Friday
Friday 21st June 2024.
June 20, 2024
The Electoral Tribunal (TE) will deliver their credentials tomorrow, Friday, to 70 of the 71 deputies who were elected during the general elections that took place on May 5 and after resolving a series of challenge demands in recent weeks.
The only one of the elected representatives who will not receive credentials will be Omar Ortega (Realizado Metas) from the 8-2 circuit in San Miguelito , who was challenged by current representative Zulay Rodríguez . Said appeal was admitted and the hearing date is in the process of being established.
Unlike the case of Ortega, the plenary session of the TE did not admit the appeal presented by former candidate Alejandro Pérez against the decision of the Electoral Court to reject the challenge against the proclamations of the deputies elected in the 8-4 circuit.
In the 8-4 vote, the scrutiny board awarded the seats to Roberto Zúñiga and Jorge Bloise Iglesias , from the independent Vamos coalition; Javier Sucre, from the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), and Ernesto Cedeño and Grace Hernández, from the Other Path Movement (MOCA).
After learning of the decision, Pérez said that “in politics, battles are won or lost, and in the search for a seat by half an electoral quotient for my Realizing Goals party I have lost the electoral litigation.”
On the other hand, the four elected deputies of the Vamos coalition in circuit 8-2 (San Miguelito) will be able to formally receive their credentials this Friday, June 21 at the TE. These are the independents, Eduardo Gaitán, Luis Duke, Alexandra Brenes and Yarelis Rodríguez.
It will also be received by Luis Eduardo Camacho, elected representative of Realizing Goals (RM), and Raúl Pineda, re-elected representative of the PRD.
Last Wednesday, June 19, the TE published in its Electoral Bulletin the list of the proclaimed candidates who are firm, this after the plenary session of the TE rejected the appeal presented by the former PRD deputy candidate, José Ruiloba Pineda, against the decision of the Second Electoral Court not to accept the former candidate’s challenge against the proclamation of the deputies of the Vamos coalition in the district of San Miguelito.
In addition, the magistrates ordered the delivery of the bail to the Vamos deputies.
The representative of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD ), Zulay Rodríguez , stars in a case that defies all logic: while on the one hand she fervently battles for a seat in the 8-2 circuit of San Miguelito , on the other, this year she presented her resignation as deputy in the middle of the judicial process she faces related to the controversial gold bullion case.
The deputy has been very active in recent days on her social networks, defending her impeachment demand. However, what happened in recent months that, after resigning from her seat, she now wants to return to the National Assembly through an impeachment?
“I want to make public knowledge that the challenge presented in circuit 8-2 of San Miguelito is awaiting hearing and has been the only one admitted by the electoral courts. I will demonstrate the enormous amount of inconsistencies in the minutes, the irregular handling of the electoral juries in the preparation of said minutes and the illegal application of a repealed decree,” Rodríguez indicated on his account on the social network X.
He also made it clear that he will continue “fighting” until justice is done and the will of the people is respected, calling for new partial elections in accordance with the law.
The Minister of the Environment, Milciades Concepción , confirmed the suspension of the works on the Caribbean Corridor project, a decision that will remain in force until the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) issues its final ruling.
“They (the CSJ) accepted a complaint with suspensive effect, while an in-depth analysis of the case is carried out. We are going to wait for the Supreme Court to issue its final decision on this matter in the coming weeks or months,” said Concepción.
He highlighted that the Ministry of the Environment (Miambiente) approved a category II environmental impact study (EIA) for the construction of a 14-kilometer highway that will connect María Chiquita with Sierra Llorona, complying with all current environmental regulations.
However, the Third Chamber of the CSJ stated that it was evident that the project has an environmental scope, in which it has been confirmed that the opinion and technical recommendation of experts from the ministry itself, as well as from . civil society organizations, have been ignored. For this reason, they ordered precautionary measures.
“The Court has not ruled yet; They admitted the appeal and, applying the precautionary principle, we have suspended the works. If any environmental damage or irregularity in the approval of the study is finally demonstrated, action will be taken accordingly. Otherwise, the resolution issued by Miambiente will be confirmed,” the minister added.
The cost of living in a city, measured not only by food prices but by housing, utility payments, education and taxes, can determine the best or worst places to work.
In the latest 2024 report, the consulting firm Mercer, a Marsh McLennan company, details the classification of Cost of Living Cities to guide multinational companies in planning compensation strategies for their employees.
Although Panama improved compared to the 2023 classification and dropped three places, that is, it reduced the cost of living, it is still one of the most expensive. In fact, it ranks as the third most expensive city to live in Central America.
“In the case of Panama City, it drops three positions compared to the previous year, however, its geographical position, connectivity and economic stability keep it as a destination for transnational companies to mobilize their talent from other latitudes, ensuring compliance with the quota established by the Ministry of Labor,” says Zulma Santamaría, Senior Rewards consultant for Mercer Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean.
In Panama, 189 companies are registered that are Multinational Headquarters and two that are Multinational Manufacturing Companies that usually bring repatriated employees and hire local labor.
The report details that Panama City has established itself in Latin America as one of the most strategic cities for the location of workers on international assignment.
Failures and subsidence in some areas of the apron and taxiway of Terminal 2 of the Tocumen International Airport are being evaluated by a team from the Technological University of Panama with soil studies to determine the stability of the terrain and solutions. that can be implemented.
This was reported by the outgoing general manager of the Tocumen International Airport, Raffoul Arab, stating that when the impact of the area that covered almost seven aircraft boarding gates was detected, a patching of the area was carried out so as not to alter operations. .
“The definitive solution to this situation must be deeper and will correspond to the new administration. “We are leaving all the technical reports prepared and documented with the endorsement of the studies being carried out by the Technological University of Panama, so that there is adequate support to make decisions and in addition, the economic funds are being left for these works,” Arab indicated. .
He explained that the cost of these repairs to the taxiway collapse is estimated between $12 million and $15 million and the resources are available for the next administration to use.
Arab maintained that they have managed to recover some areas that had not been completed and carry out maintenance, but more and more failures and problems have been detected in the T2 work carried out by the Brazilian company Odebrecht, currently known as CNO.
One of the problems has to do with leaks and leaks that have become more evident with the rainy season.
The elected president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino , announced this Thursday, June 19, 2024, who will be in charge of the Panama-David train project, one of his campaign promises. This is Henry Faarup , a Panamanian civil engineer and businessman.
At a press conference, Mulino highlighted the extensive career of Faarup, who will be in charge of “the most important work of my government.”
“It is an ambitious project, without a doubt, that will require a lot of work, but I am sure it will mean a gateway to a process of road integration of Panama with the rest of the region,” said Mulino.
President-elect Mulino added that Faarup will work hand in hand with Roberto Roy , recently appointed as a consultant in engineering and construction, and engineer César A. Pinzón M. , who will be in charge of the Panama Metro.
Mulino recalled that he lived in the era of the disappeared Chiriquí railway. “No one tells me what a train means and the development that is generated along the length and breadth of the track as a result of a train,” he indicated. He also mentioned that this train generated jobs, new housing and commercial integration in all areas.
No details have yet been given about the amount, the route or the time it will take to complete the work in its entirety.
Meanwhile, Faarup, who introduced himself as Panamanian by birth, stated that this project is very challenging, but said he is sure that “we are going to achieve it.”
“I believe in Panama and I am confident that the great work of the train will bring integration of the country with the neighbors in the region,” he stressed.
Engineer Faarup also pointed out that, to carry out this project, it will require the support and collaboration of all entities. He announced that “we are going to touch many private properties,” so he asked for a lot of collaboration and understanding. He asked to think about the benefit that this railway will bring to the country.