QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica legislators are calling on former minister of public works and transport (MOPT), Luis Amador, to appear before them to the controversial airport contract award.
After being fired by President Rodrigo Chaves on March 12, 2024, Amador returned to Canada, where he had been residing and working for many years.
Two weeks ago, the former minister was in Costa Rica for four days to come and “clear his name”. However, Amador declined to appear before the legislative commission in person, to give an account to the legislators of the investigative commission that analyzes the alleged case of corruption, in the award of the contract to refurbish the Guanacaste Airport’s runway, which tender was supposedly tailor-made” to award the contract to MECO.
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The former minister left legislators, who had also intended to question him about the award of the precarious permit granted to Dekra for the technical inspection of vehicles, empty-handed and explained that he did not have a work permit and had to return to Canada to resume his work as a professor at the University of Montreal.
El exministro Luis Amador explica el por qué no pudo quedarse para rendir cuentas ante los #diputados este lunes en la comisión investigadora que analiza el supuesto caso de corrupción con el aeropuerto #DanielOduber pic.twitter.com/S5A2dTAZcJ
— Esteban Arrieta (@estarrar) September 9, 2024
Amador left Costa Rica knowing that he was leaving behind a political bonfire among active groups close to President Chaves who no longer see the former minister as their 2026 electoral card of continuity, but rather as a possible adversary who also has valuable information.
Amador had been signaled as a possible successor to Chaves who is constitutionally unable to serve as President for consecutive terms. Following the firing and ensuing accusations against him, Amador knows that he is no longer the official candidate for Partido Progreso Social Democrático (PPSD) – Social Democratic Progress Party – for the upcoming 2026 elections.
Amador has suggested that he may make a run for the 2026 presidency, as a candidate for the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC). During his recent visit, the former minister admitted in a television interview that his entry into the PUSC was not genuine, but only a strategy to divert the attention of Chavista groups and then register for another party to compete in 2026.
The public works project was labeled as “emergency works” and included in the emergency decree to carry out repairs after tropical storm Bonnie struck Costa Rica at the end of 2022, alleging that the runway had been damaged.
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A technical report by the DGCAC warned about the lack of evidence to support the government’s actions, to which President Chaves explained that DGAC technical officials advised him to include the works in the emergency decree.
Chaves has been under fire since April for the decision that would have cost Costa Ricans more than US$2 million in overpricing compared to two other offers. Since, Chaves has stated that there are signs of corruption, but he cannot say that the former minister is corrupt.
The Attorney General’s Office and Congress have launched investigations against the former official for these events.
At the moment, Amador has not been charged with any crime.
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