Bolivia Socializing Water for All

La Paz
Mar 14
Bolivia will defend the right for people to use water in the World Water Summit, since water should be used to "fight world poverty instead of for a few to get rich," said Bolivian high official Abel Mamani.

Mamani, Bolivian Minister of Water, said his administration will defend water against privatization.

He mentioned the case of enterprise Aguas del Illimani, controlled by the French firm Suez, which operates the water service in La Paz and the municipality of El Alto.

The Bolivian government decided to retire the French company´s control over the Bolivian enterprise, and now the matter is pending legal procedures.

Mamani said that in the city of Mexico, where he will go on Wednesday, he will state the position that the service should be given by the local government, with social participation and possible association with private investors.

He said he will demand that international financial organizations not give loans for privatization of basic services, including the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and reasserted the rights of peoples to have access to water.

He made his statements after a meeting with President Evo Morales and the Mayors of La Paz, Juan del Granado, and El Alto, Fanor Nava.