(QCOSTARICA) – President Luis Guillermo Solis is looking to the experience of the state entity, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), to get the country’s out of its problems of an ailing and lack of infrastructure.
“It would be an unjustified waste not using the accumulated experience of the ICE in carrying out public works. I am sure that not only there is experience in the ICE, but also the political will of the institution and the government to get it done,” said Solis.
The president is calling on legislators for their support in legal aspects to allow ICE to develop roads, bridges and tunnels.
The head of ICE, Carlos Obregon, said they are willing to collaborate and that “there is no job too big to handle” of an institute that has a lot of experience.
“A company like the ICE, the largest designer and builder in Central America, has extensive experience in preliminary studies, slope stabilization, massive construction, etc., which can take on any type of work,” Obregon said.
Could it be possible?
Despite the willingness by both parties, ICE is playing it cautious, saying it needs a legal opinion on the Ley Fortalecimiento y Modernización de las Entidades Públicas del Sector Telecomunicaciones (N.° 8.660) to verity that it would be able to carry out the works.
“We are moving forward in positive terms. We believe there are good opportunities to work together … this will generate work in the country,” said the ICE chief.
According to Obregon, the ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) – Public Works and Transportation, Carlos Segnini, has already shown interestin hiring them. “We are talking,” said Obregon.
Solis and Obregon made the statements Friday during the commissioning of the Cachí hydroelectric plant in Cartago, located in Congo de Tucurrique, in the canton of Jimenez (Cartago).
The plant went from a capacity of 100 megawatt (MW) to 160 MW, increasing the country’s electrical generating capacity. The increased generating power of the Cachí will power an additional 71.000 homes, for a total coverage of 191.000 homes.
Source: Nacion.com
I believe the more efficient way to improve the infrastructure in Costa Rica is by granting Concessions to Private Sector operators to build it. If ICE does it, it will just be another excuse to raise taxes on gasoline, or surcharging electricity and telephone bills. We all know how the money raised disappears after being raised in that fashion and being ear-marked as Government general tax revenue. At least a Private Sector concessionaire can be held accountable for the specific infrastructure works built and the monies used to use it, during the Concession period granted.
Would just make one of the worlds most inept and corrupt agencies more corrupt and inept. We will all need 4 wheel drive vehicles and horses to go anywhere.