Mexico unveils 'Corruptour' to showcase corruption in Monterrey

MONTERREY , Mexico, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Mexico's Via Ciudadana initiative, a group of citizens looking to solve problems in the state of Nuevo León, unveiled a new tour Sunday that showcases the Monterrey landmarks where corruption and fraud have taken place over the years.

The "Corruptour" will take citizens and visitors through places including the Government Palace, State Congress, VIP Tower and the infamous Casino Royale -- the site of a narco arson attack where 52 people died in 2011 -- among other places, in an effort to expose the sites for the problems they perpetuate in the community.

"Our objective is to open people's minds and for them to realize that being corrupt is not okay and that we shouldn't allow for the corruption tactics that we see exposed in the tour," said Lorenia Canavati, the founder of Evolucion Mexicana. "This is nothing but proof of what has happened, there is still a lot more to recount."

Riders aboard the Corruptour will get a tour of the city's landmarks as narrated by a recording that recounts their historic value through taunts featuring talks between two fictional characters: a Monterrey resident and a "cynical" politician.

Among the criticisms pointed out in the tour are the government's daily spending of 2,000,000 pesos -- roughly $150,000 -- on its image and the untimely campaigns by politicians looking to run in the upcoming 2015 elections.

The 11-stops tour lasts about 45 minutes and beggins its route in front of 5 de Mayo street across from the Government Palace in Monterrey. The free tours will be given every Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sunday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

"What encourages us to offer this tour is not the complaint per se, it's especially about putting one of our most crucial problems in context, to touch on it and understand our role in history in front of it."

The Corruptour gave its first tour Sunday to Vía Ciudadana staff members. Tours will open for the public this weekend.