The Dam Channelemblematic project of the Duque government and that has been in talks for more than 50 years, is still in uncertainty, despite the fact that it has been about to be awarded.
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A few days before the end of the term, the The award process fell due to an alert launched by the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) for questioning the only bidder that was still in the process, Sacyr.
Today, already in the hands of the new Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes, this process was suspended for a month, due to a new alert launched by the CGR.
“We have decided to suspend it until September 12, it will be the last suspension made out of prudence, socialization and due diligence (…). We have agreed to visit Saint Lucia on the 26th of this month with the control bodies (…). In addition, we received a new communication from the Comptroller with new warnings that must be taken with utmost seriousness and rigor.”, said Guillermo Reyes, leader of the Transportation portfolio.
And it is that among the warnings there isa decision of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) that ordered the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) to “adopt technical protocols aimed at ensuring the search, recovery, identification, and dignified return to their next of kin of the bodies of the disappeared victims along the aforementioned body of water, approximately 9,638 people.”
On the other hand, the document indicates, according to Carlos García, president (e) of the ANI, that it is necessary to examine the financial capacity of the concessionaire, taking into account that They have been awarded the Buga-Buenaventura project a few days ago.
With all this, the different entities, headed by Minister Reyes, will initiate dialogues with the communities and the other actors to find a solution.
“Many things could happen, there are alternatives. Of course, we, out of prudence in responding to the calls of the control bodies or the JEP, made the most reasonable decision. Going out to award a project that has questions is irresponsible. And by saying that we consider it failed, we would have problems with the proponent who, in principle, compliesReyes said.
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Regarding the decision, Juan Pablo Vélez, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Cartagena, showed its willingness to the Government to work together in the dialogues.
“As we have stated previously, in our role as Technical Secretariat, from the Cartagena Chamber of Commerce, we continue working to make this project a reality, vital for adaptation to climate change, social development and the competitiveness of Cartagena and the departments of Bolívar, Atlántico and Sucre,” said Vélez.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Transportation decided to use this month to talk with the communities, the JEP and the Ministry of Environment to decide the fate of this project that seeks to recover degraded ecosystems, but also mitigate the impact of possible floods in the Caribbean region. in the face of climatic phenomena, especially in winter, which affects the surrounding territories and increases the environmental trauma.
This is how on September 12 the Transport portfolio will give its decision on the future of this project and its implications for Sacyr, the only proponent.
Paula Galeano Balaguera
