After the suspension of the license to continue with the last phase of the private project Xochi Corredor de las Flores by the Municipality of Mazatenango, President Bernardo Arévalo spoke about the situation that occurred a few days after the inauguration of said project.
The president stated that this situation is “regrettable and unfortunate,” and assured that because it is a municipal matter, “The Executive cannot intervene.”
“It is a municipal issue, it is not an issue where the Executive has interference in response to the autonomous statute that the municipalities have. The Executive has been, on its part, in the development of
The president commented that the central government participated in some stages of the project, such as the technical analyses, studies and authorizations required for the execution of the work, which is private capital.
Arévalo indicated that it is hoped that this situation can be “resolved in the short term,” since it is necessary that there be legal certainty for this type of issues that are fundamental for the development of the country. Arévalo also stated that this decision by the Municipality of Mazatenango generates “uncertainty at a key moment for the work.”
The closure
The inauguration of the Xochi private highway, in Suchitepéquez and Retalhuleu; However, since Thursday, June 4, the Municipality of Mazatenango placed signs with the legend “Cancelled work” in a section, so the company in charge of the project is taking legal action.
The highway extends from kilometer 142.5, in San Antonio, Suchitepéquez, to kilometer 173, in San Andrés Villa Seca, Retalhuleu, and It is planned to reduce congestion on the route to the southwest, towards the Irtra parks and the Pacific beaches.
Xochi It will be an alternate route and only drivers who pay tolls will be able to circulate; Those who do not do so must travel through the CA-2 highway.
However, the closure and the presence of the Mazatenango Municipal Police, as well as the blankets placed in the place, are observed at kilometer 162 in the direction of 172 on the Xochi route.
Carlos Estuardo Villagran López, mayor of Mazatenangoindicated that the construction license for the work has expired. He assured that this license was approved by the previous administration and that the work was supervised and the presence of the company’s legal representative was required, but no conclusion was reached.
According to Villagrán, a “team of professionals” from the Municipality of Mazatenango determined that there are “weaknesses in the project.”
“There are situations regarding security, where they sent documentation, but what we want is for them to take responsibility for issues subsequent to weaknesses found in the project,” Villagrán asserted.
The mayor asserts that what was approved in the construction license does not reflect the project that was finally completed.
