Bernal initiates municipal anti-corruption drive dismissing 10 officials

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuela's most criticized mayor Freddy Bernal has announced the dismissal of 10 Libertador municipality officials for alleged acts of corruption. 

The move is said to be part of an attempt to answer long-term criticism that the Mayor has neglected bread and butter issues in his Caracas municipality for political forays and one-upmanship. 

"These 10 officials will be subject to administrative reviews and will be taken to court if there is evidence of corruption ... let us see if we can we can put some corrupt persons in jail in the Bolivarian Republic." 

Speaking at the 1st Bolivarian Promotion of Police Officers, Bernal has declared that he has embarked on an anti-corruption drive and warns rookie officers that they must be firm in the face of bribes and corruption as well as confronting criminal bullets. 

The Mayor has come under fire for the continuing high level of homicides in his municipality and critics have questioned his use of Bolivarian Circles in the municipality, arguing that if they are neighborhood watch committees, they have been unsuccessful in controlling the crime rate.