MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ring of scandals leaves Uruguay’s telecoms company acephalous

When requesting a laptop, think twice…

Uruguay’s government telecommunications company Antel was left headless following several scandals that forced the resignation of the president and vice-president of the board.

A former police officer called Antel’s president Edgardo Carvalho simulating he was the Deputy Secretary of Government House, Jorge Vázquez (who happens to be President Tabaré Vazquez brother) asking he be appointed to the office of one of the board’s directors.

Carvalho complied with the verbal request and appointed the former policeman with a 1.000 US dollars salary who begun working at Antel vice-president office. Uruguayan government owned companies directors are entitled to contract temporary personnel for specific jobs.

However a few months later the impostor requested a laptop, so Mr. Carvalho decided to ring Mr. Vazquez to ask who should supply it: the telecommunications company or Government House.

It was then that the whole hoax came to light: the former policeman was sent to jail, his wife indicted for simulating she was a Government House secretary and Mr. Carvalho was forced to resign as was the vice president Gladys Uranga.

Only a few months ago Uranga’ predecessor as Antel’s vice-president was also forced to resign. Gonzalo Perera an outstanding mathematician claimed he had been the victim of a kidnap attempt, which a police investigation proved had been simulated.

Apparently Mr. Perara had family problems, probably cheating on his wife and involving a woman boxer who ANTEL promoted with 50.000 US dollars in publicity. Moreover Perera contracted the boxer’s boyfriend and a second person as his personal bodyguards, both with generous contracts on the government company’s payroll.

Mr. Perera just managed to avoid being sent to jail for simulating a crime but has undergone psychiatric treatment and was sentenced to community services: teaching mathematic in government schools.

By the way the woman boxer, who was promoted as the next South American champion of her category and hopefully with chances of disputing the world title, suffered a lightning defeat in her bid, in spite of the Antel promotion T shirt.