Riviera Maya, Q.R. — A Quintana Roo government official has resigned from his position following criticism about a recent trip. Héctor Contreras Mercader, the now former General Director of the Quintana Roo Tax Administration Service (SATQ), quit after financial questions arose regarding his attendance at the NBA finals in New York.
Although Contreras Mercader claimed to have paid for the pricy trip from his own money, he resigned from his position Thursday.
Contreras Mercader attended an NBA finals game at Madison Square Garden in New York. According to local media, his monthly salary is 64,000 pesos, however, the ticket for the game cost around 250,000 pesos.
The now former official stated that his decision to resign was in accordance with the principles of transparency and accountability that govern the state administration.
“In accordance with the principles that govern public service, as well as with the commitment to transparency and accountability of the state administration, I have made the decision to submit my resignation from the position of general director of the Tax Administration Service of the State of Quintana Roo,” he stated.
He also said that his attendance at the NBA finals game was in a personal capacity and outside of his public duties, adding that he requested two days work leave without pay and that he had covered the travel expenses and the purchase of tickets for the game with his own resources.
“My attendance at a basketball game in New York City was strictly in a personal capacity,” he said.
The former official said he chose to step down to prevent the controversy from continuing to generate accusations that could affect the work of the state administration.
“The sole purpose of this decision is to avoid hindering the proper functioning of the public administration or giving rise to accusations that distract from institutional work,” he said.
Government officials have not commented on his attendance or his sudden Thursday morning resignation.
