• MILITARIZATION: President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s decision to transfer the management of Mexico’s seaports and merchant shipping from civilian to military hands provoked today the resignation of the country’s Transport Minister who warned about his serious concern about the move.
• CIVILIAN: While legal aspects have not being detailed, López Obrador said yesterday he believes that the 103 Mexican seaports should be under Navy control to prevent corruption and contraband. The now former Transport Minister, Javier Jiménez Espriú, opted to step down.
• CONCERN: “I regret not having succeeded in transmitting my conviction and concern to you, on the serious importance that I consider this measure have for the present and the future of Mexico, both economically and politically”, said Jiménez Espriú in a letter dated June 17th but published today
• MERCHANTS: Earlier this month, Mexican associations of merchant shippers expressed their opposition about the Navy taking control of merchant shipping, commercial shipping training, and commercial operations at seaports. Since 1977, Mexican seaports have been under civilian hands.
