(QCOSTARICA) Two cranes donated by the People’s Republic of China to Costa Rica in 2009 are rarely used in the Limón port, and cost the government $400,000 per year to maintain.
Each crane is worth US$6 million dollars, and they have not been put to use because of a lack of necessary infrastructure. The cranes are mobile, and are meant to speed up the loading and unloading of containers at the port, a chronic complaint there.
Libertarian legislator Otto Guevara is seeking explanations from the Tax Ministry and JAPDEVA (Limon Port Authority) over this massive failure. Guevara believes that negligence is to blame, “Apparently these cranes have not been properly installed, and workers have not been trained in their use. JAPDEVA received the cranes in transfer in 2012 and has not been able to put them to use as yet.”
The Ministry of Foreign Trade would like to see the cranes put to use, as would the Security Ministry.
Tax Minister Helio Fallas stated that even though the cranes are not being used, his ministry is working on an agreement to purchase more, but did not want to go into specific details until the process has matured further.
Article by iNews.co.cr
