Huge party without biosecurity and with public officials on board sparks controversy

As an event “completely outside of legality, of responsibility”, since “business and social indiscipline only leads to death”, Mayor Jorge Iván Ospina described the agglomerations and lack of compliance with the biosafety protocols observed in videos about the inauguration of ‘The Piece: the Mulato Terrace’, owned by the renowned salsa dancer Luis Eduardo ‘El Mulato’ Hernández.

In videos shared on social networks, there is a large attendance at the place, located on the terrace of El Mulato Cabaret, which is located on Carrera 32 with Calle 7 in the El Cedro neighborhood, and which opened the doors to the public from this Friday 19 February.

Likewise, the images show that the attendees did not respect social distancing or use a mask to prevent a possible contagion of coronavirus.

“I really believe that no one should die when we are about to find the answer with vaccination and the people should be the first responsible. The State cannot always be exhausted closing spaces when citizens must assume that this kills and, as long as we do not have all the vaccine, the risk is very great, “lamented the Mayor.

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As denounced by the councilor Juan Martín Bravo through social networks, in addition to the lack of biosafety protocols and the crowding of people, “figures and public officials” were present at the place, including the manager of Corfecali, Alexander Zuluaga, who is seen in the company of singer Richie Valdes in a photo published by the artist on Instagram.

Other artists such as Willy García and Carlos Guerrero are also seen in a photograph shared by Valdes.

“Those of us who hold public office must be the first to set an example of responsibility and commitment during intelligent and productive isolation,” Councilman Bravo wrote on his Twitter account.

“The Ministry of Security must continue with hygiene and security operations to control compliance with biosafety protocols in order to minimize the risks of virus transmission,” he said.

In other images shared by Bravo, the singer Tirso Duarte is seen, who performs one of his songs while being surrounded by several people.

At the moment no further pronouncements are known from the authorities or whether the establishment and its owners will receive any kind of sanction.

The response of the organizers

Through an official statement, the Compañía Artística El Mulato y su Swing Latino highlighted that the “biosafety spaces and protocols that the Cabaret has have been verified by the competent authority” and have received a good rating, however, before what happened this weekend during the inauguration of the space ‘The piece: the Mulato terrace’, corrective measures will be generated in the delimitation of the capacity and in reinforcing the measures, which will be validated with the authorities.

“El Mulato Cabaret is a multipurpose space that is capable of generating different atmospheres for the development of cultural and entertainment proposals in the city, ‘El Pedazo’ is one of those atmospheres that has been designed in an airy space, where the The public can share good music, dishes and drinks a la carte, under the breeze that characterizes Cali. Therefore, we allow ourselves to clarify that the weekend activities at the Cabaret correspond to its commercial dynamics, but it was not about of a party organized by the director of the company “, reads the communication issued this Sunday.

The company reiterated that the biosecurity protocols of the place will be reviewed and stressed that it will continue to bet on contributing to the economic, tourist and cultural reactivation of the city.