[...]Mabuhay, my colleagues and I heard of your blog over at McBrides, so we thought we would take a look. We’ve read several of your posts and we all agree that you have a fine writing style[...]
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Loggy

Needless to say, the City of Revelstoke, which exhibited all the indifference of Antel, did not care. In fact, they hung up on me in the middle of my tirade! My lawyer did not find enough grounds for legal action at a reasonable cost. Eventually, I had to accept reality and get back to business. Didn’t make it go down any easier, however.

I actually enjoyed this as I went to the local cafe and chatted with many folks. They say this does not happen often.

If we were in San Francisco or New York, people would have assumed the worst…a terroist plot of some sort.

In Montevideo, people just took it in stride as something that happens. But if you own a business here, this “something” may adversely affect your bottom line.

Snowykarma

>>I wouldn’t give up on Uruguay yet.  We need more businesses to help make it better.

The Southron

I am so sorry to hear that the problems with Antel are exposing a system that is obviously not providing a serious service to its clients. What other levels of government are also showing incompetence and indifference?

I have been reading your page for the last few years and have found it incredibly helpful for a source of information on Uruguay.

I am from Canada and have been seriously considering investing large sums of money in the country including thinking of relocating with my family of four children. As well I have discussed the investment opportunity of Uruguay with many of my clients and friends, having convinced many that there is a real and safe opportunity in Uruguay. I intend to travel down their soon and confirm this or not.

That being said, this disturbs me that repeatedly I have read online how Uruguay is trapped in a culture of indifference to quality in business and governance. Though I definitely intend to investigate the situation for responsible business and governance practices in Uruguay further with a path finding mission to the country, I now bare in mind that Uruguay is not at the level of competent business practice that would be required for a modern economy at this time. Though with some serious commitment on the part of the government and the citizenry this could and should change for the positive.

I remain hopeful that the forward thinking progressive section of the Uruguayan citizenry will strongly push for a business friendly enviornment in the governance of the wonderful country of Uruguay.

Buenas suerte to all who strive for excellence in life and business,

Terence Laverdure
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
President
Exigency Management Consulting Canada Corporation
tclaverdure@exigencycanada.ca

>>My name is David, my pen name is The Southron, maybe “Ron” came from that?

Good thing you did not decided to move to Uruguay in the 70′s. You would be in jail by now. Talking that way about the government…that is a no-no.

Do what most Uruguayans do. Tell your story to your friends over a “cortado y medialunas” and you will feel better.

Looking forward to meet you on my next trip to the “paisito”.
I buy the first round (cortados y medialunas of course)…

As historian of the Uruguayan state, I can only assure you that this tendency to do what’s best on their own schedule, not necessarily for their constituents, hasn’t changed much in the past 92 years.

If you look down a few postings, David, you obtained something that you couldn’t receive anywhere else, and that was help for your body. Maybe that isn’t enough to compensate for this stunt, but it surely must be worth a lot.
Just something to think about.
Loggy

>>The improvement in my health is priceless and I have written a great deal about how great the medical care is here.  in fact, I have written a great deal about how wonderful almost everything is here. My question to you is this:  Would you have me lie through omission about the bad things here and lure people to Uruguay where their businesses could be destroyed by ANTEL’s incompentance?  Would that be better for Uruguay?  Would that be better for the people who suffer losses?

I have thought about it at length–perhaps you should think about it some more…

The Southron

Is there some way through the connections you have, perhaps your lawyers, to be able to communicate this sorry episode to higher levels in either the government or Antel than you have been able to do so far? It seems that would be the only positive that could be gained. Namely, to draw enough important attention to the matter to at least get dialogue on such matters. It is incredibly important to fostering an environment favourable to future entrepreneurial efforts locating in Uruguay.

The arrogance of Antel in deciding not to notify customers until the last minute, particularly business customers, is not justified. As you have noted, the plan to replace existing cables, was already known well in advance of their notification. It would take only a modicum of intelligence to realize shutting off the cable access for five days might have a significant financial impact on some customers. While the actual timing of the notification is a management problem, the idea that customers are not important enough to warrant more concern is a far greater problem.

Only acceptance by government officials of a need to change and pressure from those officials downward will create a change. Perhaps your unfortunate circumstances will be a most illustrative example. Perhaps something positive for the future can be attained.

Syd