purses, a computer and 100 pesos.
Gilberto “Doe” and Jesús Antonio “Doe” were also arrested for the Feb. 12, 2014 robbery committed at a residence at Fraccionamiento Lomas Altas neighborhood.
The suspects arrived on scene and threatened the victim with a machete and a firearm.
The suspect left the residence with a television set.
The six men were booked in Mexicali Jail, authorities said.
