Carlos Moreno de Caro
Encyclopedia
Carlos Moreno de Caro (born March 24, 1946) is a Colombian
politician. He is the founder of the Let the Moreno play movement
party, and has served as both Member to the Chamber of Representatives
and Senate of Colombia
, as Ambassador of Colombia
to South Africa
, and as Councilman of Bogotá
.
Moreno is known for his controversial populist political antics at various times in official government events, involving at various times, different types of animals and live music. Moreno popularly refers himself in the third-person
as “the Moreno” which in Spanish
means “dark-skinned person”, which allows a playful use of his last name to refer to the underdog often discriminated peoples of dark skin as in the case of his political party “Dejen Jugar al Moreno” (“Let the dark-skin fellow play”).
of deliberately delaying his approval to try to sabotage his appointment going so far as storming into the Chancellery getting in trouble with the security personnel and yelling at the Deputy Chancellor Camilo Reyes Rodríguez, who would be his future boss. The incident followed Moreno de Caro’s attempt to enlist in his diplomatic entourage a group of unusual diplomats which included former Miss Colombia Vanessa Mendoza
, former football stars Faustino Asprilla
and Carlos Valderrama, and two demobilized
former guerilla members to assist him in his mission abroad, however as Ambassador he would only had the power to appoint two members out of the four person team he would be assigned, his request was ultimately not approved.
After the heated waiting period, the beneplacito was received by the Chancellery and Moreno de Caro was sworn in by President Uribe as Ambassador to South Africa on February 26, 2007. Following his investiture, he moved to Pretoria
where he presented his Letters of Credence to President Thabo Mbeki
on May 3, 2007 taking the opportunity to invite President Mbeki to Colombia and assist with the peace talks with the guerrillas.
As ambassador, Moreno de Caro pushed an accelerated agenda of mutual Colombian and South African investment, trade and interest. During his ambassadorship, the South African government expressed interest in implementing a bus rapid transit
system modeled after Bogota's TransMilenio
in many of its big cities in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
that would be held in that country. For this the South African government subscribed to a cooperation agreement with Colombia in order to exchange experiences and expertise, an agreement that linked the cities of Pretoria
, Johannesburg
, and Port Elizabeth to Bogotá. The end result of this technological exchange resulted in the creation of the Rea Vaya. In his commitment to social responsibility, Moreno enlisted a group of three South African young men who had been afflicted by drug addiction to a program that included opportunities to work and study to better their lives, and with the aid and assistance of the Colombian embassy were able to rejoin society and establish their own company, for this social labour, the Embassy was awarded a Social Responsibility certificate by Junior Chamber International
.
Forceful Moreno insisted in submitting a weekly personal report directly to President Uribe to subdue the animosity and lack of public expectations in his appointment as ambassador. Every Saturday Moreno would call the President to present his accomplishments Four months in his new job, Moreno once again stirred controversy when he announced that he was resigning from his post, because according to him he had completed “80 percent of the commitments made to the President and the country, and in a few months [I expect] to complete the remaining tasks to return to the country.” In response to the ic public criticism of his actions, the Chancellery informed Moreno that if he insisted in resigning, he would have to pay for his relocation costs and that of his staff and family, for the embassy would not pay for their return given the short time in their posts, this forced Moreno to stay as ambassador in Pretoria vowing his swift return to national politics whenever he had the chance.
Moreno de Caro finally resigned his ambassadorship in 2008 and was replaced by Édgar José Perea Arias.
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
politician. He is the founder of the Let the Moreno play movement
Let the Moreno play movement
The Let the Moreno Play Movement is a political party in Colombia founded by Carlos Moreno de Caro.At the last legislative elections, 10 March 2002, the party won as one of the many small parties parliamentary representation...
party, and has served as both Member to the Chamber of Representatives
Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
The Chamber of Representatives is the lower house of the Congress of Colombia.The Chamber has 166 elected members for four-year terms.-How the Chamber is elected:...
and Senate of Colombia
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
, as Ambassador of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and as Councilman of Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
.
Moreno is known for his controversial populist political antics at various times in official government events, involving at various times, different types of animals and live music. Moreno popularly refers himself in the third-person
Illeism
Illeism is the act of referring to oneself in the third person instead of the more appropriate first person.Illeism is sometimes used in literature as a stylistic device...
as “the Moreno” which in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
means “dark-skinned person”, which allows a playful use of his last name to refer to the underdog often discriminated peoples of dark skin as in the case of his political party “Dejen Jugar al Moreno” (“Let the dark-skin fellow play”).
Ambassadorship
In 2006 to the surprise and shock of many Colombians, President Álvaro Uribe Vélez named Moreno de Caro as the new Colombian Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, replacing the ailing Víctor Guillermo Ricardo Piñeros. While waiting for the South African beneplacito, Moreno de Caro caused controversy accusing the Colombian ChancilleryMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Colombia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also known as the Chancellery, is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the foreign relations of Colombia through its diplomatic missions abroad by formulating foreign policy relevant to the matters of the State, it is...
of deliberately delaying his approval to try to sabotage his appointment going so far as storming into the Chancellery getting in trouble with the security personnel and yelling at the Deputy Chancellor Camilo Reyes Rodríguez, who would be his future boss. The incident followed Moreno de Caro’s attempt to enlist in his diplomatic entourage a group of unusual diplomats which included former Miss Colombia Vanessa Mendoza
Vanessa Mendoza
Vanessa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos , better known simply as Vanessa Mendoza, is a Colombian fashion model who held the Miss Colombia title in 2001, being the first Afro-Colombian to win that contest.-Biography:...
, former football stars Faustino Asprilla
Faustino Asprilla
Faustino Hernán "Tino" Asprilla Hinestroza is a former Colombian football player. He was known by his supporters in his home country as The Octopus for his voracious appetite...
and Carlos Valderrama, and two demobilized
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
former guerilla members to assist him in his mission abroad, however as Ambassador he would only had the power to appoint two members out of the four person team he would be assigned, his request was ultimately not approved.
After the heated waiting period, the beneplacito was received by the Chancellery and Moreno de Caro was sworn in by President Uribe as Ambassador to South Africa on February 26, 2007. Following his investiture, he moved to Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
where he presented his Letters of Credence to President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
on May 3, 2007 taking the opportunity to invite President Mbeki to Colombia and assist with the peace talks with the guerrillas.
As ambassador, Moreno de Caro pushed an accelerated agenda of mutual Colombian and South African investment, trade and interest. During his ambassadorship, the South African government expressed interest in implementing a bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
system modeled after Bogota's TransMilenio
TransMilenio
TransMilenio is a bus rapid transit system that serves Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. The system opened to the public in December 2000, covering Av. Caracas and Calle 80...
in many of its big cities in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
that would be held in that country. For this the South African government subscribed to a cooperation agreement with Colombia in order to exchange experiences and expertise, an agreement that linked the cities of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, and Port Elizabeth to Bogotá. The end result of this technological exchange resulted in the creation of the Rea Vaya. In his commitment to social responsibility, Moreno enlisted a group of three South African young men who had been afflicted by drug addiction to a program that included opportunities to work and study to better their lives, and with the aid and assistance of the Colombian embassy were able to rejoin society and establish their own company, for this social labour, the Embassy was awarded a Social Responsibility certificate by Junior Chamber International
Junior Chamber International
Junior Chamber International is the only worldwide non-political and non-sectarian youth service organization. It is an international community of citizens between the ages of to with the aim and purpose of creating positive changes in the world...
.
Forceful Moreno insisted in submitting a weekly personal report directly to President Uribe to subdue the animosity and lack of public expectations in his appointment as ambassador. Every Saturday Moreno would call the President to present his accomplishments Four months in his new job, Moreno once again stirred controversy when he announced that he was resigning from his post, because according to him he had completed “80 percent of the commitments made to the President and the country, and in a few months [I expect] to complete the remaining tasks to return to the country.” In response to the ic public criticism of his actions, the Chancellery informed Moreno that if he insisted in resigning, he would have to pay for his relocation costs and that of his staff and family, for the embassy would not pay for their return given the short time in their posts, this forced Moreno to stay as ambassador in Pretoria vowing his swift return to national politics whenever he had the chance.
Moreno de Caro finally resigned his ambassadorship in 2008 and was replaced by Édgar José Perea Arias.