Paraguay
Luis Bello's administration in Asunci f3n remains marked by service crises, complaints and debts
According to an analysis published by ABC Color, more than a year after the change of mayor in the Paraguayan capital, problems with sanitation, roads, irregular revenue collection and the financial situation inherited and worsened at the Municipality of Asuncif3n persist.
The administration of Luis Bello at the Municipality of Asuncif3n continues, according to a review by ABC Color, to face the same structural problems that plagued the administration of d3scar c2abNenechoc2bb Rodredguez, despite changes in officials and interventions ordered in different areas.
According to that outlet, the capital still has dirty streets, deteriorated avenues and a poor service both for pothole repairs and garbage collection. It also notes that the intervention in the Roads Directorate, decided after the scandal known as the abasphalt mafiabb and the departure of Nicole1s Duarte, did not change the picture. Nearly two months after the appointment of the intervenor d3scar Pe9rez, the city continues to show potholes and neglect.
ABC Color adds that the crisis in Urban Services deepened with the arrival of five directors in less than a year, without that managing to stop dumps or improve cleanliness. At the same time, it says complaints continue over parallel collection schemes within the municipality.
Among the areas mentioned are the Municipal Inspection Police, headed by Constantino abTinobb Ayala, and the Consumer Protection Directorate, led by Carlos Morel Gadea, both candidates for council seats for cartismo, always according to ABC Color. The outlet also mentions filings by lawmaker Johanna Ortega, Bruno Martednez and Maximiliano Seiferheld, who denounced pressure on restaurant businesses through threats of fines. It also recalls a complaint by councilman c1lvaro Grau about the c2abcajoneoc2bb of reports in the Municipal Inspection Police.
In the case of Roads, ABC Color says a complaint by councilman Pablo Callizo pointed to the use of asphalt mix, machinery and municipal trucks in private works, with an alleged diversion of between 80 and 140 tons of asphalt and around 1,200 liters of fuel per day. As a result of that case, Bello’s administration opened disciplinary proceedings against 20 officials, including former director Duarte, while the Prosecutor’s Office charged five people, including four low-ranking ones.
The report also focuses on the municipality’s financial situation. According to ABC Color, the Municipality of Asuncif3n has accumulated US$ 22.2 million in unpaid interest maturities on bonds issued, a debt that includes commitments inherited from the administrations of Rodredguez and Mario Ferreiro. Although Bello made partial payments to avoid lawsuits, the outlet says defaults continued to occur.
Those claims were filed before the Superintendency of Securities of the Central Bank of Paraguay. In addition, a shareholders’ meeting called by the brokerage house was to verify the disbursement of G. 41,101 million promised by the municipality and analyze possible legal action. The scheme mentioned by ABC Color also foresees deferring G. 181,048 million until March 2027, with final cancellation projected for 2035.
In terms of infrastructure, the outlet adds that the storm drainage works financed with the G8 bonds remain delayed, in a context marked by the diversion of G. 512,000 million from that issuance during Rodredguez’s administration.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
