The Ministry of Public Works executed more than Bs 2,000 million in two years. During that time, it invested in different projects, but at least five of its dependencies were observed for alleged irregularities and acts of corruption. The Government rejected all the complaints and the legislators of the ‘evista’ wing of the MAS and the opposition see an obstacle to the control of that State portfolio. Some social organizations demand the change of authorities.
According to the final public accountability documents, in 2021 Public Works executed Bs 1,031 million; that is, 75% of the initial budget. Then in 2022, it used Bs 968.7 million, a figure that represents 81% of the initial amount of that management.
The Vice Ministry of Transportation, which invested Bs 375.4 million in 2022, is in charge of the Bolivian Highway Administrator (ABC), Bolivian Air Navigation and Airports (Naabol); Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) and the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC). All these institutions are questioned for alleged corruption, including for the crime of drug trafficking due to the latest scandal over the shipment of 478 kilos of drugs to Spain on a flight contracted by BoA to the Spanish company Wamos Air.
To these four observed institutions is added the State Housing Agency (AEVivienda), which is a decentralized area of the Vice Ministry of Housing, which in 2022 invested Bs15.9 million.
In September of last year, Deputy Aldo Terrazas, from CC, denounced that of the 3,185 social housing that were built by AEVivienda in eight municipalities of the country, only 964 were inhabited and another 2,221 unoccupied, causing economic damage to the State of about Bs 390 million.
According to the accountability of the Ministry of Public Works in 2021, the completed houses were 2,608 and in 2022, 9,001. In execution, 5,887 houses are registered by 2022.
Due to the constant complaints and doubts about the administration of resources in the Ministry of Public Works, the pro-government and opposition legislators made requests for reports and interpellations that were later observed due to delays in responses, various reprogramming and even lack of seriousness. in the responses of Minister Édgar Montaño.
“The only coward is you, Édgar Montaño, for not having the courage and courage to investigate the acts of corruption that are happening under your nose. You do not have the slightest intention of investigating to make transparent what is happening at ABC, what is happening today in the Naabol case. Here we see actions from the highest level to defend acts of corruption and drug trafficking”, said the deputy of the radical wing of the MAS, Héctor Arce, who in April also claimed him for “obstruction” of the inspection.
The Cochabamba legislator is the politician who has clashed with Montaño the most times, since the revelation of the ABC “bribery” case in August last year.
The incident is related to the construction of the Sucre-Yamparáez dual-lane highway for which the China Harbor Engineering (CHEC) company allegedly gave a bribe to ABC officials to be awarded the project. In May, 12 people implicated in this process were dismissed and the case was closed after the unexplained death of the protected witness in this case, Felipe Sandy Rivero, which occurred in March in the United States.
In addition, doubts still persist about the meeting in a hotel between Chinese manager Jin Zhenyuan and an ABC official, who made several accusations against other public servants.
Minister Édgar Montaño assured that in the bribery case the doors were “opened” to the Ministry of Public Works and the ABC for the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate. “From the beginning I addressed brother Héctor Arce and told him: ‘do not include innocent people with lies.’ Brother deputy, what was the intention of including myself in this complaint without, obviously, having participated without knowing absolutely nothing about it?
The Public Ministry is in the process of analyzing the objections presented by the complainant. If the dismissal decision is reversed, an accusation must be issued against those involved.
Naabol and drug flight
In 2021, after Aasana became Naabol, the liquidator executed a budget of Bs 158.8 million; while in 2022 the new dependency invested in the improvement of the airports of Rurrenabaque (Bs 58.9 million), Guayaramerín (Bs 675,806) and improvement of the apron and taxiway of Alcantarí (Bs 777,928).
Added to these works are the pavement resurfacing services at the entrance to the passenger terminal and the maintenance service for spaces for passengers in transit at the Viru Viru airport, with an investment of Bs 1,045,671. This terminal is the subject of investigations due to the scandal over the drug cargo that left on February 12 bound for Spain, but which became known in May.
This fact also splashes BoA as the flight attendant. This year, at least two projects are underway, such as the construction of a hangar and maintenance workshops (for Bs 42.5 million), in addition to encouraging tourism development through the renewal and modernization of the aircraft fleet (Bs 58 .8 million). “We have a schedule of activities to investigate the drug flight case. We will have meetings with Naabol, Customs, BoA and Felcn to show them the security system at the airport,” said deputy Freddy Velásquez upon arriving at Viru Viru, where a legislative commission began the inspection.
Other cases
On June 12, it was learned that the Prosecutor’s Office admitted the complaint for five illegal appointments of officials in the DGAC. They entered to work at the request of the heads of units without having the academic training or experience to hold the positions. According to the lawyer and former official of that entity, Nelson Carpio, economic damage was caused to the State of at least Bs 1 million. In 2021, the current expense of that entity was Bs 59.3 million, which represents 96% of what was programmed.
During the preparation of the report, the statement of the Minister of Public Works was sought, but there were no responses.
THEY ASK TO CHANGE THE MOUNTAIN MINISTER
On the MAS legislative bench, the ‘evistas’ and ‘arcistas’ request the change of the Minister of Public Works, Édgar Montaño. The bloc of radicals demands his dismissal from 2022, after social organizations showed their discontent with him and after the ABC bribery case became known. Now, even the bloc close to the Government calls for the change of Montaño due to “inefficiency”.
“I am going to base the change of two ministers. To that of Public Works, Édgar Montaño, and to the Minister of Rural Development and Land, Reymi Gonzáles, who has not met the expectations of the Government’s management. There is a lot of inefficiency, they are not keeping up with the government’s management,” said deputy Rolando Cuéllar of the renovators bloc.
The Government will hold a meeting with the Unity Pact to listen to the demands and requests for change in its cabinet.
Added to these requests are other complaints about alleged hindrance or mockery of the inspection processes. The deputy of the ‘evista’ wing, Héctor Arce, mentioned in April that he had waited nearly six months for Montaño’s answer about the investment in works in Yungas, but he assured that he received a reply with links and illegible pages.
Senator Santiago Ticona even filed a criminal lawsuit for breach of duty against Montaño, whom he accused of evading his responsibility to appear for an oral report and questioning about the service provided by BoA.
