Construction of maximum security prison in Escuintla will begin the second week of August

Construction is scheduled to begin next week on the maximum security prison in Masagua, Escuintla, which will be completed in October 2025. The Ministry of the Interior (Mingob) announced that it will have capacity for three thousand prisoners.

The head of the Mingob, Francisco Jiménez, said that the delay in starting the work was due to the lack of certain licenses, about which he admitted not having any further information, although he pointed out that they are “technical details” that are requested in constructions.

Without going into details, the official said that they encountered a “very serious problem” and the contract was on the verge of being cancelled. “But we renegotiated and discussed with the company all the issues that were needed,” he added.

During a meeting with deputies from the Todos party, the deputy minister of the portfolio, Claudia Palencia, explained that once the construction of the prison is completed, an analysis of the prisoners who will be sent to it must be done.

The prison will be built 75 km from the capital, on the Cuyuta farm, Masagua, Escuintla. The project was managed during Alejandro Giammattei’s term, during which millions of dollars were spent to carry out field studies.

Unfinished

In September 2023, the then minister, David Barrientos, said that the process remained in the licensing phase and that the incoming government would analyze whether to continue it.

One of the delays, he added, was due to the invasion of the property where the prison was to be built, although he did not say what was negotiated so that the families could vacate weeks later. The former official said on that occasion that the invaders were only looking for a piece of land to live on and it was not that they were opposed to the project.

Million dollar project

Mexican real estate company Rancho Sierra charged Q17 million for consulting services, and the Mexican capital consortium Grupo Tradeco is in charge of the work.

Of the total construction cost, Q16.5 million will be allocated for the design, Q581.8 million for the construction and Q69.7 million for equipment.

The funds will come from a loan obtained from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, according to the contract signed on August 26, 2020.