After more than ten days of protests and roadblocks, residents and social leaders in Archidona and neighboring towns joined forces to seize the Napo Provincial Governor’s office in rejection of the maximum-security prison project.

Despite opposition by citizens and several political sectors, the Government of President Daniel Noboa insists on building the prison, which has been awarded to a company for 51.9 million dollars, to be completed in 300 days.

Noboa, in turn, announced that the blackouts would definitely end on December 20, but seven large industries will still face power cuts from December 15 to 30.

Maria Paz Jervis, president of the Ecuadorian Business Committee, warned that this government decision would affect about 5,500 jobs and cause losses estimated at 100 million dollars.

Power experts agree that the Executive’s promise responds to pressures stemming from political issues a few months before elections, and disregards all the factors that must come together to overcome the power crisis.

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