Opinion: I Decided to Break the Silence and Talk About Corruption in Brazil

05/04/2015 - 10h30

I've given it time, but with the release of the Petrobras audit I have decided to break the silence and express my opinion on facts that have caused so much damage, tangible and intangible, to Brazilians. I'm referring to the subject that has occupied our day-to-day life for almost a year: corruption and the lack of a clear agenda of growth with development for Brazil.

Corruption is a serious problem and must be treated with respect for the law and the principles of the democratic rule of law, but it is critical that the nation's energy, particularly from leaders, authorities and media, be channeled to the debate on what we need to change the country. Those who live here want to look to the future with optimism - that we cannot forget - without having to digest the past and the present.

The Petrobras audit has a symbolic dimension when you say there were US$ 2 billion in losses caused by corruption and US$ 14.5 billion lost to strategic, managerial and operational mismanagement.

These are numbers that leave me without words, but I use them to illustrate the urgency with which we need to get rid of these two plagues, because both corruption and mismanagement are drains that suck in wealth, energy, public money and moral values, draining promises, possibilities and hopes.

We paid a very high price for failure, procrastination and error in decision-making. We paid a very high price for the "Brazil cost," which raises the prices of our products and services, and discourages the country's competitiveness. We paid a very high price for budgets without projects and for political interference in the management of our public companies.

Therefore, we need to mobilize for the sake of growth with development, renewing our perceptions and behaviors and proposing a future agenda, shared with society in a process of change to which the media have much to contribute.

Incidentally, the essential fiscal adjustment package could not occur without a clear definition of where, how and when we want to go, tied to the pillars of this agenda that the moment requires. Our desires and intentions must be transformed into goals and priorities clearly defined with those responsible for making them happen.

Few Brazilians have a sense of how much works or investments are taxed when paralyzed several times during implementation. There are workers, equipment and resources involved. And then they are not needed. Then they are needed again, and so on. Who pays that bill?

The lack of planning and previous decisions also end up being huge cost generators for the country because when you don't do what is necessary in the appropriate amount of time, without doing it in the way it was done before, and without projects ready and the necessary financial recourses in place, it ends up being much more expensive.

We cannot forget the damage caused by institutions responsible for monitoring, auditing, environmental approvals, etc., when they decide to extend or halt projects necessary to the country - often for political or ideological motivation, in many cases also with the help of those responsible for meeting their requirements, which are not anticipated and do not meet the terms and conditions set forth in.

The need to tackle corruption is real. Just like it is necessary that society, the media and leaders act so that Brazil stops tolerating incompetence, irresponsibility and a lack of preparation in public administration. Because the cause that is common to all of us is the construction of a better country for future generations.

EMÍLIO ODEBRECHT, 70, is chairman of the Board of Directors of construction company Odebrecht S.A.

Translated by JILL LANGLOIS

Read the article in the original language

	Martin Kovensky