Venezuelan Housing Project Built by Turkish Firm Shows Structural Failures Amid Favoritism Allegations

Amidst the ruins of the Hugo Chávez housing complex in Playa Grande, Venezuela, a startling sight emerged after a recent earthquake: twisted, sunken, and scorched metal skeletons of prefabricated buildings. Survivors and international correspondents observed what initially appeared to be foam insulation, but was revealed to be fiberglass, used between drywall and plastic-clad facades of 196 towers constructed by Summa, a Turkish company previously unknown in Venezuela.

The project, built between 2011 and 2015, was once hailed by Hugo Chávez himself as a "marvel" with "very appropriate technology for this area facing the sea." His endorsement came during a televised inspection in August 2012, as he was campaigning for what would be his final election. However, documents obtained by Armando.info paint a different picture, exposing a web of favors and connections between Venezuelan regime officials and Summa executives.

“

a marvel

These documents detail the project's true costs, revealing an average of $76,287 per housing unit. Central to this network of influence were Selim Bora, president and son of Summa's founder, and José Gregorio Bracho Reyes, who served 15 years as Venezuela's diplomatic representative in Turkey. Their careers advanced in tandem: Summa secured deals in Venezuela, while Bracho Reyes expanded his diplomatic profile, despite limited prior experience.

This proximity and parallel growth facilitated an exchange of benefits, including Bracho's proposal to appoint Bora as an honorary consul for Venezuela in a Turkish resort town. The structural failures observed in the aftermath of the earthquake raise serious questions about the quality of construction and the alleged favoritism involved in awarding the contract for this "marvel" of urban development.

“

very appropriate technology for this area facing the sea