Conflict on Quito Anthem continues  

Since last week, in schools and High schools, the second stanza of the provincial anthem was replaced by the fourth. This reform was done by order of the Ministry of Education and has caused different reactions.

Augusto Espinosa, head of the Ministry of state, said on his Twitter account : “The educational establishments in the capital will close the events with the stanza of the hymn that values ​​Quito as “Light of America.” ​​This stanza will replace the one that mentioned Spain as shaper of the city.

According to Secretary of State, the modification is determined by a city ordinance. The legislation has not been repealed and that, he said, should be followed.

However, Mayor Mauricio Rodas said that the anthem should be sung as “Quito’s people use to sing it”. That is, with reference to the Spanish conquest.

During the last Weekly Address of President Rafael Correa, papers with the anthem were placed with the version that the Government promulgates.

Rodas, however, says that the city has problems of more interest and for now, changing the anthem is not on his list of priorities.

Earlier this year, the former Mayor Augusto Barrera established by ordinance, to change the anthem. This change was requested because, in the opinion of the Government, the version is an ode to colonialism.