No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveComptroller Rejects Agreement Between Alterra, Government

Comptroller Rejects Agreement Between Alterra, Government

The government this week guaranteed that the operations of Juan Santamaría International Airport outside San José will not be interrupted despite a lingering alleged financial imbalance problem that has no solution in sight.

The statement came after the Comptroller General once again rejected a contract addendum that was to fix the alleged imbalance, and Alterra announced it is considering suspending operations here.

It was the third version of the addendom sent by the government and airport administrator Alterra Partners to the Comptroller and the third version rejected this year.

Comptroller Rocío Aguilar told the daily La Nación that the contract does not clarify whether or not Alterra would be accountable for the alleged imbalances.

In the contract addendum, Alterra was to receive 65% of the money produced by the airport, and the Technical Council of the Civil Aviation Authority (CTAC) was to receive 35%.

That distribution would have guaranteed Alterra sufficient funds to finish airport improvements and pay off $120 million in financing owed to its international creditors, according to the airport manager.

But the Comptroller called the addendum a “material reduction of the CTAC’s rights,” adding that it could have as much as a $12 million impact on the state’s income.  CTAC’s president Viviana Martín said the government now has the option of seeking a new financial adjustment plan or the government can take over as airport administrator.

Mónica Nágel, Alterra’s manager in Costa Rica, told the radio station “Monumental” the airport operator might terminate the contract because of the latest rejection of the addendum.

President Oscar Arias this week urged Alterra to see out the contract.

Alterra’s 20-year contract, which began in 2001, has been plagued by financial problems since 2003.

 

Trending Now

White House Calls Nobel Prize to Venezuelan Machado ‘Politics Over Peace’

The Norwegian Nobel Committee handed the 2025 Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Friday, sparking sharp words from the White...

Costa Rica Pesticide Use Harms Soil Life, UNA Study Finds

Costa Rica is one of the countries that uses the most agrochemicals, which has a series of negative repercussions in various areas. A recent...

U.S. Labeled Terrorists Escape Guatemalan Jail Amid Homicide Surge

Guatemala City – Authorities in Guatemala confirmed on Sunday that 20 high-ranking members of the Barrio 18 gang broke out of the Fraijanes II...

Starbucks Honors Costa Rica’s Coffee Roots in October Festivities

Coffee runs deep in our veins, a tradition that started in the 1700s and shapes our country's economy and culture today. This October, Starbucks...

Costa Rica Women’s National Team Coach Steps Down Amid World Cup Push

The Costa Rican Soccer Federation dropped a major update this week: Spanish coach Beni Rubido is stepping down from his role with the women's...

Costa Rica Proposes Date for Chaves Immunity Review

Costa Rica's lawmakers took a step forward today in addressing the latest push to strip President Rodrigo Chaves of his legal protections. The Legislative...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica