News
Tuesday 1st October 2024.
September 30, 2024
The recent revelation by the director of Human Resources at the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Unachi), Indira Candanedo, has sparked debate about the employment of family members at this university.
Candanedo confirmed that her husband, her son and her sister work at the institution, but defended the legality of her hiring, stating that she was not the one who appointed them.
According to Candanedo, her relatives participated in open call processes and obtained the positions on their own merit. “I do not appoint, the rector [Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas] appoints . They have not appointed me (relatives), they have participated in a call and have won,” the official clarified in the morning news program on Telemetro.
Adding to this situation are the statements made by Olda Cano, Vice-Rector of Student Affairs at Unachi, who admitted that two of her sisters also work at the university, specifically as teachers.
Although Cano did not elaborate on the details of the hiring process for his relatives, his comments have fueled criticism of transparency and hiring practices at the school.
In addition, the Unachi payroll reveals an unusual situation: several of its collaborators, mostly teachers, receive salaries that exceed $7,000 per month, the same amount earned by the President of the Republic.
The university’s global payroll includes 2,000 employees, including administrative and teaching staff. Of this total, 219 employees receive salaries of $7,000 or more per month, which represents a significant expense for the institution.
These high salaries cost the university approximately $1.5 million per month, which translates to $18 million per year for this group of professionals alone.
Of this group of 219, six people earn $9,000 or more and 16 earn $8,000 or more, while another 197 employees also earn more than $7,000.
Former Calidonia representative Ramón Ashby , sentenced to 60 months in prison for embezzlement, was captured this Monday, September 30, shortly after 10:00 am at a residence in Condado del Rey .
Ashby did not resist arrest by an agent of the Judicial Investigation Directorate of the National Police (DIJ) .
The detainee will now be brought before a judge for a sentence execution hearing on October 8, at 10:00 am, in a courtroom of the First Judicial District of Panama, in Plaza Ágora.
The arrest warrant had been in effect since July 18.
Twelve days ago, Ashby failed to appear at a sentencing hearing before Judge Elizabeth Berroa . His lawyer submitted a medical certificate for alleged “excessive exercise.” The incapacity was from September 16 to 21. The lawyer proposed that the client participate in the hearing by videoconference, but Judge Berroa denied that request and explained that this would only be possible if Ashby was already in prison. Previously, the former representative tried to have his prison sentence replaced by work at a health center in Río Abajo.
Ashby’s 60-month prison sentence was upheld by the Second Court of Justice on July 6, 2021. Subsequently, on June 8, 2023, the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice rejected the appeals filed by his defense.
An audit by the Comptroller General of the Republic determined that the Calidonia Communal Board, under Ashby’s administration, did not support expenses totaling $505,355, corresponding to personnel contracts, purchases of goods and services.
Only the Council, the local governing body, can establish and eliminate taxes. This statement is part of a response given by the Attorney General, Rigoberto González Montenegro , to Deysi Cañizales, Director of Tax Administration of the Municipality of Panama.
In a letter sent on September 17, Cañizales asked the Administration’s attorney the following:
- Is it appropriate for the Municipal Treasurer to exercise the powers to cancel municipal taxes under current regulations? If so, what are the legal or regulatory provisions that support this power?
If the Procedures Manual does not have specific legal support, what applicable regulations should be considered to regulate these actions?
The attorney argued that the Political Constitution attributes to the council “the approval or elimination of taxes, contributions, rights and rates,” and emphasized that “only this public body of local government has the power to approve, by agreement, municipal taxes and, in the same way and through the same procedures, may eliminate them.”
The attorney cited Article 52 of the Panamanian Constitution, which states: “ No one is required to pay contributions or taxes that are not legally established and whose collection is not made in the manner prescribed by law .” He also mentioned Article 17 of Law 106 of 1973 on Municipal Regime, which empowers the council to “ establish municipal taxes, contributions, rights and rates, in accordance with the laws, to cover the expenses of municipal administration, services and investments .”
Recently, the Mayor of Panama, Mayer Mizrachi , announced a moratorium on the payment of municipal taxes in order to provide some degree of liquidity or cash flow to the municipality of Panama, which is facing a serious financial crisis.
On Friday, September 13, the mayor of the capital presented a report on the financial situation of the municipality. He revealed that the debt of the capital’s mayor’s office amounts to $185.9 million, according to the municipal treasurer, Olmedo Rodríguez Carrasquilla. The breakdown indicates that $69.8 million correspond to debts of the headquarters and $116.1 million to decentralization issues.
That day it was revealed that municipal tax collections are 20% below what was projected by the previous administration of José Luis Fábrega , who did not achieve re-election in the elections of May 5, and therefore left the mayor’s office of Panama on June 30.
The Fábrega administration attempted to increase municipal taxes in August 2022; however, the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice declared Municipal Agreement 142 of August 2, 2022, which provided for the increase, illegal.
The level of the lakes that supply water to the Panama Canal is in better condition than a year ago, which has allowed the route to return to normal in the number of daily transits allowed, reaching 36.
After a long period of drought that lasted from July 2023 to April 2024, the Canal closes its fiscal year on September 30 in a better situation and with the lakes at a better level to allow the passage of vessels with a 50-foot draft. The recent rains in the country confirm this.
According to the Canal’s real-time monitoring, on Monday, September 30, Gatun Lake was at 86.21 feet, when its optimal level is 87.99 feet. Meanwhile, Gatun Lake reached 226.86 feet and is still below the indicated optimal level of 251.97 feet.
“We are going to start this fiscal year 2025 strong because the level of the lakes is filling up,” said Ilya Espino de Marotta , deputy administrator of the Panama Canal Authority , to La Prensa , at the end of her speech at the forum of the International Federation of Freight Agents (Fiata) that met for the first time in Panama.
Marotta admits the challenges that the route has had to overcome in this fiscal year that has just ended, with the reduction of transits to 24 between November 2023 and March 2023.
It was the most severe drought in the 70-year history of measurement at the Canal and was a test that they were able to overcome with strategies to not put at risk the operation or the global maritime industry that passes cargo through Panama.
“With the lack of rain, we did our best to make the situation less painful for the industry,” Marotta said.
He says that, taking stock since the return to 36 daily transits was allowed at the beginning of September, there have been days when fewer ships have passed and others when they have even exceeded the permitted number.
“We see that it has taken longer for the industry to recover, but we are seeing some days with over 36 transits, and other days with 32, but the balance shows the increase.”
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is looking for new personnel for the maritime route. This was announced on its employment portal, www.portal-empleo.micanaldepanama.com .
The vacancies that are being requested are:
- Construction worker
- Electrician
- Rigger
- Ship Owner
- Transit Planning Assistant
- Biologist
- High Voltage Electrician
- Interdisciplinary Specialist (Social Sciences)
- Security guard
- Interdisciplinary Engineer (Machine Design)
- Precision Instrument Mechanic
- Mechanic Turner
- Dredger Officer
- Engineer Officer
- Welder
- Iron Structure Worker (Reinforcer)
According to the Panama Canal employment portal, to be considered for future opportunities at the ACP, certain steps must be strictly followed.
The first thing to do is to create an account on the job portal with up-to-date information. This way you can have the opportunity to apply for one of the positions. Once you have created the account, you must select “Applicant Guide”, check the most popular positions and fill out a form that will be sent to an email.
It is important to mention that there are two types of registrations on the employment portal, “occupations for future opportunities” and “occupations that we are currently seeking.”
If a job requires it, online tests must be taken. These exams are designed according to the profile of the position being applied for.
Once registered, the information will be stored in the ACP database. If a vacancy arises or the applicant meets the requirements for occupations that require personnel at that time, he or she will be contacted for a final evaluation, which is intended to conduct a skills test.
The portal also provides a free exam syllabus for occupations that require it.
The decision of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) to grant Russia permanent observer status, through its legislative chambers, has generated widespread rejection in the country.
Various sectors, both political and civil society, have expressed concern about the measure, pointing out that Russia’s inclusion in an organization dedicated to regional integration could influence the political and diplomatic agenda of Central America.
Some critics warn that this step could compromise the region’s neutrality in an increasingly polarized international context, while others see the decision as a lack of transparency and judgment on the part of Parlacen.
One of those who reacted to this issue was former deputy Juan Diego Vásquez , who considered that it is an opportune moment to abandon, through diplomatic means, this international organization.
“I think it is an excellent opportunity to, through diplomatic means, negotiate our exit once and for all from Parlacen, which contributes little to our country,” said Vásquez on his X account .
He also applauded the Foreign Ministry’s position this weekend.
In a statement, the Panamanian Foreign Ministry said that this decision comes at a complex and worrying international moment, in which Panama defends the principles of peace, democracy and the recognition of human rights.
“Panama, which has always promoted Central American cooperation, also regrets that members of the Panamanian delegation to Parlacen have supported a decision that does not reflect the foreign policy of the national government, much less in light of the independent role that, as a non-permanent member, it will soon play in the Security Council of the United Nations,” the statement said.
Likewise, it is highlighted that Panama calls for reconsideration of this decision and promoting coherence in the actions of regional organizations.