Panama Politics Briefs: President Varela not worried about investigation of the Minister of Housing

Panama Politics Briefs:  President Varela not worried about investigation of the Minister of Housing

President Juan Carlos Varela said Thursday that he expects Housing Minister Mario Etchelecu to be cleared of any wrongdoing in an investigation into questionable contracts issued for Techos de Esperanza program.

The probe is focused on payments made by the Department of Social Assistance (DAS) that seemed to be structured to avoid exceeding a $300,000 threshold that would have triggered legislative oversight.

"This is democracy working," Varela said. "I am confident that the minister will not be charged, but he has to go through the process."

He also maintained that the DAS is different from the National Assistance Program (PAN), the scandal-ridden program it replaced.

"A former PAN director was caught with $40 million in his bank account," Varela noted. He said that the current probe, which is focused on the award of contracts, will uncover no wrongdoing, as the government received proper value for money. He said that the program has benefited thousands of people.

An estimated $15.3 million was spent on the program. The money was divided between the companies Royal Construction Panamá, Fiorazio de Panamá and Airco, S.A. Airco is owned by Pedro Vallarino Trombetta, who was part of the board of Caja de Ahorros when the company received the contract. That may be a violation of government regulations regarding the issuing of contracts.

According to DAS Director Rafael Stanziola the contracts were issued in accordance with the law.

Tocumen espera $30 millones

Tocumen espera $30 millones

El año pasado, la junta directiva del aeropuerto aprobó que a partir del primero de enero todos los pasajeros que salen por la terminal aérea tendrán que pagar un impuesto de 50 dólares.

A través de un comunicado, Tocumen informó que el impuesto de salida ahora será denominado tasa de desarrollo aeroportuario.

Con este incremento la administración del aeropuerto espera recaudar 30 millones de dólares adicionales.

Del total recaudado por la tasa de salida, el 25% le corresponde a la Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá y el 2.5% a la Comisión Nacional para la Prevención de los Delitos de Explotación Sexual.

Joseph Fidanque III, gerente de Tocumen, S.A., ha señalado que el incremento en la tasa le permitirá al aeropuerto mejorar sus finanzas frente a la próxima emisión de bonos por 625 millones de dólares que realizará Tocumen para financiar su proyecto de expansión.

De acuerdo con el reglamento del aeropuerto, los menores de hasta dos años de edad, los miembros del cuerpo diplomático de países extranjeros acreditados en Panamá, y los pasajeros en tránsito o en conexión están exentos de este pago. Mientras que los jubilados tienen un descuento de 50%.

En Centroamérica el impuesto de salida oscila entre los 29 dólares y 41 dólares, siendo Costa Rica el país con la tasa más baja, con 29 dólares; Guatemala con 30 dólares; Honduras, 39.72 dólares; y El Salvador con 40.27 dólares.  En el caso de Colombia, los pasajeros que salen por el aeropuerto El Dorado, el más importante del país, pagan 66 dólares.

Tocumen Airport expected to raise $30 million

Tocumen Airport expected to raise $30 million

Last year, the board of directors of the airport approved that from the first of January all passengers departing from the airport terminal will have to pay a tax of $50. Through a statement, Tocumen administration reported that the departure tax rate will now be referred to as “airport development rate.”

With this increase, the airport administration hopes to raise an additional $30 million.

Of the total collected by the output rate, 25% corresponds to the Tourism Authority of Panama and 2.5% to the National Commission for the Prevention of Crimes of Sexual Exploitation.

Joseph Fidanque III, manager of Tocumen SA, said that the rate increase will allow the airport to improve their finances from the next bond issue for 625 million dollars to fund Tocumen expansion project.

According to the regulations of the airport, children under two years of age, members of the diplomatic corps of foreign countries accredited in Panama, and passengers in transit or connection are exempt from this payment; .  while retirees have a discount of 50%.

In Central America, the departure tax is between $29 and $41, Costa Rica remains the country with the lowest rate, with $29; Guatemala with $30; Honduras, US $39.72; and El Salvador to $40.27. In the case of Colombia, passengers leaving from El Dorado airport, the largest in the country, pay $66.

Reparaciones en las nuevas esclusas estarán listas en enero de 2016

Reparaciones en las nuevas esclusas estarán listas en enero de 2016

Las reparaciones y reforzamientos en los quicios de las nuevas compuertas del Canal de Panamá deben estar listas a mediados de enero de 2016, según dio a conocer Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPC), responsable del diseño y construcción del tercer juego de esclusas.

La información surgió durante una reunión realizada este jueves, con representantes de la Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP), en la que informaron que estas tareas marchan con normalidad.

El proceso de reparación de las fisuras consiste en inspeccionar, investigar, diseñar y trabajar los quicios individualmente. Una vez reparados, se prevé continuar con las pruebas electromecánicas del sistema de vaciado y llenado de las esclusas.

Por otro lado, GUPC informó que todavía no se ha establecido una nueva fecha para la conclusión de las obras de ampliación del Canal, no obstante, adelantó que mantienen conversaciones con los proveedores y los subcontratistas para implementar estrategias que permitan minimizar el impacto en la entrega final, programada para abril del año próximo.

UPDATE: GUPC Announces Sill Reinforcements Work to be Complete in January 2016

UPDATE: GUPC Announces Sill Reinforcements Work to be Complete in January 2016

 Press Releases

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has been informed by Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPC), the main contractor for the design and construction of the Third Set of Locks project, that work to reinforce the sills in the new locks will be completed in January 2016.

GUPC informed the ACP of the deadline during a meeting Thursday, Nov. 28, to discuss the progress being made on the reinforcements work.

As part of its remaining work, GUPC will continue conducting in-depth inspections and reinforcements of each individual sill. Afterward, GUPC plans to continue the electromechanical testing on the filling and emptying systems of the new locks.

The ACP was also informed by GUPC that they have not yet identified a date for the completion of the new locks project. However, GUPC announced that they will implement a strategy, along with their providers and subcontractors, that will help reduce the impact on the delivery date.

The Panama Canal Expansion Program is currently 95 percent complete. The ACP continues to monitor GUPC’s progress and will communicate updates as more information is made available.

Panama's economy will remain strong

A forecast for the Panamanian economy remains positive and above the average for Latin America, and for 2016 a growth of 6.3% is projected.

Panama will lead the growth of America, despite a difficult global environment, characterized by the slowdown in China, the weak growth in Europe and the United States (USA), which has not yet recovered. However, the biggest challenge remains the country's fiscal deficit management.

Photo by Juliette Passer

Among the major projects have begun or will begin to be built starting next year figure: The construction of lines 2 and 3 of Metro de Panama, the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal, the draft Urban Renewal and construction of Columbus the Agua Fria-Yaviza highway in Darien Province.

The deputy director of Economic Analysis of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Raul Moreira, said that "Panama will continue to grow in a sustainable manner," adding that "the numbers speak for themselves, so we cannot say we are living in a fairy tale".

Work in Metro Line 2 start in July

After overcoming the hurdle of the challenge to the act of tender, the Panama Metro is contemplated that the road to the construction work of the second railway line that runs from San Miguelito to Nuevo Tocumen begin this coming July .

Marcia Arosemena , assistant manager of Metro de Panama , who acknowledged that there have been some delays due to the extension from three to five months of the deadline for submission of proposals is confident that the first works that involve the release of routes begin in a month .

Panama Metro Line 2 was awarded to the consortium  composed by the brazilian Odebrecht and Spanish FCC , the design and construction of the second line of modern subway is for 1.857 million dollars.

Photo from La Prensa