Background and Context
In Puebla, Mexico, the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) owes 121 million pesos to 16 construction companies that completed restoration work on temples damaged in the 2017 sismo. The situation has left these companies without payment despite their timely completion of the tasks.
Key Players and Their Roles
José Ramírez, the director of inmobiliaria 2 RR, speaks on behalf of the contractors. He has requested dialogue with INAH’s national head, Omar Vázquez Herrera, to address irregularities and receive a prompt response regarding the unpaid debts.
Víctor Hugo Valencia, an anthropologist and former INAH head in Puebla, initially invited the contractors to participate in temple restoration projects. However, his transfer to Morelos led to Ambrosio Guzmán, an architect, taking over the role for a year. Manuel Villarruel then became the INAH director in Puebla, but his administration ended early in 2021.
Timeline of Events
- 2017: The sismo damaged 415 properties in Puebla, representing 63% of the restoration work needed in the Mixteca region.
- 2021: Contractors completed restoration work on the damaged temples, adhering to deadlines and budgets.
- August 2021: Ex-INAH delegate Manuel Villarruel informed contractors that the reconstruction program for damaged properties would conclude by 2026.
- 2021-2025: A budget of 135 million pesos was allocated for 18 restoration projects.
- September 2021: Manuel Villarruel’s tenure as INAH director in Puebla ended.
Current Situation and Demands
The frequent changes in leadership at the Puebla INAH branch have resulted in confusion and a lack of accountability for the restoration debt. Contractors claim that INAH central has refused to acknowledge their investments since 2021, preventing them from receiving payment for completed work documented with bitácoras.
José Ramírez has urged Omar Vázquez Herrera to engage in dialogue with the affected companies, address irregularities in Puebla, and provide a timely resolution to the unpaid debts.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the contractors demanding payment from INAH? The contractors are 16 companies that completed restoration work on temples damaged during the 2017 sismo in Puebla.
- How much are the contractors owed by INAH? INAH owes the contractors 121 million pesos for their completed work.
- Who are the key figures involved in this dispute? José Ramírez, director of inmobiliaria 2 RR, and Omar Vázquez Herrera, the national head of INAH, are central to this situation. Former INAH heads Víctor Hugo Valencia and Manuel Villarruel also played roles in inviting contractors to participate in restoration projects.
- What is the timeline for resolving this dispute? José Ramírez has requested dialogue with INAH’s national head to address irregularities and receive a prompt response regarding the unpaid debts.
