The mayor of Montevideo, Caroline Cossehe came back to defend the construction of antel arenacriticized in recent days for its investment instead of projects related to water during the last government of the Broad Front, and asked that stop using the sports complex “as an excuse against the enormous improvisation”.
“Antel is a company that financed its own projects”, Cosse highlighted at a press conference held this Wednesday, in which she assured that during the period in which she presided over the state entity this “it contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to General Revenue”, which “allowed the construction of schools, high schools, UTUs and hospitals”.
For this reason, Cosse believes that “The story would have been different if during the government of Mr. Lacalle (Herrera) Antel had been soldwhy there goodbye to the transfers to General Revenue that Antel made”.
The mayor also highlighted various projects that the organization carried out in the past administration of the Front, such as the “fiber to the home”which according to Cosse “he made a better pandemic happen because he allowed education will not be suspended and allowed many people telework”.
“Antel carried out a submarine cable, an entire underwater system in partnership with Google. led a world class data center that changed, for example, the audiovisual industry once and for all, along with other measures that we promoted with the Ministry of Economy, and also carried out the Antel Arena”listed the mayor.
Astori’s statements: Cosse’s non-response and the reaction of his former undersecretary
Leonardo Carreno
Danilo Astori with Pablo Ferreri, former Undersecretary of Economy. (Archive)
This Wednesday the former Minister of Economy Danilo Astori stated that the decision to move forward with the construction of the Antel Arena was taken over by former president Tabaré Vázquez, and indicated that the position had “negative effects on other investment possibilities”between them one that “is showing consequences right now” in water scarcity.
Asked about Astori’s statements, Cosse refused to respond to the former minister: “I don’t talk to my colleagues through the press.”
However, together with Cosse at the conference was present Pablo Ferreri, former Undersecretary of Economy of the Front and current coordinator of the Investment Commission of the Capital City Hall. After Cosse highlighted Antel’s achievements in the past period, Ferreri took the microphone and said that “cannot be compared linearly” the project of the casupá dam with the one from the Antel Arena since he understands that it is “an error” and a “fallacy”.
“The government of Dr. Vázquez made an infrastructure plan that was record”, with an investment of “12 billion dollars”highlighted the ex-hierarch, who shared the direction of the Ministry of Economy with Astori during the last government of the Front.
“It is not that they did not invest in water and sanitation. OSE within that plan invested more than US$ 450 million in access to water and sanitation. It’s not that there wasn’t a plan,” he emphasized.
In addition, he stated that the Vázquez government left the “detail engineering” and agreed to “financing” with the Development Bank (CAF) for the construction of Casupá. “We are in the fourth year of this government, the question is why this government chooses not to do Casupá”Ferreri criticized.
