Economy
Business cameras point out lack of action and impacts by the government regarding the little road maintenance.
Several highway sections in the country are damaged, which hinders the transport of merchandise and makes the price of transfer and products more expensive, according to business sectors. (Photo: PL hemeroteca)
The National Transport Coordinator (CNT), the Guatemalan Chamber of Construction (CGC) and the Agro Chamber (Camagro) expressed concern “in the absence of advances in the execution of the 2025 road maintenance plan”.
The entities spoke on Tuesday night February 25 by means of a statement.
They point out that two months of the year have passed and that the Covial Advisory Council has not been summoned, which mentions that it prevents knowing the status of the processes and generates uncertainty about the actions that the Government will take “to address the serious situation of the network Vial “.
They point out that, since last year the multiple changes of authorities in the Ministry of Communications and in Covial have caused disorder and paralysis in the execution and that said portfolio still does not appoint a covial director. This, according to business organizations, affects the planning and execution of road maintenance.
According to information published in the media and official portals, the Ministry will not have operational capacity to maintain roads and bridges until the end of July or August, which means that the intervention will occur until full rainfall season, when the damage will be irreversible and The significantly higher repair costs add the three entities in the statement.
The lack of maintenance has several effects, according to business entities, among these:
- Transport and Products cost
- Increases transfer times and limits access to markets, health and education centers
- Compromises the supply of essential goods
- Hits the country’s competitiveness, affecting farmers, transporters, merchants, industry and tourism
The situation is critical and predictable, since during 2024 the road maintenance was insufficient, allowing the deterioration of the infrastructure to be further aggravated, it is added in the bulletin.
“If the Government does not act immediately, the economic and social consequences will be devastating. We ask the President of the Republic and the Minister of Communications to take urgent measures to resolve paralysis in the execution of road maintenance,” they said.