NEWS

Paraguay's Threshold Program starts operations
In a ceremony at the Palacio de López, attended by President Fernando Lugo and the U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay, Liliana Ayalde, the second phase of operations of the “Threshold Program” was presented.

This two-year US$ 30.3 million grant from the Millennium Challenge Corporation will be administered by USAID/Paraguay. The funds donated by the U.S. government will help fight corruption, and benefit the following public institutions: Public Ministry, Judiciary, Controller General's Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Customs, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of the Interior and National Police. Del acto oficial participaron también el presidente de la Cámara de Diputados, Enrique Salyn Buzarquis, el ministro de la Corte Sindulfo Blanco, el fiscal general del Estado, Rubén Cándia Amarilla y el ministro de Hacienda, Dionisio Borda. The official ceremony was also attended by the Head of the House of Representatives, Enrique Salyn Buzarquis; a Minister of the Supreme Court, Sindulfo Blanco; the Attorney General, Ruben Candia Amarilla; and the Finance Minister, Dionisio Borda.

"The six components of the presented plan are fully consistent with the purposes of the government," said President Fernando Lugo in a speech delivered during the official ceremony at the Government Palace.

President Lugo called on the three branches of government to engage more actively in the fight against corruption. “Es necesaria la participación decidida de los poderes públicos y la misma ciudadanía”, resaltó. "The decisive participation of all branches of government and the citizens themselves is necessary" he noted.

Meanwhile, La embajadora Ayalde, por su parte, dijo que la primera fase del programa cumplió con todas sus metas y objetivos. Ambassador Ayalde said the first phase of the program met all its goals and objectives.

"Today is a day to celebrate together, in order to fight corruption upfront, and decrease the levels of contraband and other crimes", emphasized Ambassador Ayalde, while also mentioning that her government is ready to support this new initiative to strengthen democracy and consolidate the Paraguayan institutions.

The En evento tuvo lugar en la sede de Gobierno, el Palacio de Lopez, el dia 15 de Octubre a las 9:00 de la manana. event took place at the Governmental Palace, Palacio de López, on October 15th, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.