Banana producers from El Oro defend the autonomy achieved by the Port Authority of Puerto Bolívar during the referendum in 2000 and disagree with the issuance of Executive Order 287 of April 3 that eliminates the port boards of Puerto Bolivar, Guayaquil, Manta and Esmeraldas.
Raul Lara Carrion and Eduardo Morocho Calero, president and vice president of the Chamber of Banana Producers from El Oro, said that even though the objectives stated in the presidential decree that eliminated the boards of four Ecuadorian state ports were clearly established, Puerto Bolívar, which was built through the efforts of the industry, deserved a better fate.
Lara indicated that centralism would never be good for those regions that wanted to advance, plan their future, and make their own decisions. He also said that Puerto Bolívar was going to become dependent on the decisions made by the high governmental authorities represented by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works.
He noted that the banana producers from El Oro had the right to defend their institutions and, in turn, require that the central government make better decisions. He also expressed he agreed with their concerns.
Executive Order 287, signed by president Rafael Correa, transfers the management of the ports of Guayaquil, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, and Esmeraldas to the Ministry of Transport and Public Works. This order eliminates the directory of the four port authorities. The new structure is a single port authority, the MTOP, that will manage the ports to in search of efficiency and specialization; all framed in the Strategic Mobility Plan.
In addition, the Decree creates an Undersecretary of Ports. Currently, the authorities are analysing whether or not a public company should be created to operate the ports. One with a business and profitability sense and capable of coordinating but not competing. Puerto Bolívar is one of the main ports for the shipment of bananas destined mainly for Europe. Nearly 80% of Ecuador's banana production is shipped through this port.
Source: diariopinion.com