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Carnival Director Resigns Abruptly, Citing Lack of Dialogue
🇨🇴 Colombia /Culture & Society

Carnival Director Resigns Abruptly, Citing Lack of Dialogue

From El Tiempo · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Juan Carlos Ospino resigned as director of the Barranquilla Carnival S.A.S. just six months after his appointment, citing internal disagreements and a lack of dialogue.
  • Ospino stated he was not given a chance to discuss the decision before it was made public, which caused him emotional distress.
  • He emphasized that his complaint concerns the process and communication, not the mayor's authority to appoint his team.

Juan Carlos Ospino, the former director of the Barranquilla Carnival, has broken his silence following his abrupt resignation, revealing that a lack of dialogue was the primary reason for his departure. Ospino stepped down just six months into his tenure, a move that marks the second consecutive change in leadership for the organization responsible for Colombia's most significant cultural festival.

I asked for a space for dialogue.

— Juan Carlos OspinoOspino explained his dissatisfaction stemmed from not being consulted about the leadership change.

In an interview with Emisora Atlántico, Ospino clarified that his dissatisfaction was not related to the appointment of Jhonny Insignares to the District Culture Secretariat. He acknowledged Insignares' capabilities and recognized the mayor's prerogative to select his administration's team. However, Ospino strongly criticized the manner in which the change was communicated.

"I asked for a space for dialogue," Ospino stated, later elaborating on his core grievance: "I did not have the opportunity to dialogue for a minute." He described the public announcement of his replacement as causing him "emotional damage," a reaction that ultimately precipitated his decision to leave his post.

I did not have the opportunity to dialogue for a minute.

— Juan Carlos OspinoThis statement summarized Ospino's core complaint about the lack of prior communication regarding his removal.

Ospino also reflected on interpersonal and political dynamics within work teams. While avoiding direct confrontation with Mayor Alejandro Char, he offered a pointed observation: "It is important to always treat a friend as a friend and not as a political ally." He further asserted, "Friends cannot be treated like toilet paper."

It is important to always treat a friend as a friend and not as a political ally.

— Juan Carlos OspinoOspino reflected on the nature of relationships within political and professional circles.

The former director reiterated that his concerns are about the process and communication, not about the mayor's authority to appoint whomever he deems fit. "I understand political dynamics. The mayor is elected to choose his government team," Ospino said, underscoring that his departure stems from a perceived lack of respect in the handling of the transition.

Friends cannot be treated like toilet paper.

— Juan Carlos OspinoThis strong metaphor highlighted Ospino's feeling of being discarded without consideration.
About this summary

Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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