In the midst of the climate emergency that is plaguing La Guajira, the absence of the Minister of Education, Daniel Rojas, during a crucial presidential visit to this region has unleashed a strong controversy.
News Colombia.
This was the forceful call of attention from President Gustavo Petro to the Minister of Education, José Daniel Rojas Medellín, for his absence during the Government’s visit to La Guajira, at the height of the emergency caused by the intense rains in the region.
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While President Gustavo Petro was leading a tour of the town of Nazareth to address the environmental crisis and highlight the need to improve education for the Wayuu community, Rojas was surprised at a party in Bogotá, which generated the president’s rejection.
President Petro publicly expressed his disapproval, underlining the importance of the minister’s presence to show his face to the community. “The Minister of Education should have come here to show his face,” Petro commented during his speech, while highlighting the urgency of promoting access to higher education for Wayuu youth, as part of the comprehensive development of the region.
While the president was in La Guajira, fighting to bring solutions to communities affected by heavy rains, Rojas was seen enjoying a celebration in the country’s capital.
The fist of controversy
In the images that circulated on social networks, the minister appears smiling alongside several attendees in a bar in Bogotá, among them figures such as Augusto Rodríguez, director of the National Protection Unit, and content creators close to the government.
The controversy grew when the president emphasized the need for government officials to be closer to local communities, especially in times of crisis like the one La Guajira is going through.
Unlike Rojas, other ministers, such as the Minister of Health, were present at the visit, which amplified the criticism of the perceived lack of commitment on the part of the head of Education.
A strong call to ministers
This incident has put the responsibility of public officials in emergency situations and the government’s commitment to the most vulnerable regions of the country at the center of the debate.
In his speech, Petro also reaffirmed his intention to bring the government directly to the territory, ensuring that ministers are transparently accountable to the population.
The absence of Rojas at such a critical moment for La Guajira, added to the images of the celebration in Bogotá, not only calls into question the minister’s management, but also the coherence of the government in the face of the climate crisis that affects vulnerable communities such as the wayuu.
While President Gustavo Petro scolded him for not “showing his face” during his visit to La Guajira, Daniel Rojas would have stayed in Bogotá celebrating his birthday. https://t.co/if1kX8q65f pic.twitter.com/eHnnhm7cYE
— Semana Magazine (@RevistaSemana) November 15, 2024
“The Minister of Education should have come here to show his face,” was President Petro’s strong slap on the wrist to the ministry’s representative, José Daniel Rojas Medellín, for not having attended the meeting in La Guajira. https://t.co/if1kX8q65f pic.twitter.com/Qbr0ywJqmV
— Semana Magazine (@RevistaSemana) November 15, 2024
