Uruguay presidency delays release of documents in shipyard lawsuit

A Uruguayan legislator is seeking access to documents concerning a lawsuit filed by Spanish shipyard Cardama against the Uruguayan state. The shipyard initiated international arbitration after the government terminated a contract for the construction of two oceanic patrol vessels.

Nationalist deputy Pablo Abdala invoked Uruguay's Public Access to Information Law to obtain a copy of the complaint. However, the presidency's Deputy Secretary, Jorge Díaz, responded by invoking a 20-day legal extension, stating that the initial 20-day period was insufficient to provide a complete answer.

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the petition is under study, for which the initial period of 20 business days is insufficient to provide a response.

Abdala acknowledged the government's right to extend the deadline but questioned the administrative necessity for the delay, given that the document already exists. He expressed low expectations for receiving the information within the extended period and indicated he would pursue all available legal mechanisms if necessary. Abdala also noted that the current Minister of Defense, Sandra Lazo, is expected to present the relevant documentation when she testifies before a special bicameral parliamentary commission in July, alongside former ministers Javier García and Armando Castaingdebat.

The dispute centers on the interpretation of contract clauses regarding applicable law and dispute resolution. While the government argues that Uruguayan courts should handle legal disputes, Cardama has initiated international arbitration in Paris, citing clauses that allow for arbitration if technical aspects cannot be resolved by the classification society, Lloyd's Register.

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the government is within its rights... to establish the extension, but I value politically that the document already exists and there are no administrative reasons not to provide it.