Amid the controversy over corruption cases revealed by the Public Ministry, the Morales administration has announced that it will liquidate contracts and take over several highway construction and maintenance projects.
A government issued decree of a State of Public Calamity on the roads will have a term of 30 days, during which period the Morales administration plans to take over control and execution of several of the works that are underway.Without indicating how much will be invested in the process, the Executive explained that it will buy machinery and equipment to carry out repairs and construction of roads.The Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing will be in charge, with the support of the Ministry of National Defense.
While the Morales administration insists on approval of the bill granting a direct concession of the operation of the terminal to APM Terminals, Congress has reaffirmed a position in favor of a new tender being approved.
Due to the lack of an agreement between the executive and the legislature, there has now been more than six months without any clarity on the future of the operation of the port terminal in Guatemala.
In the first seven months of the Morales administration government purchases executed 'by exception' decreased by 97% compared to the same period in 2015.
An article on Agn.com.gt reports that "... According to the System for Procurement and Contracts (Guatecompras), from January to July this year central government institutions made 21 awards using the exception process, while in the same period in 2015 706 purchases were made using this format."
In Guatemala reforms are being proposed to the Development Councils Act to eliminate interference from Deputies and Governors in tenders and management of projects.
Taking into consideration intervention on the part of governors as coordinators of the Community Development Councils (COCODES), and the pressures made by lawmakers on the appointment of its members, the bill on the General Budget of the Nation will contain a reform to the Development CouncilsAct, to avoid this kind of interference which eventually leads to acts of corruption.