 | Issue: | Latin America II 1998 |
| Article no.: | 12 | |
| Topic: | In Memory Of: Sergio Roberto Vieira da Motta | |
| Author: | Sergio Roberto Vieira da Motta | |
| Title: | Cabinet Minister | |
| Organisation: | Ministry of Communications, Brazil | |
| PDF size: | 16KB |
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Article abstract
In the continuing series of profiling distinguished individuals in the telecommunications industry in Latin America, Connect-World pays respect to Minister Sergio Motta, Minister of Communications, Brazil, who died in April this year. He will be sorely missed.
Full Article
His most significant achievement was his direction of the government’s efforts to sell the state telephone monopoly, Telecomunicacaoes Brasileiras SA (Telebras). He died before he could complete the privatisation of the Brazilian telecommunications system. Estimated at US$30 billion, and a total ofUS$100 billion expected for the completely privatised system, Telebras will be Latin America’s largest privatisation deal. Motta’s death will not change the government’s programme to sell Telebras and its operating units, analysts say. The government plans to split Telebras into 12 companies and sell them by August 1998. Many have commented on Motta’s closeness to Brazil’s President, Fernando Henrique Cardosa. A long-time close friend and business partner of the President, he was often seen as Cardosa’s alter ego, saying what the president would have liked to have said. He was outspoken and independent minded and not afraid to speak his mind. Together with Luis Eduardo Magalhaes, the government leader in the Chamber of Deputies (who died shortly after Motta), he was responsible for the covert work to muster the votes for tough bills and constitutional amendments. Now, with vital social security and tax reform legislation pending, there is a vacuum at the top. It was as if the government’s entire political co-ordination collapsed within 48 hours. President Cardoso remains optimistic and said that “The greatest tribute to [Magalhaes and Motta] is to vote for the measures they worked so hard on. There is no reason to postpone them Conclusion For many years Motta suffered from health problems. He was a diabetic, had a lung disease, and high blood pressure. He refused to diet despite being overweight. He was a workaholic and in his commitment to his role in the Brazilian government once remarked prophetically: “I’ll end up sacrificing my life for this government”. His last message to the President was unequivocal: “Don’t think small. Fulfil your historic destiny. You must lead the transformation of our country”
