Southern Cone infra and water watch

ARGENTINA

President Alberto Fernández has been ordered to testify as a witness in the trial of his vice president and former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner for alleged corruption in public works contracts during the latter’s administration.

The current president, who had served as cabinet chief during the governments of both Cristina Fernández and her late husband Néstor Kirchner, will provide testimony on February 8, state news agency Télam reported.

The vice president is accused of illegally directing public works contracts in Santa Cruz province to businessman Lázaro Báez while she was president.

PARAGUAY

Paraguay’s section of the so-called bi-oceanic highway could be  finished in five years from now, since construction of the first stretch is very advanced, according to the head of the strategic projects office DIPE, Jorge Vergara. 

The first stretch involves 277km between Loma Plata and Carmelo Peralta, on the border with Brazil, while the budget for the second stretch (Cruce Centinela-Pozo Hondo) has been approved, and the third (Pozo Hondo-Mariscal Estigarribia) would be the easiest to complete, Vergara said in a public works ministry statement.

In total, the Paraguay section involves 600km between the Argentine and Brazilian borders, while works are also underway on a new bridge on the border with Brazil, while an agreement has been signed with Argentina to develop a new border pass. 

CHILE

The municipality of Puchuncaví (Valparaíso region) will claim damages in an environmental tribunal and file a lawsuit in a separate court against those found responsible for an oil spill that affected the local Quintero bay this week. 

“The pipeline that failed shouldn’t have been working, and now we have fuel in the bay and new damage to the community,” mayor Marcos Morales told Radio Biobío.

The municipality of Quintero also announced legal action over the incident, which left 200l of oil spilled in the bay.