One of the most powerful political clans in La Guajira is that of María Cristina Soto, better known as ‘Tina Soto’, This political group of the Conservative party is made up of the representative to the chamber Juan Loreto Gómez Sotoson of Tina, the current mayor of Barrancas Vicente Berardinelli Carrillo and the former mayor Iván Mauricio Soto Balán, nephew of Tina Soto.
Follow La W learned about the millionaire contracts that total more than 38 billion pesos that would benefit the father of one of the members of this political clan. Although the resources come from an inter-administrative agreement that was made with Invías, it isThe purpose of the project would be to pave and make a footprint plaque to the entrance of the farm of Milsiades Soto Gómez, father of Iván Mauricio Soto Balan, former mayor of Barrancas and brother of Tina Soto.
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These are two contracts; The first is 267 of 2023, quickly awarded to the Sierra Azul Consortium by the former mayor of Barrancas Iván Mauricio Soto Balan worth 12 billion pesos.
The second contract is 139 and was awarded by another member of the political clan, the current mayor of Barrancas Vicente Berardinelli, who on March 26 delivered the second phase of this contract for 26 billion pesos.
In dialogue with Follow La W, the observer Luis Emiro Solano, reported that “Clearly where the work is intended to be built is a private area of mining influence.” where resources cannot be invested”
He details that: “That contract was awarded by former mayor Iván Mauricio Soto Balan and the main beneficiary would be his father who has a farm in that region.”
Additionally, Solano explained that where the work is intended to start, It does not merit such a large investment because it is flat land.However, the part that really does need that footprint plate is the area of the farmers who dedicate themselves to agriculture, that is, the upper part in the vicinity of the Serranía del Perijá, “In the high areas, access is very difficult and it is even more complex for farmers to get their products.”
“Why do they have to intervene in a private area and not where it is really needed?”
Finally, he claims that Accessing the information on these contracts has been very complexbecause as an oversight body they had to file a protection action that they won in the second instance.
Additionally, It follows La W had access to several contracts that total more than 100 billion pesos and its objective is the construction of a footprint plate in the municipality, although the resources are from Invías, the irregularities have already become evident. “Many of these works already have cracks and that worries us, they are large investments that will be very difficult to see again. “They have not guaranteed the stability of the works”
Additionally, he revealed that the community of Barrancas is opposed to this million-dollar contract and that is why they suggested to the contractor that he start much later and of course this work would reach the entrance door of the estate of the Pope of former mayor Iván Mauricio Soto Balan.”
