The majority of representatives from the San Miguelito district expressed their support for the National Government's decision to authorize the Urban and Domestic Cleaning Authority (AAUD) to take on solid waste collection as an urgent measure against the garbage crisis that threatened the public health of thousands of residents. The councilors' statements come after a public confrontation between the mayor of San Miguelito, Irma Hernández, and the Comptroller General of the Republic, Anel Flores, following the Cabinet Council's approval on Tuesday of a resolution ordering the AAUD to take full control of the service starting January 19. During a press conference, at least five representatives voiced their support for the intervention, highlighting that the AAUD's actions have been effective and necessary in containing a situation in a short time that already posed a direct risk to the population's health. Juan Barsallo, president of the San Miguelito Municipal Council, recalled that since mid-2024, the Council had authorized the Mayor's Office to explore alternatives to solve the structural problem of garbage collection. In turn, Council Vice President Omar Cheribin acknowledged that the Executive's decision surprised several actors, but emphasized that it could not be rejected, as it is a problem that has no political colors and is not about a power struggle. «The Government listened to us, and we have to take advantage of that opportunity and build bridges responsibly for the benefit of the community,» expressed the representative from the Rufina Alfaro district. However, Cheribin questioned the lack of information regarding the concession contracts of the three new collecting companies, which were supposed to be presented to the Comptroller General of the Republic last week. «Vital information that would have allowed us to work as a team and communicate better with the population was not provided to us,» he lamented. Councilors Sheyla Grajales, Rodrigo Ortega, and Darío González also expressed their full support for the Central Government's decision. Lawsuit before the Supreme Court In parallel, the mayor of San Miguelito, Irma Hernández, filed a lawsuit before the Third Chamber of Administrative Contentious of the Supreme Court of Justice, with which she seeks the nullity of an AAUD resolution and declares illegal and null Resolution No. 001 of January 13, issued by the AAUD's board of directors. «We were not invited, there was no coordination or any call,» stated the mayor, who assured that the decision violates Law 51 of 2010, which regulates the Urban and Domestic Cleaning Authority. After the councilors' statements, Hernández said she understood the concerns of the representatives and the district's residents, although she warned that the measure affects municipal autonomy. «Today it is the Council whose decisions are being violated, overriding municipal autonomy,» she affirmed.
