Security Secretary Sergio Berni has defended the government’s security agenda saying Argentina was showing a “constant drop in crime rates,” quoting a report by the United Nations that says Argentina, Uruguay and Cuba are among the safest countries in Latin America.
“There is more violence but there is not more crime. Insecurity exists, but it is not the same as it was in 2001,” Berni told a TV news show today.
Although he acknowledged crime does show worrying trends in certain areas of the country, the official explained the Cristina Fernández de Kirchner admisnistratiuon has an active security policy nationwide. For instance, in the city of Rosario in the province of Santa Fe that has seen a spike in drug trafficking-related murders over the past years, the Kirchnerite administration has “strongly intervened,” Berni asssured.
The federal secretary also took the chance to renew his criticism of the performance of the Buenos Aires City Metropolitan police. “The Metropolitan Police practically does not exist, it has no actions rather than that of political marketing. That is why we have to take charge of the district’s security.”
Justices got some of Berni’s attention as well in this morning’s interview. “If we removed them and put some vendig machines (intheri place) it would be better,” the Kirchnerite said ironically then affirming that the “mainstay in the fight against crime” was the judiciary system.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald