Former Costa Rica public works minister called on to explain airport contract award

Costa Rican lawmakers are calling on former public works and transport minister Luis Amador, who was recently fired by President Rodrigo Chaves, to attend a hearing to explain a controversial airport contract award. 

According to news outlet Observador, the former minister declined in previous days to participate in person to explain the awarding of the contract to refurbish Daniel Oduber international airport's runway, which was supposedly designed to be won by Constructora MECO. The airport serves the city of Liberia.

On March 12, President Chaves announced at a press conference that Amador, along with Fernando Naranjo from the civil aviation department (DGAC), would be dismissed because he "tailor-made" the tender to award the contract to MECO. 

News outlet Delfino reports that the project was also labeled as "emergency works" and included in the emergency decree to carry out repairs after tropical storm Bonnie struck the country at the end of 2022, alleging that the runway had been damaged. 

A technical civil aviation report warned about the lack of evidence to support the government's actions. 

Chaves has been under fire since April for the decision. According to newspaper La Nación, the president has explained that technical officers advised him to include the works in the emergency decree.