QCOSTARICA — Luis Amador, the now former minister of public works and transport (MOPT), entered Costa Rica Wednesday night, stating that he was away on an official trip, while President Rodrigo Chaves made public his destitution.
Arriving on Air Transat (Canada’s low-cost airline) flight TS196 from Montreal.
According to staff at the Juan Santamaría International Airport (San Jose airport), Amador left the terminal through the diplomatic lounge of the airport.
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Amador, President Rodrigo Chaves’ most popular minister and rumored to be a contender in the 2026 presidential bid, was unexpectedly fired during a hastily called press conference Tuesday morning.
The former minister had traveled to Canada on Sunday, as confirmed by Costa Rica’s immigration service, the Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (DGME), to attend the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations entity that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.
Amador faces allegations of impropriety regarding the awarding of the contract for works at the Guanacaste Airport to the MECO company.
As explained by President Chaves, the contract seems to have been tailor-made for the bid winner, costing the State more than one million dollars more than originally budgeted.
Read more: US$1 million overpayment sinks MOPT minister Luis Amador
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Amador had been since January the subject of an investigation by the Fiscalia (Prosecutor’s office) related to the contract award. While no charges have been brought by the judiciary, the investigation is still open.
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During the press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday, President Chaves was asked to comment on the investigation, however, said that Casa Presidencial is preparing to file a criminal complaint in the case. He did not provide the name of the individual who was the subject of the criminal complaint.
On Tuesday, Chaves insisted that he has no evidence of corruption and justified his decision is alleging alleged irregularities and errors.
“This is a bitter pill for me (…) the trigger is that you have to do what you have to do when you have to do it (…) Do you know what it is like for a government, or a president in this case, to dismiss its most popular minister? Do you think that one does that for pleasure?” Chaves exclaimed.
Chaves added that despite the overpayment, the MECO company will be completing the much-needed work on the airport’s runway.
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