The first rains of the season have caused some damages on different routes of the country, which can mean consequences on the mobility of the Guatemalans.
However, the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV) recognizes that there is little execution capacity to respond to the eventualities that can cause the rains during the winter season.
As indicated by the holder of the portfolio, Miguel Ángel Díaz, during a summons with deputies of the Legislative Block will, opportunity and solidarity (you), the Ministry of Communications has 14 road areas located in different parts of the country, of which only 10 have the capacity to respond by 60% or 70% to emergencies caused by the rains.
Díaz also commented during the meeting that the limitations are due to the fact that the machinery available to the road areas is over 30 years old.
The head of the Communications portfolio was also questioned by the deputies, who affirmed that until this date there have been no projects for the maintenance of the roads, but the ministry has paid a total of Q710 million to companies that have several projects in their charge, many of which are abandoned or have little execution by the companies in charge.
The information presented by the deputies in the citation indicates that, until April 19, the Ministry of Communications has paid this amount to the companies to carry out work in several road sections.
When questioned by Deputy Orlando Blanco about the reasons why the Ministry has made these payments to companies despite breaking with the works, Díaz replied: “I have no answer for that, it is not the answer you want to hear.”
According to Díaz, the companies in charge of these projects “have met the requirements” and also assured that, according to the file of the works, the payment is justified; Answer that was not well received by parliamentarians.
Given the questions of the congressmen, the Minister of Communications, Miguel Ángel Díaz, visibly annoying, was observed, so the deputy José Chic indicated: “Here is not in the troop, minister, here he is in a civil society and here he is with deputies to the Congress of the Republic”, referring to his past as a military.
“Of the Q710 million that you have paid to April 19, tell me where the projects and the highway sections are, and we will see them,” said Deputy José Chic, who also assured that the Ministry of Communications has registered that the payment of the work was made on the route that goes from Godínez to Escondida Agua, in the department of Sololá, and that to date they have not initiated them.
Review bridges and companies linked to deputies
During the meeting with deputies of the VOS block in Congress, the Minister of Communications, Miguel Ángel Díaz, said that the corresponding evaluations are being carried out in a total of 180 bridges, with the aim of knowing their state and thus proceed to carry out the pertinent repair work. He also assured that many companies are giving up participating in bidding events for fear of being accused or indicated by being involved in corruption acts.
In addition, he said that there are a lot of companies that belong to deputies. However, when questioned by parliamentarians about who are the deputies who own or who are involved with construction companies, Díaz said that “by ethics” those names reserve. Given this statement, Deputy Jairo Flores said that it is a very serious accusation, since the Minister of Communications is saying and, for that same “ethics”, he must give the information. However, Díaz remained reluctant and said that, just as the deputies make comments, he also made a comment on this issue.
According to deputy Jairo Flores, the refusal of the Minister of Communications could also generate problems, since it could incur complicity or conflicts of interest by refusing to provide the information to the deputies.