As of December 15, the X-ray module began operating in the Guatemalan maritime terminal, which will serve to inspect, in a non-intrusive manner, the contents of the containers that are used to import and export goods.
The regulations that will apply for these non-intrusive verifications were published in the Diario de Centro America. The implementation of this system is an indispensable requirement for the certification of ports by the Coast Guard in national security issues and by the tax collector.
Water and sanitation works in Panama, improvements to a seaport and improvements to a bridge are part of the investments planned for the coming months in the region.
The interactive system "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects that are planned to be built in the coming months.
To solve the congestion problem affecting Guatemala's port network, it is estimated that at least $133 million needs to be invested to improve the operations of current terminals.
The average standard for port operation is on average 50%, however, currently the country is reaching occupancy limits above 60%, which means that they are reaching congested points that make them less efficient.
Two multipurpose cranes with the capacity to mobilize 600 tons will begin operating at Guatemala's maritime terminal on December 12th.
Representatives of the Ministry of Communications informed that the new cranes of Operadora Logística de Guatemala, S.A., the company that won the tender to provide the service, have a $6 million cost each.
The Fifth Chamber of Administrative Litigation has declared void the 25 year usufruct contract between Empresa Portuaria Quetzal and Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal, property of APM Terminals.
"...APM Terminals said in a statement: "This is a judicial process in which resources still depend, so we trust in a favorable resolution for the operation of the terminal. APM Terminals will continue this process and in accordance with the law will promote the proceeding resources''."
The company is preparing the documents to tender a service for mobile cranes for unloading goods at the port.
Authorities at Empresa Portuaria Quetzal expect the bidding process to take about six months.The new contractor will replace Servicios Bayside, whose contract expires in May 2018.
A court ruling has overturned the SAT resolutions authorizing Empresa Portuaria Quetzal y Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal to operate as temporary customs warehouses.
Although the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) has announced that it will be appealing the ruling given by the Second Administrative Appeals Chamber, the reality is that since June 28, the activities of the customs warehouses in Empresa Portuaria Quetzal (EPQ) have been suspended as well as those at the Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal (TCQ)."...The resolution orders that the SAT no longer has the customs service under its administration, which contravenes the Central American Customs Code CAUCA, therefore the Superintendency will file an appeal against the decision made by the Court."
One year after taking control of the Quetzal Container Terminal, the Guatemalan Public Ministry has ordered the end of the intervention process into the company.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...The courts´s ruling was issued on Thursday, April 15 after a year and a few days of validity of the measure for the TCQ, a company which in the opinion of the prosecutors office was constituted in 2012 as an emerging corporation "to simulate a contract of usufruct" with the state-owned Empresa Portuaria Quetzal (EPQ)."
The absence of a municipal permit could be the reason behind the temporary suspension of the operations of the Quetzal Container Terminal ordered by the Joint Appeals Chamber of Escuintla.
The union of workers of Empresa Portuaria Quetzal (EPQ) filed a legal petition arguing that the company did not submit a municipal license to operate.The Escuintla Joint Appeals Chamber ordered the suspension of operations and required the EPQ to submit a report on compliance with the resolution within 48 hours.
Among the works planned by the Quetzal Port Company are the construction of a road overpass, a breakwater, and dredging at the commercial dock.
The investment plan presented by Empresa Portuaria Quetzal (EPQ) indicates that the total amount allocated for these works, to be carried out in 2017 and 2018, will be $15 million.
The operator of the container terminal may have already informed customers and shipping companies that on March 9th it will be ready to start receiving the first ships.
In late January the Port of Quetzal (EPQ) gave approval for APM Terminals to start operations at the Quetzal Container Terminal, and now the company could be preparing to start operations from March 9.
Compensation of $43 million to the State and a concession for 21 years for APM Terminals are part of the agreement made with the foreign company for it to operate the container terminal.
According to an article on Publinews, Anabella Morfin, Attorney General of the Nation, explained that"...APM and EPQ pledged to desist with the courts with their efforts to obtain a declaration of voiding due to incompetence, in order to streamline the operation of TCQ. "
The Public Prosecutor in Guatemala has taken control of Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal, in order to audit the company and decide on the future of the concession.
From a statement issued by the Public Ministry of Guatemala:
The Public Prosecutor and the Head of the Public Ministry, Thelma Aldana, revealed at a press conference, that the Court of Forfeiture had been asked to take control of Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal –TCQ-, a request which was ruled on favorably.
"We have requested the takeover from the Judge for Forfeiture and appointed an auditor, and the judicial petition was ruled on favourably.The intervention will be headed by lawyer Alexander Aizenstatd, who now has possession in order to start his duties," the Attorney General said. He also explained that on July 11, 2012 the contract between Terminal de Puerto Quetzal and TCQ was finalised, the latter is a corporation, which was incorporated emergently in order to simulate a usufruct contract.
The Public Ministry of Guatemala has announced that its investigations have shown that a network of illicit laundering of money and other assets operated in the port terminal.
Consideration is being given to canceling the contract with the concessionaire Container Terminal Spanish Quetzal after the denouncement that it paid bribes to Perez Molina for the award of the terminal.
The Honduran investment promotion office has sent a letter of invitation to entrepreneurs who lost their tax exemptions in Guatemala.
Honduras is looking to attract investment from Guatemala citing two advantages over its competitors: tax incentives on exports and port infrastructure in the Caribbean.
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