Community representatives expressed that the administration’s political disputes have not resolved the underlying problems in villages, neighborhoods and urban areas. “We are tired of a municipality that fights with the productive sectors while neighbors continue waiting for solutions.”
For their part, on the side of the business sector, they recalled that Antigua Guatemala depends greatly on private investment, tourism, commerce, gastronomy, hotels, services, construction and transportation.
The economic and tourist activity of the municipality moves close to Q9 billion a year, almost 45 times more than the municipal budget of Q200.2 million. In addition, this last mentioned item generates more than 30 thousand direct jobs, including 24,533 in restaurants and 4,512 in hotels.
“Every attack against the private sector is an attack against jobs, suppliers, tourism and families that live off Antigua’s economy,” businessmen indicated during the statement.
Civil sectors warned that Antigua is not detained by businessmen, but by an administration that has turned public management into a permanent fight against different sectors.
They also stated that the municipality needs security, legal certainty, clear rules, investment, well-executed works and an institutional relationship between the Municipality, neighbors, businessmen, foundations, merchants, developers and civil organizations, as well as true information, avoiding the dissemination of fake news against possible critics of a management that is public.
If there is an agreement
One of the topics addressed was the conflict generated by the Municipality over the video surveillance system. The complainants recalled that this infrastructure is not a private business, but a system financed by them (neighbors and businessmen), with a total cost of Q7.7 million supported by invoices, delivered as a use to serve the population and operated by the competent authorities, such as the National Civil Police, the only institution empowered to coordinate public security, according to the constitutional mandate.
Contrary to what was disseminated by Mayor Juan Manuel Asturias, his secretary and other municipal officials, FUNDANTIGUA showed the existence of a public-private agreement with the National Civil Police, the entity in charge of operating the video surveillance system granted for use by the Foundation. Some local journalists, who according to the complainants, have been paid by the municipal administration, have taken it upon themselves to say that it did not exist and that security was a private entity, which is totally false.
“Misinformation only generates confrontation. Antigua Guatemala needs truth, transparency and solutions. And it is also important to say: many accusations have been spread directed at me, when FUNDANTIGUA is a collective effort of businessmen and neighbors, I am another donor,” said Diego Castañeda, businessman and member of the Foundation for the Development of Antigua Guatemala (FUNDANTIGUA).
The existence of another agreement with the Public Ministry was also shown. Therefore, the Municipality is urged not to continue with the purchase of a parallel video surveillance system, since there is one that has worked perfectly for six years, and which has no cost to the neighbor. Buying a new one from the existing one will cost an unnecessary expense.
A transparent Municipality is key for everyone
Finally, the complainants made a direct call to Mayor Juan Manuel Asturias and the Municipal Council to correct course, be accountable, stop the confrontation and respect the sectors that support the economy, security and development of Antigua Guatemala. “Mayor, stop fighting with Antigua. Govern, be accountable and respect the neighbors, businessmen and institutions that support this city,” they concluded.
Antigua Guatemala needs a Municipality that governs, not an administration dedicated to confrontation. With more than Q200 million in budget, the administration must be accountable and transparent in its fiscal year, as its officials are public persons, and must understand that their actions may be exposed to public scrutiny if they are not of benefit to the municipality.