Tony Saca in the US

Tony Saca was touring the US last week. One stop was at a conference in Miami. As quoted in the Miami Herald Saca contrasted his government with "dangerous" movements in other parts of Latin America:
Saca also warned against ''a very dangerous current in Latin America,'' but said he couldn't mention any names in order to avoid interfering in another country's internal affairs.

''While other countries close businesses, confiscate businesses and shut down freedom, El Salvador has been going the other way over the past 18 years,'' Saca said.

It was an apparent reference to a bloc of political leaders led by Venezuela's Hugo Chávez -- but also including Bolivia's Evo Morales and Ecuador's Rafael Correa -- who are seeking increased state control over the economy.

Even before the civil war ended, El Salvador's leaders set that country on the path of freer markets and a smaller government, a path that Saca has continued and that he credited Thursday with the country's turnaround.

''We returned businesses to private hands, eliminated price distortions, reduced the state's role and eliminated red tape,'' Saca said. ``The productive sector began to invest again.''


Continuing a pretty much annual ritual, Saca is also making tours of Salvadoran communities in the US, urging them to reapply for Temporary Protected Status. This weekend Saca was in the state of New York, on Long Island. As reported in Long Island Newsday, the president had some remarks about immigration reform in the US:
Immigrants on Long Island can forget, for now, about the United States passing an immigration reform bill, the president of El Salvador said yesterday at a Central American festival in Deer Park.

"I don't have any hope that there will be any reform without a new president and a new Congress," President Elías Antonio Saca told reporters at the fifth annual Central American Day Parade and Festival.

Stalled amid a fierce political debate over undocumented immigrants, Congress failed earlier this year to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill. "It's a subject of human drama," Saca said of the Central American immigrant community on Long Island, the largest segment of which are Salvadorans. He added: "The vast majority are good people who are working for their families. Above all, we have faith" in immigration reform.

Comments

El-Visitador said…
«freer markets and a smaller government»

Saca is such a liar.

Our government today is much larger than 18 years ago.

Saca himself just increased the size of the government by 20% for next year!

But I don't think he realizes he is lying.

He's just an idiot.
Anonymous said…
saca is an idiot. any further proof? and what nerve does this tio have to warn of dangerous movements of govts. througout latin america, i mean, i call dangerous walking in the streets of san salvador and quezalte, a real dangerous problem which his lame administration hasn't been able to do squat, rather worsen the problem. that's some tio.
Anonymous said…
Maybe someone can answer this question, why is it that TPS is offer to 230,000 salvadoreans who qualify, but only 5% of those apply?
This is been goin on and on ever since TPS was stablished.
Why is this guy Elias Saca so desperate to almost force salvadoreans to register?
Anonymous said…
Saca and El Salvador need Salvadorans in the U.S. to register for TPS because the over $2 billion/year the 2 million plus Salvadorans in this country send home is what keeps the economy going. More people register for TPS, get some kind of temporary legal status in the U.S. and can more slightly more secure in their immigration status, and then they wire dollars back home. Oh BTW, Saca will also functions as one of the top two allies the U.S. has in Latin America, the other being Colombia. So, Saca continually sends Salvadoran troops to Iraq to fight. If Bush said stand on your head and sing "Freebird" Tony would belt it out.
Anonymous said…
many countries (Peru, Colombia, Guatemala) wish to have the same immigration privileges Salvadorians enjoy.
it's ludicrous that a group of fanatics like the ones that comment on this blog are unable to put ideology aside and give some credit where is credit due.
i'm sure you guys are the ones that at every riot were yelling yankees go home but many of you begged the yankees to let you guys come with them... bunch of hypocrites...
Anonymous said…
Saca is just one of the many clowns performing at the circus at the White House in Washington, DC, USA. He can juggle lies with the best of them and we are to be so confused that we believe it is the truth.
Anonymous said…
MY DEAR EL SALVADOR HOW I LOVE MY COUNTRY, HOW EVER, THIS PRESIDENT YES IS AN IDIOT TIO, JO..., HELLO WHY INSTEAD OF PUSHING THE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND SEPARATE FROM THEIR FAMILIES , WHAT ABOUT CREATE JOBS IN EL SALVADOR TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM SELVES , GIVE JOBS KEEP THE YOUTH DOING SOMETHING SO THEY WOULDN'T GO DO DRUGS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT, I KNOW SALVADOREAN PEOPLE IS VERY SMART SO WAKE UP WAKE UP LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELES OK YES A REPUBLICAN BUT SOMEONE MUCH BETTER THAN THAT IM AFRAID THAT THE PEOPLE THROW THEM SELVES INTO A COMUNISM OF A ENDLESS WAR NO AGAIN NO WAR AGAIN, JUST LEAVE POBERTY, SADNESS, DEATH, HUNGER, MISSERY, NO MORE WAR.
marvin vaquiz said…
well saca is a lier i agree with that,but what president dont lie tell me that.el salvador economy is based on the people that work in the u.s. It's in the presidents best intrest to make these salvadorians sign up for the t.p.s. do to the fact that these people that are in the states send millions of dollars to el sal yearly.but i will tell you that that my president mr.saca has maid a huge inprovement in the liveing style of the avarage salvadorian.he has brought american companys to el sal so his pepople's can have a better salary,he has built highways that only in the states i have seen not quite not that big as in the states but similar hey that s a major inprovement thanks to my president ,and trust me i know i live in san salvador now i used to come in the earlie 90's now i live here 2007 and it looks like some parts in the states some parts not all,so hey i give him credit some what....