"Somebody has got to pay," says politician
VITORIA, Espirito Santo - In the small city of Viana, 18 km from the state capitol, Vitoria, the four cemeteries have become so full that the city government is threatening to disinter the deceased to make room for the recently departed.
Viana Bahia (photo: adjorisc.com.br)
The rich agricultural land was first settled in the 19th century by German and Italian immigrants and later by Azorians. While the city looks for land to build a new cemetery it is considering digging up the dead to make room for more.
The dead can only rest in peace if family or friends pay a $400 "resting tax" which will be used to pay for the new cemetery. "It's only fair", said the mayor. "Somebody has to pay."
In addition to overcrowding, the aging cemeteries have other problems. There are broken markers and graves with no identification. The assistance of paid professional "locators of the dead" are sometimes needed to find a loved ones final resting place.
"I always record the spot I bury people", said gravedigger Ocalino Teixeira. "In the old days--who knows."
The city manager, Paulo Otto, says that the city isn't at fault. "It is all the new cars and motorcycles that people are buying--and crashing," he said. "People used to live a lot longer before."
The city has put out the word that unless the new tax is paid relatives run the risk of coming to one of the cemeteries to visit loved ones and finding only an empty hole and a bag of bones. Any remains buried more than three years is subject to the new tax and at risk of disinterment.
The poor can apply for a waiver from the new tax said the city manager.
"It isn't fair," said one woman. "They waste so much money on useless things."
"We already pay so many taxes," said another. "A tax on the dead--what's next?"
Read also: More Articles from Brazil Dispatch
Brazilian online news source for this article: O Globo
Do you like this post? Please link back to this article by copying one of the codes below.
HTML link code:
0 comments:
Post a Comment