Zapata describes energy czar’s supervisory style as ‘dictatorial’
By THE STAR STAFF
Former Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Executive Director Mary Carmen Zapata Acosta described the supervisory style of Energy Czar Josué Colón Ortiz as “dictatorial” on Monday.
She maintained that the official failed to share information with her regarding the controversy surrounding the temporary emergency power supply contract with energy firm Power Expectations -- information that, had she known it, would have caused her to halt the process.
“He has a supervisory style that is dictatorial in nature,” Zapata Acosta stated during a public hearing held by the House of Representatives’ Government Committee. “And generally, when he issues directives and instructions, he goes directly to the employee he knows will carry them out.”
The former official pointed out that this way of working was not directed solely at her, noting that Colón Ortiz has maintained this style throughout the years they have worked together.
“Yes, because it is his general style,” she said. “In other words, it isn’t something exclusive to me. I’ve never taken it personally.”
Later, Zapata Acosta linked this working style to the lack of information she experienced -- according to her testimony -- during the Power Expectations contracting process.
“It is just one more instance of information being withheld -- among many others -- consistent with his work style,” she said.
When asked again about her characterization of his style as “dictatorial,” she replied: “That is how I define it.”
“He has always been that way -- always,” Zapata Acosta added. “Perhaps now, with this position -- which is obviously of greater magnitude -- one feels it a bit more.”
Zapata Acosta said that this difference became apparent, among other things, when Colón Ortiz decided what information to share with the officials involved in matters under his supervision.
“The very act of withholding information -- and his decision that he does not need to share certain details with the parties involved -- is in itself an indication that his approach is somewhat more intense in this instance than in the past,” she said.
The former PREPA director also expressed disappointment that Colón Ortiz did not share information with her regarding questions raised about the firm Enchanted Rock in the Power Expectations contract, “especially given the respect I have always held for Engineer Colón, for his professional competence and all the public service he has rendered to Puerto Rico,” she stated.
When Rep. Héctor Ferrer Santiago asked if Colón Ortiz’s actions could be interpreted as having misled her, Zapata Acosta avoided explicitly adopting that characterization.
“That is an interpretation one could make,” she replied.
Later, Rep. Ángel Fourquet Cordero asked if she believed information regarding the controversy had been knowingly withheld from her.
“Yes,” Zapata Acosta answered.
However, Zapata Acosta declined to attribute specific motives to Colón Ortiz, the Public-Private Partnerships Authority, or the Independent Procurement Office, known as 3PPO.
“I cannot reach that conclusion. I can only state the facts,” she maintained when asked if the lack of information was intended to mislead her or facilitate the contracting of Power Expectations.
The former official also recounted confronting Colón Ortiz on Aug. 8, after learning of the controversy surrounding the firm through a media outlet.
“I said to him, ‘Josué, I just found out about this situation in the press, and you didn’t tell me,’” she recounted.
Zapata Acosta said Colón Ortiz replied that the process had been handled by the 3PPO and that the entity was responsible.
“He told me, ‘Remember, Mari, this responsibility -- this process -- was run by 3PPO, and they are the ones responsible,’” she said. “But he didn’t answer why he hadn’t given me the information. I did question him about it, but he didn’t give me an answer.”
Zapata Acosta added that neither Colón Ortiz nor attorney Juan González contacted her or PREPA’s legal director, Alexis Rivera, to inform them of the concerns regarding the firm.
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