DistantNews
Support us
Mariano Roque Alonso Residents Decry Potholes, Blame Officials After Heavy Rains
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡พ Paraguay /Environment & Climate

Mariano Roque Alonso Residents Decry Potholes, Blame Officials After Heavy Rains

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Residents of Mariano Roque Alonso, Paraguay, are frustrated with persistent potholes after recent heavy rains.
  • Citizens criticize the outgoing mayor, Carolina Aranda, her husband, and local council members for alleged complicity and inaction.
  • A citizen activist recorded a car falling into a pothole, highlighting the poor infrastructure and blaming local officials for failing to address the issue.

Citizens in Mariano Roque Alonso, Paraguay, are expressing outrage over the deteriorating road conditions, particularly the prevalence of deep potholes, following recent heavy rainfall. A video shared by a local activist captured a car being swallowed by a pothole in the Concordia neighborhood, intensifying public criticism of local authorities.

Cesar Luis Benitez, a citizen activist, recorded the incident and shared it on social media, sarcastically addressing the outgoing mayor, Carolina Aranda, and her husband, deputy Marcelo Salinas, who is also running for mayor. Benitez criticized their administration, ironizing about the "smart city" promises made to residents. He also noted that Aranda had previously blamed the state water company, Essap, for similar incidents.

It's the worst to live here in Mariano Bache Alonso, Thanks Carol and Marce, the great saviors of the city. Here is the smart city you promised us. It's Essap's fault and now she's going to blame the MOPC.

โ€” Cesar Luis BenitezAn activist's sarcastic commentary on the poor road conditions and alleged official inaction.

The municipal government has also pointed fingers at the Ministry of Public Works for delays in road projects and the lack of progress on a significant sewerage program funded by international credit. Benitez expressed frustration, stating that even a five-hour rain leads to such conditions, and directly blamed Aranda, Salinas, and the complicit council members from both liberal and colorado parties for their ineffectiveness.

Adding to the public's dismay, Julian Vega, a mayoral candidate from the ANR party, is accused by some citizens of being complicit with the Aranda-Salinas "clan" during his tenure, failing to provide genuine opposition. Residents in the San Luis neighborhood, adjacent to Concordia, are particularly incensed, feeling that officials like the mayor and her husband recently paraded a newly cemented section while their own streets remain in a state comparable to a "rally" due to the numerous potholes.

Just five hours of rain and this is the situation we have here. Thanks to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Mayor and her councilors. How wonderful. Total shame. Carolina Aranda, Marcelo Salina and all your cronies and all the councilors. Colorado, liberal, you name it. You are all legally useless.

โ€” Cesar Luis BenitezExpressing deep frustration with the local government's failure to maintain roads.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.