Jean Pierre Antelo: “More than 11 million Bolivians are hostages to a dispute between two political actors”

The current social crisis worries the different economic actors, as well as the rise in food prices and the lack of foreign currency. In this context, the president of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CAINCO), Jean Pierre Antelo, pointed out that the country is experiencing a serious situation.accentuated by political conflicts that hinder development and suffocate the future of Bolivians.

“We are living one day at a time, without being able to plan ahead,” said Antelo, in an interview on the program ¡Qué Semana!, which is broadcast on EL DEBER Radio. In this space, the businessman analyzed the lack of certainty that affects both the business sector and families.

He denounced that the country’s economy is “on the verge of collapse” due to the indefinite blockade maintained by social sectors that support former President Evo Morales and warned about the risk of an even greater crisis if urgent measures are not taken.

For 13 days, social movements that support the former president have maintained more than a dozen blockade points in the department of Cochabamba. These people maintain that they will continue con the blocking points until the Government solves the lack of dollars and fuel.

However, the lawsuit has political overtones because they also demand that the former authority who is being investigated for statutory rape and human trafficking by the Public Ministry not be prosecuted.

Blockades and paralysis of the country 

Antelo said that the blockades, mainly in Cochabamba, have left Bolivia practically isolated.

“More than 11 million Bolivians are hostages to a dispute between two political actors,” he stated.

He emphasized that this confrontation does not allow us to solve the country’s real problems such as: fuel shortages, inflation and shortages are eroding the quality of life and generating a “numbness” in the population, which has become accustomed to living with bad things.

The president of CAINCO expressed his concern about the lack of constructive dialogue at the negotiation tables with the government. “We withdrew because there was no will to discuss fundamental problems such as the fiscal deficit and monetary policy. Solutions can no longer be short-term; We need to urgently rethink everything,” he stressed.

Impact of the crisis on companies and families

He noted that the crisis is currently hitting companies, and many have even paralyzed their operations due to lack of supplies and fuel.

According to Antelo, the continuity of this situation endangers the country’s food security: “If we do not ensure minimum conditions for the summer planting, there will be less food for families.

Antelo also warned that the current economic model, which has excluded the private sector from decisions, is unsustainable. “The economic ideology has done a lot of damage to the country. It is time to build a balanced model that works for everyone,” he said.

Despite the difficult outlook, Antelo was optimistic. “There are opportunities if we take the right steps. “We have seen interest from foreign investors, such as from India and Dubai, and we collaborate on projects with the European Commission,” he commented.

Antelo’s final message was clear: “Another Bolivia is possible, but we need political will to achieve it. We cannot continue getting used to living with the bad. “We must demand a change of course now, before it is too late.”