News
Tuesday 15th November 2022.
November 15, 2022
On November 5, the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo, said that his government “was prepared for anything” when asked about the negotiation process with the First Quantum mining company to sign a new contract. Now, nine days later, government representatives led by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Federico Alfaro, met with executives from Minera Panamá, a subsidiary of the Canadian company First Quantum, who were informed that December 14, 2022 would be the last day to sign the new contract that would establish the new mechanism to calculate the royalties that the State will receive going from a system based on gross sales, to gross profits. “Although the Government and Minera Panamá reached an agreement on the terms in January, the following ten months of drafting discussions have not resulted in the signing of a contract,” indicates a statement sent by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI). . This is the second time that the Government sets a deadline for Minera Panama. On January 13, the MICI asked the mining company, which has a 13,000-hectare concession, to accept the new terms to set royalties. Four days later the contractor announced that he accepted the government’s economic proposal. Tristan Pascall, executive president of First Quantum, has indicated that a bilateral contract drafting committee was established last September, and explained that the negotiation is based on the protections that the company needs to maintain its business model against the fall in the copper price, as well as ensuring that the new contract is durable. “We have had a frank and serious conversation with Minera Panama and First Quantum regarding the conclusion of the discussions related to the contract. The future of Cobre Panama is of vital importance to the country, the Panamanian people, and its workers. We have been very clear with Minera Panamá and First Quantum about the need to advance on the roadmap for the signing of the contract no later than December 14, 2022,” warned Minister Alfaro.
The technological application, app , to collect the endorsement signatures of the candidates for free application will be enabled again as of next Tuesday, November 22. This was confirmed this Monday, November 14, by Heriberto Araúz , on his last day as a magistrate of the Electoral Tribunal (TE) . Since last October 25, the TE temporarily suspended the use of the app , after reports and complaints from aspiring candidacies for free application for irregularities in this process.In a press conference, Araúz reported that an internal audit is being carried out on the collection of signatures registered until October 24, which are 286,644 signatures. It was reported that none of the three companies contacted to carry out an external audit of the signatures collected through the app – KPMG, Deloitte and Rissco – wanted to carry out this inspection. According to the magistrates, the Technological University of Panama (UTP) will be the external entity that validates the final work developed by the Internal Audit Department of the TE. Among the flaws found so far by the TE is the fact that the videos did not clearly show the image of the person who was supporting the candidate or did not clearly express their support.
With the message from Panama, as the host country, to agree on binding and strong actions to protect the planet and therefore humanity, the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on International Trade in Threatened Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).In the opening message of the environmental meeting, which takes place at the Panama Convention Center, located in Amador, it was emphasized that the loss of habitat, global warming and the overexploitation of natural resources are the main problems facing the world. The event, which brings together representatives from 183 countries and which takes place from Monday, November 14 to Friday, November 25, seeks to decisively combat the trade in endangered species.
The Third Chamber of Administrative and Labor Litigation of the Supreme Court of Justice declared illegal another three promotions granted by the National Police between the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 to the ranks of major and lieutenants. Among these are those granted to Major Mayinda De Gracia and to Lieutenants Oliver Morales and Leonor E. Miranda. In addition to the revocation of these promotions, there are 14 other cases of National Police officers who received “irregular” promotions and that the magistrates of the Third Chamber has revoked. Among these are officers who were elevated to the ranks of commissioners. In addition, majors, captains, and lieutenants who were promoted without having the necessary merits and evaluations.
With the presentation by the magistrate, Miriam Cheng Rojas, the Supreme Court of Justice did not admit an amparo of constitutional guarantees presented in favor of former president Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal within the process that is being followed for alleged money laundering by the company New Business, used for the acquisition of Editora Panamá América (Epasa) . The ruling, dated October 12, 2022, specifies that in this case the amparo was not proposed directly against the inquiry warrant issued by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime, but against the resolution of the Third Settlement Court for Criminal Cases which rejected a disputed incident against the prosecution’s measure. The amparo action – the Court alleges – should have been directed against the original action issued by the prosecutor. The former president’s defense also maintains that his client’s constitutional guarantees were violated, since the investigations against him began when he was still a deputy of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). Martinelli’s defense also argued that his client is protected by the principle of specialty, so he cannot be prosecuted for this case. On November 29, Martinelli will have a preliminary hearing for this case. The court has already called 20 people to trial.
Cocina con corazón. This is the title of the recipe book that was recently launched by the Ladies’ Committee of the Activo 20-30 Club of Panama, for the benefit of its social works. It is a compilation of 39 recipes that were donated by 17 chefs, both national and international, who reside in Panama. Cocina con corazón contains unique and simple dishes, which can also be prepared for parties and special celebrations classified by categories (Romantic Dinner, Family Christmas, Soccer with friends, Wine with friends). Ingrid Restrepo de Ferguson, president of the Auxiliary Committee of Ladies of the Club Activo 20-30 of Panama, explained that the social works they carry out are focused on supporting children with malnutrition, suffering from different diseases and at social risk. For this reason, 100% of the funds from the sale of these books go to them, she highlighted. The book will be on sale at the El Hombre de la Mancha bookstore, in Multiplaza, Panama City.