Guatemalan Congressman Exposes Millions in Questionable Antigua Spending

Antigua Guatemala Municipality Under Fire for Opaque Spending: Congressman Exposes Questionable Vehicle Purchases Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala – A recent video by Guatemalan Congressman Cristian Álvarez GT has sparked controversy, alleging a lack of transparency in the Antigua Guatemala municipality's financial dealings. Álvarez claims that the municipality has engaged in questionable spending practices, particularly highlighting the purchase of numerous vehicles and motorcycles without proper legal justification. "Esto no es transparencia, esto es abuso," Álvarez states in the video, translating to "This is not transparency, this is abuse." He points to the purchase of 12 Hilux trucks and 38 BMW motorcycles as a prime example of excessive spending, totaling over 5.6 million Quetzales. He alleges these purchases were presented as a "compensatory payment" for land use change licenses granted to private companies. Álvarez draws a direct comparison to similar issues in Guatemala City, suggesting a pattern of opacity in municipal governance. He emphasizes the lack of a legal framework regulating such compensatory payments, raising concerns about potential corruption and misuse of public funds. The video concludes with a call for increased transparency, fiscalization, and informed citizens. The municipality has yet to respond to Álvarez's accusations. The video has garnered significant attention online, with thousands of views and numerous shares, highlighting the public's concern regarding transparency and accountability in local government.