Today is a very special day, Potosi celebrates 201 years of freedom, since the time it started its independence quest from Spaniard rule. When I was a child, I used to hear the following: “Potosi had electricity long before Paris” “Potosi was twice the size of New York” and so on… there is even a saying “it is worth a Potosi,” a saying that is used in some Spanish-speaking countries to show great wealth, originally attributed to Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra, Spanish writer, baptised October 9, 1547 – April 23, 1616. The picture on the right, is from the wealthiest and most famous mountain of the world, appeared in www.hoybolivia.com, on September 2, 2011.

Los Tiempos published this:

The Potosinos are today commemorating their 201 years of their fight for freedom, without the presence of current Bolivian president’s attendance to the major civic events, who in a surprise move, left the Imperial Villa [colonial name] yesterday afternoon after attending the session of the Departmental Legislative Assembly.

Communication Minister, Ivan Canelas, said the president made ​​that decision “not to tarnish a celebration,” in direct allusion to the determination of some civic leaders in Potosi that will march today in the civic parade. [according to radio Panamericana, today at 7:39, the march intended to shout “federalism,” and that may have caused the unitary state president to leave in a hurry]

The presidential’s action was described as a “disrespect” to the region by the opposition and civic sectors, who regretted that once again Potosi, in its anniversary, there is nothing to celebrate; with the same six regional demands pending for attention and outstanding, for which last year’s there was the record full 19-day strike, during this government’s rule. [I’d say on behalf of whoever celebrates: truly friends and sympathizers will attend your celebrations, no matter what; and as for all the others, better if they don’t stay, you should party with whoever likes you]

To ensure the presence of the President at official events, Potosi leaders altered the program and anticipated some acts, such as the session of the Legislature; now with the president’s unattendance, is a fact that angered some Potosino leaders. For today’s session, there are scheduled City Council honor the Te Deum and institutional civic parade.

According to the Potosi government, seven out of ten Potosinos subsist on mineral extraction. Arnulfo Gutierrez, secretary of Mining and Metallurgy from the Government Department of Potosi, said to La Razon that mining is everyday’s life. “Potosi is the most traditional mining department and thanks to this we have a source of income. 70% of people live from mining. ”

Oscar Gardeazábal, president of the Chamber of Mines of Potosi, agrees with this data. He says that the fate of mining in Bolivia is on the dependence of the  international markets. “While this is very volatile, we expect the trend of prices continue to rise.” [I’d certainly hope so, but trends are showing the opposite]

Higher valuation of minerals in the international stock markets are in the interests of Potosi; the metals most valuable in the region are silver, lead, tin and zinc.

According to reports from the Ministry of Mines, until September 30, 2011 the  achieved revenues were in the amount of 130 million dollars, an amount greater than what was achieved last year. Out of the total national mining royalties, 70% goes to the department of Potosí.

For the full Spanish article, please use this link:

http://www.la-razon.com/version_temp.php?ArticleId=2600&EditionId=2711&idp=10&ids=532

Knowing the Potosi people, I’d say that some of them need to work more on their self-esteem; forget about the glorious past and work hard on a more competitive basis. Potosi may have given too much wealth to Spain, and the Bolivian Republic, thanks are in order. Now use what you have: incredible and beautiful architecture, relics, nature wonders (like the salt plains in Uyuni and the beautiful red and green lagoons, are a few of Potosi’s beauty and potential.)

If you ask most Bolivians about what they think about Potosinos, most if not all will coincide that Potosinos are good noble people, so congratulations to all of you, wherever you are!!