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Samacá suspends municipal public lighting company project
The Samacá Mayor's Office has temporarily suspended the contractual processes intended to create a Municipal Public Lighting Company following intense opposition from local citizen oversight groups and civic leaders. The controversy stems from a plan to establish a mixed-ownership commercial entity to manage the municipality's lighting infrastructure for the next 20 years.
Critics, including councilman Víctor Firacative and the Veeduría Ciudadana, have raised several concerns regarding transparency and economic impact. Key allegations include the failure to provide a 1,200-page technical study to the council, potential inconsistencies in the SECOP II procurement platform, and a lack of public socialization. Furthermore, the oversight group warns that monthly revenue for public lighting could nearly double, rising from approximately 140–170 million pesos to roughly 323 million pesos.
While Mayor Wilson Castiblanco Gil has defended the project as a vital government initiative that avoids full privatization, the Veeduría has noted that despite a 51% municipal stake, the local government would lack a majority on the board of directors. The community has threatened legal action to halt the project.
Entities
Alcaldía de Samacá · Samacá · Veeduría Ciudadana de Samacá · Víctor Firacative · Wilson Castiblanco Gil
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Mayor's Office failed to deliver a 1,200-page technical report requested by council members on two occasions. www.boyacadigital.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Monthly public lighting revenue could increase from 140–170 million pesos to approximately 323 million pesos. www.boyacadigital.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The project aims to establish a commercial company to operate public lighting for the next 20 years. diariodelcauca.com.co · www.hsbnoticias.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Under the proposed structure, the municipality would hold 51% participation but would lack a majority on the board of directors. www.boyacadigital.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Samacá Mayor's Office has temporarily suspended contractual processes to create a Municipal Public Lighting Company. www.boyacadigital.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The municipal council approved the initiative with ten favorable votes without having the mandatory documents. diariodelcauca.com.co · www.hsbnoticias.com