Chamber of Commerce Calls for “Positive News” to Help Image

(Acapulco, AN 5 November) The president of the Acapulco chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce has called upon all citizens and government officials to “accentuate the positive” about the good things happening in the port and the State of Guerrero, to counteract the negative impact of the reports of violence. Interviewed in the Zócalo, Javier Saldívar Rodríguez said that he was aware that organized crime was trying to ruin the image of Acapulco and Guerrero, and for that reason it was especially important to tell the good news of things going on in the city. “We business people are obliged to look after our city’s image, and this depends on what we say. We need to make a pact with the media, civil society and the government, and all of us need to get going.” He considered that word of mouth is the best way to counteract all the negative press. Acapulco is still going forward, and “we cannot permit this psychosis to continue so that tourists are afraid to come,” he said. The problems, he reiterated, are between “groups,” meaning competing crime organizations. He felt it was appropriate that the tourist areas be patrolled by military police and that everything should be done to keep these confrontations from occurring in the tourist zone. He asked that the government at all levels (municipal, state and federal) work together to protect third parties, and that the patrols “respect the individual rights of citizens and visitors.” He indicated that everyone should work to be sure the December tourist season reach the goal of 85% occupancy and that there not be a repeat of the results of the past long weekend, which did not live up to expectations.