Former governor refuses invitation to command Port of Itajaí

Eduardo Pinho Moreira, former governor of Santa Catarina, turned down an offer from Itajaí’s mayor, Volnei Morastoni, to take over as the superintendent of the city’s port terminal.

The mayor met with his party colleague on March 27th, where he offered the position to him, since the current superintendent, lawyer Fábio da Veiga, is requesting a leave of absence for personal reasons. With the refusal, it is uncertain whether this process will continue.

According to Pinho Moreira, taking on the role now would be a “very drastic change” in his life, as he would have to move to Itajaí – currently, he resides in Florianópolis – and dedicate his time exclusively to the terminal.

When asked if he would be interested in taking on the role in 2025, when the definitive lease of the Port of Itajaí is expected to begin, Pinho Moreira still said no. Even if he had more time to consider it, he does not believe he would change his decision.

During the interview, the former governor jokingly remarked that “politicians never give a definitive no,” but emphasized that he has already fulfilled his mission in the public service of Santa Catarina – he has governed the state on two occasions, served as mayor of Criciúma, and was president of power company Celesc, among other positions. In short, the refusal is likely to be absolute.

Now, attention turns to the next name to be considered as a replacement for Fábio da Veiga, and whether the change will still take place despite Pinho Moreira’s refusal.

Despite having a temporary tenant lined up, the Port of Itajaí still lacks regular container operations.
This situation has persisted for over a year, leading the Port of Itajaí to select Mada Araújo as the company to manage it until the definitive auction, scheduled for 2025. Nevertheless, operations have yet to commence.

The group wishes operations to resume as soon as possible, but this hinges on several factors. The terminal can receive ships, but it needs some specific repairs for perfect operation – hence, the company is already seeking equipment.

Last month, a coalition of representatives from diverse sectors, including employers, labor unions, the Itajaí legislature, and the State Executive, issued a manifesto advocating alternative solutions for the complex’s situation.

The document, sent to the Ministry of Ports and Airports and the National Waterborne Transportation Agency (Antaq), denounced three issues: the lack of container ship movements, congestion at the Navegantes complex due to ongoing renovations, and inefficiency in the bidding process.

Therefore, a prospective new superintendent would need to tackle these urgent issues. Pinho Moreira’s political clout and alignment with the current mayor were factors the city hall deemed positive. Now, the future of the position remains uncertain, including after the definitive auction, for which there are already ‘pre-candidates’.

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