The designation of the director of Covial and the dismissal of the interim director have caused disagreements between the authorities of the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV) and representatives of the Chamber of Agro (Camagro), although the profiles of the candidates for the position and the progress of the maintenance of the road network are unknown.
In the Social Network X, Camagro reported that on April 8, they participated in the fourth meeting of the year of the Advisory Council of the Executing Unit for Road Conservation (COVIAL), in which the requested reports on the current state of the road network and the physical and financial execution of the projects were not presented. Therefore, they presented a formal note signed by all representatives of the private sector, in order to record said omission.
According to the statement, the list of candidates presented by the Minister of Communications to choose the new director of Covial was also included in the agenda. However, it was proposed to expand the list and conduct interviews in the next session.
They also expressed concern about the dismissal of the interim director of Covial “in the midst of key processes”, which indicated, further delays the hiring of maintenance projects, even beyond July.
“It will put the transparency and continuity of the hiring processes at risk,” they said.
Camagro added that they are willing to participate in the meetings and that they will continue with the control of the road network maintenance.
Transparency
Carla Caballeros, executive director of Camagro, said in an interview that before the Covial Advisory Council they have requested that the election of the new director comply with the principles of “transparency, legality and meritocracy.”
“There is no opposition to the process, but a requirement that it is done well and for the benefit of the country. That is what we have raised before the current authorities, as before all the above,” he said.
Regarding who is the candidate they propose, as the CIV states, he said he does not know and that the proposal was the representative before the Advisory Council.
“I would understand that it is for the list to be extended and a process is fulfilled, not to support any person in particular,” he said.
He added: “Our interest is not who proposes to the candidates, but to ensure that Covial works well and transparently. Several ministers, directors and interim directors have passed, and the execution does not improve; road maintenance continues to stagnate.”
Another concern, according to gentlemen, is that with the delays already have, the problems will be addressed in the rainy season.
Before the statement of Camagro, the CIV also issued a pronouncement in which it ensures that the process of choice of the person who will occupy the Covial Directorate, which is in the hands of the Advisory Council.
They indicated that on April 8, during the meeting, the new director of Covial could not be chosen due to the opposition of two members of the Advisory Council, including the Agro Chamber, which presented a candidate to be included in the list. Given that opposition, the election was postponed for April 21.
They point out that, as part of the CIV transparency actions, the technical deputy director was appointed and the person who served as deputy director and interim director was dismissed, with the purpose of avoiding influences in the choice of said position.
In addition, they explain that one of the reasons for this dismissal was the breach of administrative processes in the exercise of their functions, which put the transparency of events at risk, such as the presentation of the current state of the road network and the physical and financial execution of the projects.
In the pronouncement they also claim that the maintenance processes continue, and that this week offers were received from companies interested in maintenance, relapse and bump services.
The candidates’ profile to occupy the position of director of Covial was requested from the Social Communication Department, but it was indicated that they would consult whether they were possible because they are processes of the Advisory Council.
From April to May, according to the Guatecompras portal, the portfolio has published 286 events related to road maintenance and maintenance.
Can
The former Minister of Communications during the government of Jimmy Morales, Aldo García, said that the position of director of Covial is important because it has the responsibility of carrying out the maintenance of the road network.
“How much power will you have? Is what the minister gives him,” he says.
“That you receive money from contractor, I am not sure. But you will handle a good amount of money. At least calculate that about Q1 thousand or Q1 thousand 500 million. No less than that. It is for bump, gutters, cleaning, signage; in short, pure maintenance,” he added.
According to García, roads is more important, because that executing unit has investment.
“It is a pure and hard investment system. There is a code of the National Public Investment System. It is already the control of the National Public Investment System, and the Ministry of Planning and Programming of the Presidency controls,” he said.
Arrears
Last February, the CIV authorities confirmed that 66 events for road maintenance were suspended, arguing that they wanted to avoid challenges due to administrative problems in the bidding processes, so the works have had delays.
On March 28, in an interview with the Network Newsthe Minister of Communications, Miguel Ángel Díaz, indicated that 242 events for road repair were built and the errors that caused their suspension in January are corrected.
The maintenance works are planned in Zacapa, San Marcos, Quiché, Jutiapa, Petén, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Escuintla, El Progreso, Chiquimula, Chimaltenango, Baja Verapaz, among other departments.
According to Insivumeh, this year the country will be under the effects of the girl’s phenomenon and, under these conditions, the rains tend to anticipate in the national territory. It is expected that rainfall will begin first in the Costa mouth and the southwest of the country.