(c) The Vieques Times 1996

Comptroller, CODEFIN, and City Hall The case of the Comptroller's reports on City Hall and CODEFIN [A non profit corporation that operates independently of City hall although it does some work for the City] has resounded on radio, TV and newspapers. Talk show hosts point out the mismanagement of public funds to the tune of $5 million in City Hall dealings and more than $11 million at CODEFIN. (The present administration has dealt with over $40 million in municipal budgets apart from the many agency, State and Federal grants.) City Hall has mostly refused to discuss the issue: "I donít have to give any explanations. My friends donít require them and my enemies wonít believe them." CODEFIN does not have to use the bidding process for contracts awarded. She took exception to their criticism of large contracts to an "inlicensed" electrical engineer representing an unknown corporation and using a different name from that which he now uses in the Senate. Then she seemed to be struck by a sense of outrage and launched a tirade against opposition candidate Damaso Serrano Lopez, who she suggested was somehow behind this whole conspiracy. With broad gestures and vitriolic facial grimaces, she shouted on camera: "You, Damaso Serrano, you canít cut our throats. We are a corporate entity, before you can cut our throat, weíll cut yours. Your throat, Damaso. Yours and all your followers who try to harm us."