Alausí’s famous Devil’s Nose train will roll again; British insurance broker charged with bribing Ecuador officials; Correista partner accepts election result

Alausí’s famous Devil’s Nose train will resume operations within 30 days, according to the Ministry of Transportation. One of Ecuador’s most iconic tourist attractions, the train service was suspended at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and has remained idle despite local efforts to revive it.

The ministry says that testing of locomotives and passenger cars is underway as well as inspection of the track along the 12-kilometer route. The Alausí-Sibambe train station is also being upgraded as part of the project, according to Transportation Minister Roberto Luque.

The Devil’s Nose train ride is well known for it its dizzying curves and dramatic views.

The Devil’s Nose train ride, known for it its dizzying curves and dramatic views, carried more than 300,000 tourists a year until service was suspended five years ago. The suspension caused economic hardship to Alausí, a town of 12,000, 150 kilometers north of Cuenca.

In 2023, the town was devastated by a massive landslide that killed 75 and destroyed dozens of homes, a school and the community stadium.

The government has invested $700,000 in the restoration project.

Correista partner accepts election result
The Total Renewal Movement (RETO), which partnered Citizens Revolution in supporting the presidential candidacy of Luisa González, has officially recognized the victory of Daniel Noboa in Sunday’s elections.

In a statement, RETO president Raúl Chávez said Thursday that the movement is shifting is priorities to the National Assembly to “promote all proposals that benefit the development of the country.” Chávez was elected to the Assembly in the February election as a candidate for the RC-RETO alliance, receiving the highest vote total of any candidate in the alliance.

In accepted the runoff election result, Chávez said he supports efforts to investigate “all irregularities that may have occurred” during the election but said he does not believe they will change the outcome.

“I have read the reports by the European observers and accept their judgement that no fraud was committed,” Chávez. “I share their concerns, however, about problems in the voting process and support their recommendations for changes.”

UK insurance broker charged with paying Ecuador bribes
The British fraud police have charged an insurance broker with bribery, after a four-year probe into alleged corruption involving state-run insurance contracts in Ecuador.

The Serious Fraud Office accused United Insurance Brokers Ltd. of failing to prevent associates from bribing state officials, according to a statement on Thursday. Representatives of the firm, which is a registered broker at the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, will appear at a London court on May 7 to hear the charges.

UIB sold reinsurance services to state-backed insurers covering parts of the Ecuadorian public sector, including the state water and electricity companies between 2013 and 2016, during the Rafael Correa presidency, the SFO said. The broker is accused of £3 million to intermediaries who then bribed an Ecuadorian official in exchange for business.

The investigation into UIB has been ongoing since 2021.