The Advisory Council of the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV) continues the process for the election of the new director of the Executing Unit for Road Conservation (COVIAL). However, this procedure has generated tension among the members, due to disagreements with the list of applicants, whose profiles are still unknown.
For this Monday, April 21, the meeting of the Advisory Council had been scheduled, in which the issue of the list would be addressed, although the election would not be held. However, it is unknown if the meeting was held because it was not confirmed by the Civ or Camagro.
Civ’s social communication was consulted about the possibility of knowing the list of candidates; However, they indicated that the issue “is not public because the inmates of the Advisory Council are handled.” This body is integrated by different business sectors, such as the Chamber of Agro (Camagro) and the Chamber of Construction, as well as representations of the Ministry of Economy and the General Directorate of Caminos.
Conflict
The position of director of Covial is considered of great relevance by the members of the Board, since it is responsible for guaranteeing the hiring of the maintenance work of the road network and making decisions in accordance with the budget available for its execution. However, that election and the dismissal of the interim director have caused disagreements between the authorities of the CIV and representatives of Camagro.
The disagreements originated at the April 8 meeting, in which Camagro representatives expressed their disagreement for not having received the requested reports on the current state of the roads, as well as the physical and financial execution of the projects.
Through a statement issued weeks ago, the Chamber of Agro (Camagro) reported that in the last April 8 session, 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.
They also indicated that, on that occasion, the list was extended for Covial Director with the aim of conducting interviews in the next sessions and guaranteeing transparency in the process. In addition, they expressed concern about the dismissal of the interim director of Covial, by arguing that this measure delays the hiring of maintenance projects.
Answer
The Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV) expressed at the time that, at that meeting, the new covial director 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.
The CIV authorities argued that the person who served as deputy director and interim director was dismissed, with the purpose of avoiding influences in the election of said position. In addition, they explained that one of the reasons for this dismissal was the breach of administrative processes in the exercise of their functions.