QCOSTARICA – The head of the Contraloria General de la Republica (CGR) – Comptroller’s office – has denounced serious management problems that are hindering the construction of public works, or which multiply execution times, wasting money and causing substantial cost increases.
The findings of the Comptroller General, Marta Acosta, in her report to the Legislative Assembly, outlined the causes of the endemic delay in the execution of public infrastructure projects:
- Lack of an effective public pre-investment system and public investment plan.
- Poor project planning.
- Insufficient maturation of projects to start procurement procedures
- Limited capacity to expropriate and revive services in a timely manner.
- Delays in recruitment and in forming the executing units.
- Extensive periods for compliance with preconditions.
- Weak stewardship of Ministers who regulate the Sector and inter institutional coordination.
- Lack of environmental and soil studies.
- Delay in provision of counterparts.
- Weak monitoring and evaluation of projects.
- Lack of institutional support.
- Abuses by contractors.
An article on La Nacion reviews the presentation of the Comptroller General to the legislative committee of control of revenues and expenditures, which is described as “… a horror story about infrastructure in Costa Rica”.
Sources: Centralamericandata.com, Nacion.com
A case in point is the Paso Ancho interchange currently under construction on the circumvalacion (ring road around San Jose). It was reported in the news recently that hundreds of thousands of dollars had been wasted by the Government in payment to contractors for the rental of construction equipment left idle by the fact that the Government had failed to complete the expropriation process for land required to complete the project.
Costa Rica needs to get Ecuador to do their roads and run the DEPT. Ecuador has SUPERIOR ROADS and great construction. AS long as there is GREEDY Government in Costa Rica NOTHING WILL GET DONE. Costa Rica needs a Revolution to let the Government know they have had enough.
Just like the USA, Costa Rica wants to pass on their carless spending on to the tax payers, food, gas, electric. SHAME on the Government officials for their greed and no obligation to their country or its people.
Stay tuned for the result of the rallies to be held against the Government and its institutions this Sunday, November 8th, complaining about corruption and wasteful spending. Possibly this will accelerate the process.
The report noted above from the Comptroller’s office probably took more time to produce and cost more than constuction of a bridge. Nothing is simple in Costa Rica and , until they learn to ask for help, it will not ijmprove.
So basically everything is wrong?
I would put more like not much is right.
BUT! Costa Rica is the “Happiest Country” in the world! DO NOT disturb the status quo!
If you don’t like it leave!!