Merida entrepreneurs lobby for legislative changes

The State Congress will consider the proposals made by the Merida Chamber of Commerce….

MERIDA — The Merida Chamber of Commerce presented to the Yucatan State Congress a brief proposal of 10 points they urge the congressmen should work on, such as maintaining the distance between alcoholic beverage stores with schools and hospitals, and creating a financial mechanism to administer the new International Congress Center.

Among the issues that the Congress took on consideration last Tuesday September 19 in plenary meeting, there is this document that was sent at the beginning of the current ordinary period, with the topics of trade and tourism, health, regulatory improvement, urban development and government modernization.

Interviewed by Diario de Yucatán, Juan José Abraham Daguer, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said that their proposals were made due to issues that the private sector considers necessary to improve. Now they only await that they present the initiatives, either by the deputies or the government of the State.

“What we do ask is to be an organ of consultation, just like the other chambers, when addressing these issues,” he said.

Going into details of the proposals, the business leader recalled, for example, that a year and a half ago it was said that they intended to make reforms to eliminate the distance that is required to open businesses to sell alcoholic beverages.

“In this case, we agree that this restriction between establishment and establishment is withdrawn, because it is in favor of competitiveness,” he said.

“But the restrictions that must not be removed are at least 200 meters between an alcohol store and schools, churches, parks and hospitals, and those stores should not open in housing units,” he added.

“Yes we believe in competition, but with a social order,” he said.

Abraham Daguer clarified that making these changes would require that first lawmakers include a series of measures to combat addictions that have proven effective.

“This is because we are aware that we are the number one state in alcoholism, and it is necessary to strengthen prevention programs. We can’t remove distances without guaranteeing their strength,” he said.

The business leader added that another proposal is to find the right scheme to manage and properly operate the new International Congress Center, which is under construction.

“It could be a trusteeship or a scheme where the private sector and the government are involved, to ensure, first and foremost, that at the head of this center will be well-prepared people with professionals specialized in the field,” he said.

Another issue is to regulate the legal framework for new schemes of room rent by technological platforms. This is for the sake of destiny and property.

“It is to maintain places of coexistence, without stopping its growth. Even the leading platform in the industry is ready to participate, as in Quintana Roo,” he said.

Source: yucatan.com.mx