A tour of inaugurations and million-dollar promises
President Claudia Sheinbaum spent the weekend touring Baja California and Sonora. His schedule was full of ribbon cutting and construction announcements. The highlight was in Guaymas, where there was talk of a private investment that would make any accountant blush.
“It is a very important investment of 130 billion fundamental pesos, which finally begins this year,” declared Sheinbaum.
That figure, 130 billion, is for the expansion of the Port of Guaymas. According to the official version, work will start in the first quarter. The justification: the eternal problem of the gas pipeline has already been resolved.
Many projects, the same speech
Between selfies with young people and more announcements, the tour included several inaugurations. The Tijuana viaduct (first stage), a maritime control center in Ensenada, a highway that connects Sonora with Chihuahua. They even sunk an old ship to create an artificial reef.
A justice plan for agricultural workers in San Quintín was also presented. A sensitive topic that usually remains in promises. Memory is long: how many similar plans have we seen born and die?
Governor Alfonso Durazo took the opportunity to ask for more resources. And he got them: 300 million for a new customs office in San Luis Río Colorado. The press conference became a parade of executives explaining their projects.
Vice Admiral Bañares Rosete detailed four key projects in the port. A liquefied natural gas terminal for 6.8 billion dollars. Another container terminal for 424 million. All with very specific completion dates: March 2027, April of this year…
The businessmen were even more specific. They talked about reducing the cost of gas by 30%, multiplying the daily movement of containers by 25 and even exporting Ford vehicles starting in July.
The numbers sound impressive. The timing, perfect. The photographs, idyllic. But in this job, one learns to listen to what is not said as much as what is pronounced with great fanfare.
How many times have we heard similar announcements at the beginning of an administration? The true proof is not in the communications, but in the port logs a year from now.
