On Tuesday, the House of Representatives presented a report on the interpellations to the designated secretaries of Health and Education, Carlos Mellado López and Elba Aponte Santos, respectively, recommending that the appointment of the Minister of Education be suspended.
“Finally, we recommend Dr. Mellado López to work with the Chamber and Senate, as well as the other dependencies of the Legislative Assembly, to improve the protocols against COVID-19 for the benefit of the health of all”, said Representative Sol Higgins, who chairs the Chamber’s Health Commission at a press conference.
The Chair of the Education Committee, Deborah Soto, for her part, has recommended that the Senate not confirm Aponte Santos as Education Minister.
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“In the report, it is important for us to know that it also concludes that the designated secretary Elba Aponte Santos was evasive in answering the representatives’ questions. He did not present a concrete plan for reopening schools, he does not have a protocol to address COVID-19 on school campuses and he has not explained to this House of Representatives and the country how he will ensure a healthy living environment for our youth and children, ”said he.
“Because of all of the above and because of her questionable performance in handling other matters at the Ministry of Education, we conclude in this report that the designated Elba Aponte Santos is unwilling to perform her duties as Secretary of the Ministry of Education”, he says. added.
“It means he doesn’t have the qualities needed to run the Department of Education in times like this,” he said.
He explained that the House’s recommendation is to delay the reopening of schools until August 2021 and establish a “real plan” to reopen schools and enact the COVID-19 protocols.