Washington, March 9. OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro made more than 30 work trips with an OAS official with whom he had a romantic relationship, according to documents released by the organization.
On 16 of those trips, to destinations inside and outside the United States, where the organization is based, Almagro traveled alone with the official, who is of Mexican origin, the documents show.
The relationship between Almagro and this worker of the organization, who in the documents appears named under the title of “advisor”, is the subject of an investigation by an external company which must present a report with its conclusions to the Permanent Council of organization at the end of this month, as approved by the body’s plenary session.
The documents, which report on travel by Almagro in 2018, 2019 and 2022, are part of a report on the Secretary General’s performance accountability that is presented to the Permanent Council every four months.
It can be seen that Almagro traveled with his romantic partner at the time and also an OAS worker on more than 30 occasions, alone and with other advisers to the Secretary General.
In 2019, Almagro traveled 38 times, 10 of which he was only accompanied by the official. At least five of these transfers were funded directly with OAS money.
Among the trips where the two were alone were a three-day visit to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in August 2019 to participate in the 95th Regular Session of the Inter-American Juridical Committee and a four-day trip to Oxford (United Kingdom). ) for a conference on Latin America in October 2018.
In a statement sent to EFE, the OAS assured that these trips did not involve any violation of the rules of the organization.
“The Secretary General emphasizes all previous statements on this matter that no OAS regulations were violated due to the steps he and his team took to ensure that all regulations were adhered to,” he said. said Gonzalo Espáriz, one of the organization’s spokespersons.
The OAS denied that Almagro had a hierarchical working relationship with the official, as they claim she did not work directly for him, but reported to another secretariat within the organization.
However, in these travelogues and in certain publications on the organization’s social networks, he appears appointed to the post of “adviser” to the secretary general.
OAS officials and former officials consulted by EFE confirmed that even Almagro himself presented her as his adviser and that the sentimental relationship between them was known to “everyone” within the organization .
In turn, the “counsellor” received successive promotions within the agency during the period she had a romantic relationship with Almagro, according to internal agency documents.
The OAS assured that these promotions were “in accordance with regulations and administered for it in the same way as for all staff”.
Investigative firm Miller & Chevalier based in Almagro, Washington DC, is due to submit a final report with its findings to the Permanent Council on March 31.
The investigation, which will cost the organization more than $100,000, aims to determine whether, in the context of the romantic relationship, Almagro violated various OAS regulations. Specifically, regulations relating to supervisory functions, salary increases and intimidation.
The Uruguayan, who has led the OAS since 2015, confirmed last November that he had had the relationship for three years, defended himself and said he hoped the investigation “gives the best result”.