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Panama Canal Increases Daily Neopanamax Vessel Reservations

 

CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt

By MarEx 2017-12-01 20:15:35

The Panama Canal has increased the number of daily booking slots available for Neopanamax vessels from six to seven effective from December 1, 2017.

With this measure, the Panama Canal says it is embracing the additional capacity allowed for by the new, larger locks. The seven daily booking slots for Neopanamax vessels are offered in addition to the 23 slots available each day for transit through the Panamax locks.

The additional slot is now available for ships transiting northbound (from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean), and was first offered beginning September 26 through a special competition in the first booking period in adherence to Panama Canal regulations.  

Container vessels will have preference over other vessel types when allocating these additional slots. If no container vessels are interested, the slot will be awarded to any vessel that participated in the special competition, based on the Panama Canal Customer Ranking. After the special competition, the slots will be available to all vessels on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Neopanamax Locks can transit additional ships beyond the number of daily slots allotted. For example, the Expanded Canal transited a record 10 Neopanamax ships on November 17, more than three to four daily transits originally expected.

The Panama Canal aims to offer eight Neopanamax reservation slots by the end of the first quarter of 2018 and to gradually implementing additional measures to increase capacity through 2019. 

The Neopanamax container ship CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt became the largest ship to transit the Canal to date in August 2017, measuring 365.96 meters in length and 48.252 meters in beam with a Total TEU Allowance (TTA) of 14,863.

The waterway welcomed a record 403.8 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) of cargo in FY17, the largest annual tonnage ever transited in its 103-year history and a 22.2 percent increase from the previous year. According to figures, the Panama Canal transited a total of 13,548 vessels during its FY17, representing a 3.3 percent increase compared to totals the year before. The growth in traffic translated into a 22.2 percent increase in total annual tonnage from FY16 and helped the Panama Canal surpass its cargo projection of reaching 399 million PC/UMS.

https://maritime-executive.com/article/panama-canal-increases-daily-neopanamax-vessel-reservations

There is an interesting, and possibly directly related news article about trade promotion agreements between the US and Panama. Please see:

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McKinney Keeping Tabs on Trade with Panama and Colombia

By Andy Eubank

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Dec 4, 2017

Just minutes after the new director of the USDA was announced Friday, the man who left the post met with the media to talk trade from Panama. USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney has met with officials in Colombia and Panama. Unlike NAFTA though, McKinney says trade promotion agreements in effect with those nations since 2012 are in good working order.

“We like, and I think Colombia and Panama like what they have,” he said, “and so the intent is to grow it, and growing it means trade both ways. Trade is not a one way street, and so the degree to which we’re doing our best to embrace and welcome those imports, I would say in those countries most are products we don’t make. Coffee for example, bananas, mangos, so it’s a natural trading partnership, but there’s been no reference that I’ve ever heard of in re-doing these two free trade agreements. None at all.”

But McKinney also said each country must be diligent at keeping free trade agreements working properly.

“That’s why I and my colleagues make these trips, so that we’re continuing to have good, honest discussions and sharing concerns. Likewise, they raised questions on us. To keep it free trade we have to have the ongoing dialogue and exchanges so that we’re talking always friendly and respectfully I think, at least that’s the way we have been this week and last, but also candidly and firmly so that we know the rules and we play by the rules.”

McKinney pointed to existing talks with Colombia about their method of determining which ethanol will be imported. He said it’s standard due diligence so that a barrier to U.S. corn ethanol exports is not established.

https://www.hoosieragtoday.com/mckinney-keeping-tabs-trade-panama-colombia/

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Costa Rica’s Nature Air Adding Planes & Flights

written by Isabella Foster Villanueva 2017/11/30

 

Costa Rica News – Nature Air has invested $10 million in purchasing five new aircraft to improve its operations in Costa Rica.

The firm is adding flights to David, starting December 1, which will be its second destination in Panama.

The new fleet is made up of three Caravan aircraft, for 12 passengers, and two Twin Otter aircraft, which carry 19 people each.

These replace the two aircraft currently covering 12 destinations within Costa Rica and the trips to Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Nature Air is the only airline with direct daily flights to Bocas and, soon, David. The tickets to David will be from $100, with promotions being launched on www.natureair.com.

Nature Air’s main competitor, Sansa, is working on launching new routes as well. It made a $12 million investment, in January, to strengthening its services and increase its fleet. 

https://www.costaricantimes.com/costa-ricas-nature-air-adding-planes-flights/58017

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Jail for tax fraud  considered in new bill

Posted on October 7, 2017 in Panama

 

Dulcidio De La Guardia

Post Views: 263

PANAMA’S MINISTRY  of Economy and Finance (MEF) is working on a bill that could earn jail terms for those convicted of tax fraud. But fiscal experts  warn it needs controls to avoid becoming a tool for political persecution

At the moment it is an administrative fault that does not lead to imprisonment.

Tax consultant Osvaldo Lau said that “it is necessary to strengthen the control and sanctions as far as the taxes, in general, are concerned. The problem that if the power is centralized in an official appointed by the Executive it can become a political weapon. ”

In an attempt to limit the arbitrariness of an official, in the scheme that is being considered for Panama, it could require the analysis of the Tax Administrative Court to decide if the case deserves to be sent to the Public Ministry.

Rubén Bustamante, a tax law expert, said that prosecutors, lawyers, judges and the population, have advocated the creation of a specific criminal court for cases of tax fraud.

Tax lawyer José Javier Rivera warned of the need to train professionals and recalled that “in a democracy as weak as this, without having  been  constituted as a crime, it has already been used to try to intimidate people.” Reports La Prensa.

Finance Minister, Dulcidio De La Guardia, told La Prensa that hat “there will be people who are not satisfied and will say this  is persecution. when there are obvious actions against the patrimony of the State. He said  it must be taken into account that “Panama is the only country in Latin America which does not consider tax fraud as a crime along with  money laundering.”

The minister pointed out that tax fraud would be considered an offense, if there is the intention of deliberate evasion of taxes. Debts  with the treasury cannot be punished with prison penalties of prison, according to the Constitution. The threshold has not yet been defined ,for  a minimum amount of money evaded, to  be considered an offense.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/jail-tax-fraud-considered-new-bill

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Tax pariah Panama introduces fresh anti-avoidance measures

Tags: Panama papers

By Will Grahame-Clarke, 5 Dec 17

EmailFacebookTwitterLinkedIn

The controversial central American jurisdiction is poised to toughen its tax fraud penalties, a year and a half after it came under worldwide scrutiny for the Panama Papers leak.

The move, reportedly approved at cabinet level, comes on the day the EU published a blacklist of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, including Panama.

The new rules appear to allow first time offenders off without sanction if they pay the tax before the first court hearing.

According to the Latin Times, the legislation stipulates “penalties up to five years and a fine of up to 10 times the amount defrauded to any persons who, for their own benefit or for the benefit of a third party, simulates, hides, omits, falsifies or deceives tax obligations with the intention of defrauding the National Treasury”.

In addition, the bill states that tax fraud will be considered when the amount defrauded in a fiscal period is equal to or exceeds $300,000 (£223,950 €253,080).

The bill also establishes “that any person who pays the amount of the defrauded tax obligation and its formal attachments unconditionally and totally, before a judgement of first instance, will be exempted from punishment”.

“This benefit will be granted only once for each natural or legal person.”

https://international-adviser.com/tax-pariah-panama-introduces-fresh-anti-avoidance-measures/

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Panama moves closer to rail link with Costa Rica

Posted on December 8, 2017 in Panama

 

Chinese Minister of Commerce

Post Views: 194

PANAMA  moved  a step closer to building a rail link to the Costa Rican border on Thursday, December 7   with the signing of an agreement with China to initiate a feasibility study in 2018.

It was signed by Luis Miguel Hincapie,  in charge of  Panama’s  Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Zhong Shan,  Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Panama President Juan Carlos Varela and Panamanian Trade Minister Augusto Arosemana at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama.

The Chinese Minister of Commerce said that the purpose of his visit was to follow up on the agreements reached during Varela’s visit in  November. “In turn, I have highlighted the potential of infrastructure construction for both nations.”

With the signing of this agreement, China confirms that “it will grant the financing and the feasibility study for the rail project of the Republic of Panama,” Arosemena said.

Both Arosemena and  Zhong Shan indicated the need to accelerate the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between both nations, which should be completed by the first half of 2018.

“We hope to complete the feasibility study in June 2018 and immediately launch the negotiations,” said Arosemena.

In addition, in educational matters through an exchange of notes, both governments agreed on the amount of funding for the non-reimbursable cooperation of projects for the strengthening of “human resources, scholarships and seminars”.

Panama opened diplomatic relations with China lin June. Months later, in November, President Juan Carlos Varela met with his counterpart Xi Jinping, and from these meetings, a series of trade, economic and cooperation agreements were signed between both nations.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panama-moves-closer-rail-link-costa-rica

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Varela won’t answer “political”  donation accusations

Posted on December 8, 2017 in Panama

 

Juan Carlos Varela

Post Views: 95

ACCUSATIONS linking President Juan Carlos Varela and the Panamenista  Party  to Odebrecht bribery are part of

of political attacks and he does not intend to respond to them he said on Friday, December 7.

He made the statement following the December 6 move by Pedro Miguel González, Secretary General of the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party, to ask the Public Prosecutor’s Office to open an investigation against Varela, after seeing a report that indicates that the Panameñista Party would have received alleged donations from the Odebrecht company.

Varela said that he knew that by delivering the Colón urban renewal of project and “the successful trip to China” he would receive political attacks.

“They think that by attacking the president they will win the next elections,” he said

He added that he  had already warned in Colón on December 4, that  he would answer all political attacks against his figure as president “ by delivering  to the Panamanian  people the works to which he committed

“If I   answer to answer political attacks, I become part of a campaign” in which I don’t belong because “I am already president of the Republic,” Varela said in statements to the media during a  Mothers Day tour.

Open books
He reiterated that he and his political party answered on the Odebrecht issue and that their books are open.

In a Public Ministry  investigation on September 4, which was part of the probe  by the Special Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office of  the payment of bribes by Odebrecht to Panamanian officials and individuals, Jaime Lasso Del Castillo indicated that “$700,00 were donated to the Panameñista Party and I understand that they were also reported for the candidacy of the vice president in the 2009 elections (…)”

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/varela-wont-answer-political-donation-accusations

Moderator comment: There is a separate posting in a different forum about an inquiry into the expansion of Tocumen Airport. Please see:

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$199 million airport add-ons spark criminal probe

Posted on December 8, 2017 in Panama

Post Views: 162

 

THE ODEBRECHT tender for the construction of the new terminal at Tocumen International  Airport ballooned from $691.7 million to $874 leading a judge to conclude that “this is a crime against public administration, in which there is a possible injury to the State for a considerable sum,

The Special Anti-Corruption Office, headed by Zuleyka Moore,  is investigating possible injury the State for $ 199 million, including additional costs and addenda that were granted to Odebrecht after the signing of the contract.

It brings the number of ongoing investigations involving  Odebrecht to 23.

The latest originated from a complaint lodged in July 2016 by Panamenista deputy Jose Antonio Dominguez, who warned that the  2012 contract between Odebrecht and Tocumen International “was designed for the company to achieve addenda … which caused patrimonial injury for the State “.

Dominguez argued that the construction design of the airport expansion was not functional and would remain as a monument since the planes could not access the new boarding gates and passengers would have to leave the current building and take a vehicle to get to the new terminal.

According to Dominguez, everything was done for the addenda after the contract was signed.

After the deputy’s complaint, Moore provided a preliminary report of the Criminal Analysis Unit which concluded that there are “signs of irregular management” in the addenda and costs added to the contract.

The unit suggested that it was important to appoint a multidisciplinary team to analyze the increments approved through the addendum, to obtain the necessary financial information to confirm whether the resources of the State were affected

The prosecutor obtained other evidence in the investigation: forms of measurement on the contract and its addendums; spreadsheet for measuring additional costs;  an authenticated copy of the technical proposal presented by Odebrecht; and a copy of the basic design adjusted to the addenda.

The Office of the Comptroller General indicated that it had not been able to authenticate all disbursements made to indicated persons because it needs to verify the records, payrolls and checks in all the public sector entities, and asked the Prosecutor’s Office for a reasonable extension to comply with the request.

A final report is a pending from the Criminal Unit and the analysis of the Comptroller General to establish if the design and construction of the terminal were met.

The prosecutor was granted an extension of eight months for the investigation

The latest probe by the Special Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office is added to another 22 related files with Odebrecht, including bribes paid through banks in Switzerland, the case of the Southern International Construction Company and the bribes disbursed to officials and individuals in Panama.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/199-million-airport-add-ons-spark-criminal-probe

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Roll On- Roll Off Port Plan Revived

The Ro-Ro terminal the Panama Canal Authority is considering to build on the west side would require a $200 million investment.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

The purpose of a specialized rolling cargo terminal is to turn the area where it will be built into a center for redistribution for vehicles, machinery and heavy equipment to serve the local market and other Latin American countries.

Back in 2015 the Canal Authority put forward the proposal, arguing then that the objective was "to promote the development of this type of cargo in Panama and lay the foundations for the development of other lines of business that generate added value and chains. One of the activities that could be developed is that which is dedicated to adding value to vehicles, called 'accessorising'."

Elcapitalfinanciero.com reports that "...The project consists of the construction of a simple dock for carrier vessels, where a maximum of 6,000 cars can be unloaded for distribution to the international market."  

Oscar Bazán, executive vice-president of Planning and Commercial Development of the ACP, explained : "... "We are conducting market research to find about the reality of the terrain and the feasibility of having firm proponents so that when the publication comes out we have favorable acceptance."

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Rolling_Cargo_Port_Plan_Revived

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Controversy Over Animal Transport Insurance

In Panama, the livestock sector is opposed to regulations which, from December 28, will require special insurance to be taken out for damages to third parties when transporting livestock overland.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

The main complaint of livestock farmers is the cost overrun that this new insurance will imply, since according to estimates made by the union, once Law 51 enters into force, "...Moving 20 cattle from the province of Darién to Las Tablas would cost $400."

In addition, they state that the Institute of Agricultural Insurance (ISA) is not the most appropriate entity to issue the policies, because it does not have the necessary experience or statistics on the insurance market and traffic accidents.

Prensa.com reports that "...The insurance in question in an extra cost, because all of the vehicles destined to be used to transport cattle are duly covered by policies that cover all type of risk, not only of the vehicle, said Aquiles Acevedo, president of the National Association of Graziers (Anagan)."

"... The regulations propose that the cost of the premium be 2% of the value of the animal. Moving 20 cattle from Darién to Las Tablas would cost $400, Acevedo said."

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Controversy_Over_Animal_Transport_Insurance

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Cell Phones in Central America: A $590 million business

Between January and June 2017, the region imported $590 million worth of mobile phones, 10% more than the imports in the same period in 2016.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Figures from the information system on the Mobile Phone Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData:

Main brands  
Among the main brands imported into Central America and according to purchase value are Samsung, Huawei and Apple, which together account for approximately 80% of total imports.

Imports by country 
In the first semester of 2017, the main cell phone buyer in Central America was Guatemala, with $213 million, followed by Costa Rica, with $147 million, El Salvador, with $83 million, Honduras, with $72 million, Panama, with $46 million and Nicaragua, with $29 million. 

Variation of regional imports 
Between the first semester of 2016 and the same period in 2017 the value imported into the region grew by 10%, increasing from $537 million to $590 million.

US purchases went up 30%, going up from $230 million in the first half of last year, to $298 million in the same period in 2017.

Origin of imports 
From January to June 2017, 51% of the value imported in the region came from the USA, 22% from China, 15% from Hong Kong and 8% from Vietnam. 

The USA is the country of origin of Central American imports that has grown the most, since in the first half of 2015 it represented 37% of the total value purchased, and in the same period of 2017 this figure rose to 51%.

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Cell_Phones_in_Central_America_A_590_million_business

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UNESCO  recognizes “real” Panama  hat

Posted on December 7, 2017 in Panama, Panama

 

Acknowledged at last

Post Views: 149

UNESCO (The UN  Organization for Education, Science and Culture)   has named the procedures and techniques for making the “sombrero pintao”  in Panama as an intangible heritage of humanity, pushing aside the “Panama hat that originated in  Ecuador.

The Ecuadorean headwear got its name because Panama was the main shipping point to China and around the world. It got a big fillip when US President Teddy Roosevelt visited  the Canal construction in 1904 and was photographed sporting a “Panama “ hat.

Unesco sets the record straight on its website: “The vegetal fibres to prepare the talcs, pints and cringes of the pintao hat are obtained by means of manual procedures using five classes of plants and mud”. Hatsmithing procedures and techniques are handed down from generation to generation and braiding contests are organized to encourage hatters to perfect their art, adds the agency.

The international organization, meeting in South Korea, valued the work of the more than 400 Panamanian artisans who perform the trade. “They grow the plants, they work the raw materials, they braid the fibers and they make with them this type of hat that is part of the clothing of all the regions of the country in the folkloric dances and the community celebrations”.

It adds that the practice of hat making promotes social solidarity and encourages the creation of cooperatives and groups of hatters and growers.

Unesco also highlights the creation of the Sombrero Pintao Museum in the district of La Pintada, in the province of Coclé, which shows the life and techniques of the artisans, as well as the celebration, on October 9 of each year, of the Civic Day and Commemoration of the Sombrero Pintao and the General Direction of National Crafts organizes, in turn, fairs and craft markets to promote the product.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/unesco-recognizes-real-panama-hat

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Wingo abandons Panama-Costa Rica route

Posted on December 7, 2017 in Latin America, Panama

Post Views: 161

WINGO, the low-cost subsidiary of Copa  Airlines has faced some turbulent balance sheet conditions despite recording sales of $90 million s in its first year, and faced with strong competition from Air Panama, has pulled the plug on its  Costa Rica-Panama route due to the poor results.

The company had previously abandoned the Costa Rica-Guatemala route due to low demand.

Catalina Bretón, general manager of the company with her

base in Colombia noted that not all routes have the same acceptance and it was decided to leave that market, leaving sister company Copa Airlines to meet the demand.

“There are other routes that have had a greater acceptance, such as flights to Colombia, where We fly daily to some cities, and we have increased flights to others, “she told La Prensa

In Costa Rica, Wingo competed with Air Panama, which this year added an additional frequency from the Costa Rican capital to Bocas del Toro, with a stop in the province of Chiriqui.

Bretón said that in a few months they have achieved profit, but still the balance sheet is negative.

Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, said during a conference on the quarterly results of the company, it will take time before Wingo is profitable, adding that the company represented 2% of Copa Holdings,  revenues Holdings, which between July and September generated $657 million.

During the conference call with Wall Street financial analysts, Heilbron commented that have managed to reduce the operational losses of Copa Colombia, the former AeroRepublic, company that served as a base to put together the operations of Wingo, carrying 787,000 passengers in their first year.

Breton, said that the company has a rate of 99.8% of flights completed f and a punctuality of 89.9%.

With a fleet of 4 aircraft with a capacity of 142 passengers, Wingo offers flights on 16 routes in 8 countries, with flights between Panama and Colombia (Bogotá, Cartagena, Cali and Medellín) registering the biggest movement of passengers.

On flights to Colombia, the company competes with Viva Colombia, with whom it shares space in the Panama Pacifico terminal, Howard’s former military base and also with Air Panama, which is based in the Marcos A. Gelabert terminal in Albrook.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/business/latin-america-2/wingo-abandons-panama-costa-rica-route

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Martinelli  promises social peace under CD rule

Posted on December 7, 2017 in Panama

 

Christmas in jail

Post Views: 129

TWEETING from his cell in  a Miami detention center  where he awaits the resolution of his appeal against extradition, ex-president Ricardo Martinelli who faces multiple criminal investigations  totaling  scores of millions of dollars  said that it was time for President Juan Carlos Varela and his family  to face justice,  and the return of the CD party to office  would bring social peace to the company.

His message coincides with the secretary general of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Pedro Miguel González calling for a judicial investigation against President  Varela for the donations given by Odebrecht to the Panameñista Party.

González said at a Wednesday press conference that there are elements of conviction for the president to be investigated.

Meanwhile, Martinelli is just days away from marking six months since his arrest at his Coral Gables mansion and the prospect of spending Christmas  behind bars.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/martinelli-promises-social-peace-cd-rule

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Four dead nine injured in multiple crashes

Posted on December 7, 2017 in Panama

Post Views: 114

A POLICE SERGEANT  involved in a head on collision with an impaired woman driver was one four fatalities in early week accidents, bringing the total this year to 379

The accident occurred at 02:15  on Tuesday morning on  Boyd-Roosevelt highway sector of El Pedernal, in Chilibre. His car  rolled several times but the other driver fled and was stopped at the Don Bosco roundabout. The police officer died in hospital

One person was killed and at least  three injured on the road to the Vaca Monte, in the district of Arraiján when the  driver, 37, lost control  of the steering wheel and crashed. against a power line post. He was trapped and  died a few minutes later

The road was closed for three hours.

A few minutes later  an all-terrain car in which three people were traveling overturned. The vehicle r took several turns and spun off the road. Paramedics from the 911 system treated them and transferred them to the Emergency Room of the Nicolas A. Solano Hospital in La Chorrera.

So far this year, 59 people have lost their lives in traffic accidents in West Panama.

Police chase
 The driver  was killed dead and three  passengers injured  after a police chase  of four suspects seen trying to rob  another person. It ended  on Avenida B.  when the fleeing  car crashed  into a shop.

A man died late on Tuesday afternoon at Camino Real de Betania, when the car he was driving crashed into a lamppost.

According to the Traffic Police, the driver, after colliding, got out , but suffered a heart attack  The accident occurred around 4:00 in the afternoon.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/four-dead-nine-injured-multiple-crashes

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Panama on the Black List of the European Union

After two years of negotiations the European Union has reached a consensus and defined a list of 17 nations considered to be "tax havens", among which is Panama.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

For the first time, tax authorities in the European Union have announced the creation of a black list, composed of 17 countries considered "non-cooperative jurisdictions in fiscal matters".

The document contains a list of nations "not doing enough in the fight against tax evasion", according to French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire. The initial figure included almost 30 territories, but was eventually reduced. They say there are 47 others which are in a "gray zone".

Efforts made by the Varela administration to modify regulations in order to avoid evasion and improve fiscal transparency do not seem to have been enough for the European authorities.

"Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, said: 'The adoption of the first black list of tax havens in the EU marks a key victory for transparency and fairness. But the process does not end here. We must intensify pressure in the countries included in the list so that they change their ways. Jurisdictions on the blacklist face consequences in the form of dissuasive sanctions, while those who have made commitments must follow up on them quickly and credibly."

See report by the European Union.

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Panama_on_the_Black_List_of_the_European_Union

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Tender: $3 million for Medicines

The Ministry of Health in Panama is putting out to tender a supply of different medical supplies.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Panama Government Purchase 2017-0-12-14-08-LP-014466:

"Reagent for the detection of HIV antigen antibody F / T 100398 R / 2-syphilis TPA JGO 100 PR 61392 R / 3-hepatitis C (antihcv) 100PR 61007 R / 4- hepatitis B core kit 100 PBS 100399 R / 5- HTLV 1 and 2 for the detection of antibody 100738 R / 6-hepatitis B architect 100pr 61006 R / 7-reagent for the detection of chagas 102325."

Reference value: $1.562.949.

The deadline for receipt of bids is January 16, 2018.

See Tender.

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Tender_3_million_for_Medicines

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Cruise Terminal Project Moves Forward

The consortium formed by the Belgian Jan De Nul and China Harbor Engineering Company already has the environmental backing to move forward with the construction of the port in the Amador Causeway, Panama.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

The Environmental Impact Study was approved by the Ministry of Environment of Panama, and the consortium in charge of the work plans to complete construction of the terminal in two years.

Prensa.com reports that "...After receiving no objection from other institutions, MiAmbiente's technicians approved the Port EIA, which will require an investment of $165 million."

The port terminal to be built on Perico Island will be able to simultaneously receive two mega vessels carrying a total of up to 10 thousand passengers.  It will include various green areas, parking lots and facilities for boarding passengers and handling their luggage. 

The consortium that will be in charge of the construction of the port project was the only one that submitted a proposal in the tender in which initially more than 40 companies had been interested and which was postponed several times.

https://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Cruise_Terminal_Project_Moves_Forward

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Panama blacklisting sends country reeling

Posted on December 6, 2017 in Panama, Your Man in Panama

 

Varela Committee members Mark Pieth and Joseph Stiglitz report their findings in Brussels. The government ignored the warning signs.

Post Views: 389

THE GOVERNMENT   and Panama’s private sector were left reeling by Sunday’s announcement from the 28  countries of the European Union that the country has been included in a new blacklist of tax havens along with 16 other territories.

But   with the country tarnished by near-daily revelations of corruption at the highest levels of government,  a real estate industry used to launder drug money and a flawed  judicial system which  grants impunity to those who have stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the public coffers and accepted massive bribes from entities like Odebrecht, while the administration continues  to hand out lucrative  direct contracts,  the decision will not come as a surprise.

The Panama Papers revelations sent shock waves around the world and the government’s efforts to paper over the cracks with an inquiry committee largely composed of local power brokers led to the early resignation of two distinguished outsiders, a Nobel prize-winning economist and a famed Swiss law professor. They declared themselves hamstrung by restrictions imposed by the country’s leaders who, when the scandal broke had the founders of the law firm at the heart of the scandal. acting as advisors to the administration.

The “outsiders”  did not go quietly but issued their own report in  Brussels at the heart of the EU, calling for quarantines for tax havens. The administration was wearing blinkers and earplugs,

In an age of information overload, successive administrations continue to live in a bubble, acting as if “news”  of goings-on in the isthmus take weeks to reach the rest of the world as it did when The Panama Star was founded in the mid 19^th century.

Odebrecht, Finmeccanica, Martinelli, Financial Pacific  “New Business”  the Supreme Court-National Assembly impunity pact, Waked and more have not gone unreported.

The EU reserves the right to impose sanctions on the countries that make up the list, which will not be able to benefit from economic development funds according to the conclusions, signed on Sunday.

La Prensa reports that The EU decision provoked the “overwhelming” repudiation of the private sector and the Government, which recalled its ambassador to the bloc, to assess damage control.

The president of the National Council of Private Enterprise, Severo Sousa, said that the country should adopt a more vigorous position and suggested that the public and private sectors dialogue to make decisions, without ruling out “retaliatory measures”

Threatening to use small arms against a giant power block will not work.  Flushing the corruption toilets, including the judicial system would be a better starting point.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panama-blacklisting-sends-country-reeling

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PRD  demands Varela bribery investigation

Posted on December 6, 2017 in Panama

 

Pedro Miguel Gonzalez

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The general secretary of the PRD, Panama’s largest  political party, Pedro Miguel González, accompanied by party members  at a Wednesday,  December 6 press conference  said  that “not even the President of the Nation is above the law”

“I reiterate that there are enough elements to open an investigation against Varela, since “the Panamanian people know that the President not only received a donation of $200,000 .”

He added that President Varela intends to strengthen his control over the entire judicial system with
the new judicial appointments, and guarantee a majority in the Court and “maintain control over
the actions of the Public Ministry, as it has been doing “.

According to González, the country has regressed on the issue of justice when it ignores
agreements of the State Pact for Justice and consensus on the scrutiny processes

Varela has been under fire since a former ambassador confessed to funneling large amounts of Odebrecht money to the Panamenista election campaign.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/prd-demands-varela-bribery-investigation

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Panama on European Union First Tax Haven Blacklist

Posted on December 5, 2017 in Panama, Panama

Panama banking area

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Panama, riven by multiple financial and corruption scandals like the Panama Papers, Odebrecht, and Blue Apple has been included on the first blacklist of tax havens of the  28 member European Union.

The other countries named by the finance ministers of the block are American Samoa, Grenada, Bahrain, Barbados, Guam, South Korea, Macao, Marshall Islands Mongolia, Namibia, Palau, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.

It is the last step of a complex process of negotiating balances that started in the EU two years ago.

The meeting of ministers on Tuesday, Dec 5  lasted several hours and the main obstacle for the agreement was the possibility of imposing sanctions on the named jurisdictions.

In February The EU set three common criteria to separate countries that cooperate and those that do not: the level of fiscal transparency, the degree of justice of its tax policy and the implementation of measures recommended by theOECD to avoid erosion of the tax base or practices of transfer of benefits.

The following month, the EU started a dialogue with Panama to try to avoid its inclusion in the list of tax havens.

The Panamanian government entity that led the technical talks with the Council of the European Union was the Directorate General of Revenue.

Alongside opening  channels among tax experts, Panama scrambled to activate its political machinery and in March sent  Vice President and Chancellor to Brussels to strengthen relations between the agency and Panama and to laud the country’s progress in transparency and the fight against tax evasion.

Panama signed several agreements and  introduced changes in its domestic legislation to adapt itself to the new commitments

However, neither the diplomatic channel nor the commitment to the transparency standards set by the international community served to prevent the inclusion of Panama on the blacklist, reports La Prensa.

The EU presented the list of jurisdictions considered non-cooperative as a triumph that reinforces the European block against opaque practices.

“The ministers have finally adopted the first European list of tax havens. It’s a milestone important to me after two years of struggle. The main one comprises 17 countries whose commitments are insufficient despite 10 months of dialogue, “said the European Commissioner of Economic Affairs, Pierre Moscovici.

Not punitive
“It is not a punitive measure. Our wish is that these countries want to cooperate more in the future, “said Estonian Finance Minister Toomas Tõniste, who currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU., he added that the list will be revised and updated “in the coming years”, without specifying when.

A press release by the Council of the EU said the objective of the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions is to promote “good governance” globally to “Maximize efforts to avoid tax fraud and tax evasion.”

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panama-european-uniontax-haven-blacklist

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Interpol alert for two Canal board members

Posted on December 5, 2017 in Panama

 

Corcione and Mizrachi

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INTERPOL  Red alerts have been issued for two members of the board of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) who are reportedly out of the country while under criminal investigation.

Nicolás Corcione and Henri Mizrachi, were appointed by ex-president Ricardo Martinelli and both are charged with alleged money laundering in the “New Business” investigation, involving the use of government funds to purchase a newspaper group, Editora Panamá América, S.A., (Epasa) that became a propaganda sheet for Martinelli.

No-shows
Both have also failed to fulfil their duties as directors of the ACP after being absent from meetings of the state corporation. An ACP spokesman  said  that the directors communicated “that they have had issues personal and business outside the country.” reports La Prensa

It is not the first time that Corcione has been absent from ACP meetings due to legal actions. On September 25, 2015, he reappeared at a board meeting after being absent for two months, when then Organized Crime prosecutor Nathaniel Murgas, tried to investigate, without success,  alleged money laundering related to accounts of ex-Supreme Court judge Alejandro Moncada Luna.

Corcione reappeared one day after the sixteenth criminal judge, Enrique Pérez, resolved that the process should be aired by the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice. The prosecutor appealed, but in September 2016 the Second Superior Court canceled the process involving  Corcione and 14 other people.

In that investigation, he was linked to former Judge Moncada Luna’s accounts by Jorge Espino Méndez and María Gabriela Reyna. Espino Méndez testified before the prosecution that on instructions from Corcione he paid $400,000 to Cubemu, S.A., linked to Ricardo Ricky Calvo, and  Felipe Pipo Virzi  Espino Méndez also stated that he paid another $ 200,000 to Las Cobros GC, S.A., presumably linked to Corcione.

As a representative of the company Concepto y Espacios, Espino Méndez was awarded several works in the Judicial Branch when Moncada Luna presided over it.

Penalty deal
Recently, Espino Méndez reached a penalty agreement with the Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s Office related to Odebrecht bribes. In this case, he confirmed that he was the intermediary to receive Odebrecht bribes for former Public Works Minister Jaime Ford.

In a ruling contrary to that of Judge Pérez, on August 30, the plenary session of the Supreme Court (CSJ) denied an appeal for guarantees presented by the legal defense of Mizrachi, in which he alleged that the Prosecutor against Organized Crime had no competence to investigate him as a director of the ACP. in the New Business case.

In the ruling, the CSJ pointed out that the fact that Mizrachi was  “a member of the board of  an autonomous or semiautonomous  entity did  not  prevent the Court hearing the case “

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/interpol-alert-two-canal-board-members

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10 arrested in Panama Papers linked murder

Posted on December 4, 2017 in Panama

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POLICE  in Malta have arrested ten suspects in the murder of, a journalist who played a prominent role in the Panama Papers investigation.

Daphne Caruana Galizia, 53,  exposed political and police corruption on the island and its links to the Panama revelations.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced eight of the arrests at a press conference on Monday,  when he said the detainees are being questioned on “reasonable suspicion” of involvement in the  October 16 car bombing of Caruana Galizia,  the Times of Malta reports.

The government subsequently tweeted that two more suspects were in police custody.

Police have 48 hours to interrogate the suspects and decide whether to prosecute.

Muscat said that all of the initial eight suspects are Maltese nationals and have criminal records or were known to the police, reports Malta Today online.

Caruana Galizia, was a “popular blogger who doggedly reported claims of corruption among leading politicians”, said Sky News.

Her car blew up after she left her home to go to her office. The Prime Minister who was one of her expose targets offered a $2 million reward for help in the investigation. Her sons rejected the offer.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/10-arrested-panama-papers-linked-murder