I dont know why I am surprised again and again. After Ecuador's oil sector was nationalized by current "Socialist" and "Anti-Imperialist" government, the new oil company Petroproducción received free hand to sign contracts by "contratación directa", that is, outside of the legal procedures of State procurement. They can buy anything at any price from any one. There was, as expected, an explosion of contracts, which sum 731,9 million dollars in the first year of operation. They are fast. Estimating a minimum of 15% "payola" to the people directly involved in these contracts, we have that 110 million US dollars have been "privatized". I would say half goes to the Presidente. Some people are getting very rich in Ecuador.
Someone asked why most of the new contracts were made outside of the legal bidding process? The answer: "Under the legal system we could not buy anything. This way we do as we want." True enough.
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Of course, if this was all honest the contracts and the amounts could be posted online as they were being awarded, along with any other pertinent information.
But, they were willing to steal the oil assets, so no one should be surprised at them deciding to keep stealing.
Honesty? In Ecuador? Have you been here lately? Dont go.
Have you been here lately?
I would imagine Ecuador would be a beautiful place to visit, if it weren't run by thieves.
The president and his brother would probably run the state oil ministry better if they owned it.
Like I said a month ago or more, Ecuador is not suited for life as an independent country. Ecuador needs to be somebodies colony and Spain seems the most likely candidate. The US could, but at this point we could end up promoting USG "appropriate technology" for the Ecuadorians.
The Latins often whine about US colonialism, I wonder what will happen to them now that our influence is waning.
Looking at Britain however, I am more worried about what will happen to us after the end of our "empire". Right now England has been overrun not just with colored foreigners, but with many Irish that moved to England after Ireland was given its independence. On top of that England has a socialist north (Scotland) that is leading this rabble in the displacement and possible elimination of the English people.
Ecuador is one of the least stable coutnries of the world. Presidents are displaced every few years, so each one knows that he has only a very limited time to fill his pockets. That is the reason stealing is done so grossly: there is no time to soften the impression and hide the details.
That makes me respect Mexico somewhat more. Mexico has been able to have a stable group of thieves and socialists running the government for the last 70 years.
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