PRSC deputies requested yesterday that Minister of Industry and Commerce Angel Lockward resign his post out of a sense of shame. Angel Lockward is a controversial member of the Partido Reformista Social Cristiano that accepted a post in the PRD Mejia cabinet. PRD deputies don’t like him either and would also like him to resign because they feel his performance harms the political organization. The PRD deputies will ask him to visit Congress for questioning. Lockward reacted by saying that whether he stays or not depends solely on President Mejia. He delivered a reformed Petroleum Law to President Mejia. His modifications would allow the President discretion in setting fuel prices. This would contradict the spirit of the law which was to remove politics from the ups and downs of petroleum prices. Lockward has already violated the law by adding new charges to the price of fuel. The recent 25% increase in the cost of propane gas announced by his department during the Easter holiday has met with widespread opposition.
