Alejandro Buzó, director of Zonal Markets, appeared unsolicited before the full Municipal Board to respond to accusations of alleged “parallel cash boxes” at Municipal Market No. 4. Buzó called the allegations “extremely serious” and denied the existence of a scheme that would collect G. 100 million per day.
During his presentation, Buzó showed charts and data that, according to him, surpass the averages of previous administrations. In ten months at the helm of the markets, the administration handled G. 3,377,096,700, with a monthly average of G. 337,709,670. “We have an average daily collection of between G. 12 million and G. 15 million at Mercado 4,” he stated.
Buzó explained that all revenue from Mercado 4 is collected by a private security company and sent to the central headquarters of the municipality. “Not a single guarani stays in the Markets Directorate to manage improvements, absolutely nothing. Just as it is collected, it goes directly to Revenue and those are the amounts that are there and can be confirmed,” he said.
Regarding the formalization of the site, requested by councilwoman Rosanna Rolón, Buzó detailed that there are 3,212 registered permit holders in the municipal markets, with 2,415 exclusively at Mercado 4; 255 at Mercado 1; 182 at Mercado 5; 157 at Mercado 2; and 106 at Mercado 3.
Despite the progress, the director stressed that his administration operates “managing misery,” with no petty cash and minimal resources for basic maintenance. He mentioned that Mercado 4 lacks drainage, roofs in good condition, and a fire protection system.