IN STEREO

There is also a neglect of the city. That’s why it looks dirty. It looks degraded, doesn’t it? Tourists who come say that if it was clean [and] conserved, it would be beautiful. People always make excuses. For example, because they throw trash, they say there are no bins in the street. Then people can keep it in their pocket, can’t they? People say, “But if there are other people who throw it, then why wouldn’t I?” So there is that problem, too. It’s like people do not like their city. People are always feeling sorry and remembering when we were a rich city. They ask others to value it, but it is that same inhabitant who doesn’t value Potosí. We [in government] have a lot of responsibility.

We have to abide by the regulations. I think we are to blame for it if UNESCO removes us [from the World Heritage list]. It’s our fault. But I’d say it is also because of the ignorance of those people. Because it’s not heritage for them like it is for me, nor will they look after it. Many people ignore the heritage that they have; they are not conscious – that is also why. People know the churches as heritage, the Mint – they recognise that. The Tower of the Company of Jesus, they recognise that as patrimony. But they do not recognise their dwellings, streets, squares. They are part of the patrimony – they are fundamental elements – but they don’t recognise that it is everything. – Jimena