Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 18, 2019 Moderators Share Posted May 18, 2019 Quote Incoming mayor plans beaches on Panama coastal strip A BEACH beyond the fountains? Posted 17/05/2019 Panama's mayor-elect Jose Luis Fábrega wants to wind the clock back and have a clean public beach in the middle of the capital city. One of his principal projects, when he takes office, will be the rescue of beaches reports TVN. "In the Cinta Costera we have a very large area, the idea is to be able to rescue and save it so that the public has a public beach. This was already done in Barcelona, Spain. You can do the project between 14 and 18 months from the moment you give the order to proceed until the time the work is completed, "said Fábrega. The Panama Sanitation Program, which started in the bay, has been improving sanitary conditions in Panama, San Miguelito, Arraiján and La Chorrera for around 20 years, through the collection and treatment of wastewater that, together with the garbage, have polluted rivers and beaches. Recovering the water quality of rivers like the Matasnillo takes years. "In the case of what the mayor-elect proposes, we have to meet to understand the scope of the project and see how it aligns with the Sanitation Program," said Roberto De Leon, coordinator of the sanitation project. Between 1920 and 1940 it was common to see beaches in the area of San Felipe and Bella Vista crowded with people says Osvaldo Lezcano who shares on a website where he shares a material referring to yesterday's Panama. "In the photographs of the late nineteenth century, early twentieth century, you can see how people went to what is now the Miramar, Bella Vista, La Exposición neighborhood. Those places were frequently full on weekends. The bay was clean, it was regular to see boat trips, especially for Zonians, "said Lezcano. https://www.newsroompanama.com/environment/incoming-mayor-plans-beaches-on-panama-coastal-strip-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundageba Posted May 18, 2019 Share Posted May 18, 2019 Cleveland Ohio cleaned up it's sanitary landfill that was on the shore of Lake Erie right a stones throw from Cleveland central. It was a smoldering hell. It became an Airport that is now a degraded strip of asphalt from disuse. They now ponder what to do with it? I'm sure nothing a tax dollar can't solve...for a time. Imagine a smoldering landfill on fire right on the Lake wafting greyblack smoke into Cleveland.... Right, Clevelanders were real happy to have it flattened and turned into an airport. Hats off to Panama City for the proposition to restore a once beautiful shoreline. Next a plastic recycling plant ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted July 23, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted July 23, 2019 Quote New mayor bets on Panama City sandy beaches Mayor Fabrega Posted 22/07/2019 Panama’s former Mayor, Jose Isabel Blandon nailed his flag to the upgrading of some of the city’s thoroughfares like Via Argentina, Calle Uruguay, and Via Espana. Two of the projects, still unfinished led to business bankruptcies, flooding, compensation claims, and court cases. The third was condemned by engineers and citizens for is poor design, more flooding, and links to the Odebrecht company, which left the Blandon flag in tatters and helped ensure he went from favorite to an also-ran in the last presidential race. The capital’s new mayor, José Luis Fábrega’s, flagship project is the recovery of the city's beaches which has been greeted with skepticism in some quarters, but he’s forging ahead. On Monday, July 22 he announced that in the coming days he will make the call to the companies interested in the project, which should start with an environmental impact study. He said that the objective is for citizens to have access to public beaches in the capital, as in prominent cities of the world such as Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil; or Barcelona, in Spain. Tomás Sosa, director of Special Projects of the Mayor's Office, said that the execution schedule of the beach recovery project is planned for completion in September 2022. If the project runs at the same speed as Blandon’s street revitalizations, the sands of time will have eaten up Fabrega's term. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/new-mayor-bets-on-panama-city-beaches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted July 29, 2019 Author Moderators Share Posted July 29, 2019 Quote Panama beach project faces sanitation challenge The mayor's dream project Posted 28/07/2019 The ambitious proposal of Panama Mayor José Luis Fabrega mimicking Barcelona and Rio de Janeiro to recover a beach on the city waterfront. has put a spotlight on pollution levels and garbage in the Bay and rivers running into it. The beach would run between Bella Vista and Calidonia, at a cost of $120 million, has sparked a debate as Fábrega plows ahead with the intention of having the beach ready in 2022. The last time the population the coastal area for recreation was in the early 1960s Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Stanley Heckadon says the proposal is technically viable since there has been some advance in the sanitation of rivers in Panama City. The first stage of the sanitation program for the city and the Panama Bay has been 18 years in the making with the first stage, from San Felipe to Tocumen airport, with a billion-dollar investment The scientist explained that the marine waters come from east to west, that is, from Tocumen towards the center of Panama City, and all those waters have to be treated. “The important thing is sanitation…, I think that for the city of Panama to recover its beach, which was lost in 1960, would add to people's quality of life,” he said adding that if it is not done at this time, pollution will be greater in the coming decades. , Tatiana de Janon, former head of the Sanitation Program, said that the water quality of the bay has already improved greatly, and will continue to improve with the work they have to continue doing sanitation in the basin of the Matasnillo river and the areas of Calidonia and Bella Vista. "I think it's an excellent project for citizens to appreciate the sea even more and take better care of it, not throwing garbage on the street or in the rivers," he said. He said that the recovery of the beach will depend on how much the City Hall works hand in hand with the sanitation program; of the support given by the Government to it; that sewage systems continue to be operated with the same quality level of quality they had so far; and that the authorities have a comprehensive education and trash plan. Current reality Rafael Díaz, head of the Coordination Unit of the Sanitation program of Panama, said that said the entity is in total readiness to act to help the mayor’s project. but the definitive solution to clean up the Matasnillo river basin, which flows into the Bay. must be taken into consideration. Since 2006 they have been coordinating the development of works to eliminate the sources of pollution in the Bay including the design and construction of the Balboa Avenue coastal interceptor system and the construction project for the improvements to the sanitary sewer system of Punta Paitilla and Punta Pacifica, in the San Francisco district. https://www.newsroompanama.com/environment/panama-beach-project-faces-sanitation-challenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 22, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted January 22, 2020 Quote Panama Beach project consultation delayed The mayor's dream Posted 21/01/2020 The citizen consultation on Mayor José Luis Fábrega’ s $120 million project to bring reaches back to Bella Vista and Calidonia has been moved back Initially it was reported that the consultation would take place on Monday, February 17, four days after the start of Carnival.. But on Tuesday. January 21 - via social networks – it was announced that the consultation will now take place on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:00 pm at the Gladys Vidal Theater, in the Hatillo building. The consultation is carried out in accordance with the Decentralization Law. On the beach revitalization project, the Mayor's Office of Panama must make another citizen consultation, this time in relation to the study of environmental impact, category 3 , which is mandatory for the development of the project. It has faced opposition from some citizens who believe the money could be better spent. The recovery15 works will cover 1.8 kilometers, from the Matasnillo River to the Seafood Market, and the artificial beach will have sandbanks 10n km offshore. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-beach-project-consultation-delayed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted January 29, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted January 29, 2020 Quote Panama close to bathing beach by 2022 - Mayor Posted 28/01/2020 Undeterred by skepticism in some quarters Panama’s mayor José Luis Fábrega continues to express his faith in returning a beach suitable for bathing to the city he rules. On Tuesday, January 28 he said that “at the rate that it is being worked on,” the beach recovery project ma be completed in 2022. Fábrega presented his investment plan for 2020, in which he will manage a budget $292 million budget. “We are working with Sanitation of the Bay, Miambiente [Ministry of Environment] and, believe me, that by 2022, in the rhythm that we are working on and with the urgency that the Government of President [Laurentino] Cortizo has given to sanitation, we are going to be close to having bathing beaches, ”he said. The citizen consultation on the beach recovery project in Calidonia and Bella Vista - estimated at $120 million - will be held on March 11. Regarding the disarray on Calle Uruguay Street, Fábrega said that the work undertaken in the management of Mayor José Blandón (2014-2019) began without plans. “It hurts me that the past administration acted irresponsibly. In the case of Calle Uruguay, the plans were presented at the end of 2018. They began to do the work without having plans, operating by trial and error, ”he said. He added that they have taken over the projects that the past administration s initiated, and no matter what their intention is to conclude them. Investment Fábrega said that $2.6 million will be allocated to social works, which includes care for the homeless and older adults, among others. In the sports area, he highlighted the investment of $670 thousand in infrastructure repairs of swimming pools, gyms and stadiums. Other investments will be in municipal infrastructure and services ($492,638), environmental management (49,000, digitalization of services ($463, 000) and citizen security ($1 million) https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama-close-to-bathing-beach-by-2022-mayor-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 7, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted February 7, 2020 Quote Public consultation on Panama beach project will have free vote Posted 06/02/2020 The March 11 public consultation on the future of the Mayor’s Panama Beach project for the recovery of public spaces and beaches in Bella Vista and Calidonia, will be binding and will have a free voting mechanism supervised by the Electoral Tribunal The information was released Thursday by Mayor, José Luis Fábrega who stressed that on that day all residents of the district of Panama will have the right to vote Thw $120 million project is the brainchild of Mayor Fábrega, who argues that those who oppose the project are in social networks and the media. Given this, he states that a public consultation will be held with voting included, to ensure transparency both in the process and in the development of the work. He said that to avoid speculation “We went to the Electoral Tribunal and asked them to take charge of the vote so that it is not said that Mayor Fábrega manipulated the process. In addition, we will have notaries who certify the electoral process. Who can vote? Residents registered electorally in the district of Panama. The consultation begins at 5:00 pm. Anyone arriving later will not be able to vote.” https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/public-consultation-on-panama-beach-project-will-have-free-vote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted February 12, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted February 12, 2020 Quote New date for citizen consultation on the city beach project Posted 11/02/2020 The date and venue of the citizen consultation on the Panama Mayor’s plan to create beaches on the Bay of Panama have been changed. The new date is March 12, at the Vasco Núñez de Balboa Convention Center, in the Panama Hotel at 5 pm according to the Municipality of Panama, Twitter account. The announcement comes a day after the authorities of the capital city, including Mayor José Luis Fábrega, met with personnel of the Electoral Tribunal (TE), which will supervise the consultation. A statement from the Mayor, released Monday, February 10, announced that Fábrega, and the architect Tomás Sosa, Project Director of the Municipality of Panama, presented the project to TE authorities. "We have made more than 47 presentations in guilds, open consultations, presentations in more than 18 districts of the city of Panama," said Fabrega also explained to those who were in the meeting, which the project covers three fiscal periods: 2020 with a budget of $30 million; and the period 2021 and 2022 with 45 million each, calculating that the investment will be recovered in less than mayor at the meeting.20 years. "This work will generate new businesses will generate new jobs, it will be required to have emergency personnel and personnel to maintain and clean these beaches, "said the Mayor. The work costs $120 million, and provide 1.8 kilometers of beach. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/new-date-for-citizen-consultation-on-the-city-beach-project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Doug Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 I don't think this is a very good idea. This isn't restoring natural beaches. There aren't any there. More importantly, the bay is a dead zone. Pollution and runoff from the city will continue to contaminate the bay. This isn't unique to Panama, by any means. All coastal cities do it to some extent. But because of the configuration of the bay, wave action is minimal and the water is more stagnant. Hence, the dead zone and why the waters will always represent a potential health hazard to beach visitors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted March 4, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted March 4, 2020 Quote Mayor’s $120 million dream beach facing more opposition Posted 03/03/2020 The future of the Panama mayor’s dream beach project fronting Calidonia and Bella Vista, which will cost $120 million if it comes to fruition is still in doubt, as opponents prepare for more demonstrations, claiming the money could be better spent, while Mayor Fabrega is seeking ways to get citizens approval. Carlos Lee, president of the Municipal Council, said that, in the session on Tuesday, March 3, some councilors said they prefer to have a referendum while others support the alternative of citizen consultation, but reiterate that the intervention of the Electoral Court is requested Electoral as a guarantor of this process. The Mayor announced on February 11, a new change of date and place for the conduct of the citizen consultation for the project of “Integral Recovery of Public Use Spaces, Urban Mobility and the beaches. The date was scheduled for March 12 and the location was changed to the Vasco Núñez de Balboa Convention Center, of the Hotel El Panamá. The project has aroused the rejection of different sectors of civil society. The first date had been set for February 17, later, for March 11, has now been reported to be on the 12th of the same month, at 5:00 pm According to the Mayor's Office, the consultation is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Law 37 of June 29, 2009, which decentralizes public administration, modified by Law 66 of October 29, 2015. A company linked to Vice President José 'Gaby' Carrizo and his family that has left unfinished works in Coclé, paid for with government decentralization funds says a La Prensa investigation. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/mayors-120-million-dream-beach-facing-more-opposition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brundageba Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 On 2/12/2020 at 11:15 AM, Uncle Doug said: I don't think this is a very good idea. This isn't restoring natural beaches. There aren't any there. More importantly, the bay is a dead zone. Pollution and runoff from the city will continue to contaminate the bay. This isn't unique to Panama, by any means. All coastal cities do it to some extent. But because of the configuration of the bay, wave action is minimal and the water is more stagnant. Hence, the dead zone and why the waters will always represent a potential health hazard to beach visitors. I agree. That's a nasty area there. Even the rivers flowing to it wreak of waste water. There's a river right next to the Punta Pacifica hospital complex that runs milky grey and stinks to high heaven. ( I am recalling the stories I learned about the hospitals in the Crimea Florence Nightengale attended...Ditches surrounded the hospital...hospital waste was tossed into them. High infection rate ! ) Foul fetid water belches into that bay Panama City sits on !. Maybe the $ $ should be converted to a fund to counter increasing gang violence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted March 13, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted March 13, 2020 Quote Mayor’s Urraca Park “revenge” move Posted 12/03/2020 Panama mayor, José Luis Fábrega, has announced that the Municipality of Panama will take over the administration of Parque Urraca from the Community Board, a move inspired by opposition to the mayor’s pet project, a beach fronting the Cinta Costera, says says Bella Vista, representative Ricardo Domínguez. The measure was reported to Domínguez, through a note signed by Fábrega, which the mayor shared on social networks. Domínguez acknowledges that the parks are the responsibility of the Municipality, but for the last 10 years, his community board managed this public space in Bella Vista. The measure is adopted, according to Fábrega, because the site of the park is was assigned in use and administration in favor of the Municipality since 2012. However, reports La Prensa Dominguez considers that this is due to "retaliation", because last Tuesday he voted in favor of suspending the public consultation related to the beach recovery project, which Fabrega is promoting.. Domínguez said that they have invested a million dollars in improvements to this park with funds from decentralization. In addition, the Community Board of Bella Vista has assigned about four workers to the park upkeep who will retire, after the mayor's note. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/mayors-urraca-park-revenge-move Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted March 13, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted March 13, 2020 Quote Panama dream beach another health risk Posted 12/03/2020 In the unknown dimension in which the Municipality of Panama lives, the citizen consultation that would take place today, on the artificial beach, was only canceled due to the real threat of the coronavirus. The amparo of constitutional guarantees filed by a former presidential candidate was not enough, nor was the act of the Municipal Council that ordered it, sufficient to suspend the event. The conclusion of this cancellation is that the mayor will continue with the consultation, when Panamanians overcome the health risk. There seems to be no explanation for the fact that there are 30 million dollars allocated to this project by the councilors of the capital district, without there having been a citizen consultation prior to such decision. The weeks of interruption for sanitary reasons should serve the mayor and his team to understand that the contamination of the Matasnillo River and the Bay of Panama are not suitable for any swimmer -with or without artificial beach-, and can be as serious as the Covid-19. The mayor and several councilors should use this time to meditate, and avoid waste and a headache for citizens. – LA PRENSA, Mar. 12 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/panama-dream-beach-another-health-risk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted July 3, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted July 3, 2020 Quote Concejo apela decisión contra proyecto de playas El proyecto de recuperación de playas tendrá un costo aproximado de unos $120 millones. Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo 02 jul 2020 - 11:23 PM El plan de recuperación de playas de la bahía de Panamá tiene un costo de $120 millones. Archivo El Consejo Municipal de Panamá presentó un recurso de apelación para que se revoque la sentencia del Juzgado Cuarto Civil del Primer Distrito Judicial que concedió un amparo de garantías constitucionales contra el proyecto de recuperación de espacios públicos y playas de la Alcaldía de Panamá. Además de revocar el fallo, el Concejo pide que se mantenga en el presupuesto los $30 millones asignados a la obra este año. El Consejo Municipal intenta revivir proyecto de playas de la Alcaldía El Consejo Municipal de Panamá presentó un recurso de apelación para que se revoque la sentencia emitida por el Juzgado Cuarto Civil del Primer Distrito Judicial el 11 de marzo de 2020, mediante la cual se concedió un amparo de garantías constitucionales contra el proyecto de recuperación de espacios públicos y playas que impulsa la Alcaldía de Panamá. Como se recordará, en marzo pasado, el excandidato presidencial Ricardo Lombana y la abogada Martita Cornejo presentaron un amparo de garantías para que se suspendiera la consulta ciudadana inherente al proyecto de recuperación de playas que gestiona el alcalde José Luis Fábrega. Ambos argumentaron que se violaba la Constitución, al utilizar $30 millones “para la playa sin consulta”, y un posible daño ambiental. El jueves pasado, Jorge Chong Vega, en calidad de apoderado legal del Consejo Municipal, presentó la apelación, en la que, además de revocar la sentencia, solicita que se mantenga la línea correspondiente de inversiones de la descentralización en el punto de la recuperación de playas de la bahía de Panamá. Es decir, los $30 millones aprobados en 2019 para esta obra, y que se utilizarían en 2020. Chong Vega sustenta su petición en el hecho de que la actuación demandada, es decir, el presupuesto aprobado por el Consejo Municipal para el proyecto, no constituye una orden de hacer en ninguna de sus modalidades. “El renglón demandado no constituye una orden de hacer [ejecución]. Precedente nefasto para la administración del presupuesto municipal”, señala el recurso legal. Por su parte, Cornejo planteó que están “sorprendidos” por la insistencia con este proyecto, pese al rechazo generalizado que hay, sobre todo, en este momento de pandemia, cuando existen otras prioridades en el país. “Hay una crisis a nivel sanitario y económico, por lo cual no esperábamos esta insistencia, tanto del Consejo Municipal como de la Alcaldía de Panamá”, puntualizó la jurista. El proyecto de recuperación de playas tendrá un costo aproximado de unos $120 millones. En 2020 comenzaría su primera fase y contemplaría inicialmente un gasto de $30 millones. Hasta el momento, la obra, que va desde el río Matasnillo hasta el Mercado del Marisco, en la bahía de Panamá, estaba en fase de evaluación del estudio de impacto ambiental. Además, Fábrega planeaba llevar a cabo una consulta ciudadana sobre el proyecto en marzo pasado, pero fue suspendida en medio de la pandemia del nuevo coronavirus. Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article. Quote Council appeals decision against beach project The beach recovery project will cost approximately $ 120 million. Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo Jul 02, 2020 - 11:23 PM <<XL2JHIWQPVAP3AHA777TUUJ53M.jpg>> The Panama Bay beach recovery plan costs $ 120 million. Archive The Municipal Council of Panama presented an appeal for the reversal of the judgment of the Fourth Civil Court of the First Judicial District that granted a constitutional protection claim against the project for the recovery of public spaces and beaches of the Mayor of Panama. In addition to reversing the ruling, the Council requests that the $ 30 million allocated to the work this year be kept in the budget. The Municipal Council tries to revive the Mayor's beach project The Municipal Council of Panama presented an appeal for the reversal of the sentence issued by the Fourth Civil Court of the First Judicial District on March 11, 2020, by means of which a constitutional guarantee protection was granted against the project for the recovery of spaces public and beaches promoted by the Mayor of Panama. As it will be remembered, last March, the former presidential candidate Ricardo Lombana and the lawyer Martita Cornejo presented an amparo of guarantees so that the citizen consultation inherent in the beach recovery project managed by the mayor José Luis Fábrega was suspended. Both argued that the Constitution was violated, by using $ 30 million "for the beach without consultation," and possible environmental damage. Last Thursday, Jorge Chong Vega, as the legal representative of the Municipal Council, presented the appeal, in which, in addition to revoking the sentence, he requests that the corresponding line of decentralization investments be maintained at the point of recovery of Panama bay beaches. That is, the $ 30 million approved in 2019 for this work, and that would be used in 2020. Chong Vega supports his request in the fact that the requested action, that is, the budget approved by the Municipal Council for the project, does not constitute an order to do in any of its modalities. “The line demanded does not constitute an order to [execute]. Nefarious precedent for the administration of the municipal budget ”, indicates the legal resource. For his part, Cornejo said that they are "surprised" by the insistence on this project, despite the general rejection that there is, especially at this time of the pandemic, when there are other priorities in the country. "There is a crisis at the health and economic level, which is why we did not expect this insistence, both from the Municipal Council and the Mayor of Panama," said the lawyer. The beach recovery project will cost approximately $ 120 million. In 2020 it would begin its first phase and would initially contemplate an expense of $ 30 million. So far, the work, which runs from the Matasnillo River to the Seafood Market, in the Bay of Panama, was in the evaluation phase of the environmental impact study. In addition, Fábrega planned to carry out a citizen consultation on the project last March, but was suspended amid the pandemic of the new coronavirus. https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/concejo-apela-decision-contra-proyecto-de-playas/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted September 3, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted September 3, 2020 Quote Mayor Fabrega’s beach project in legal quicksand Posted 02/09/2020 The pet beach recovery project of Panama Mayor, José Luis Fábrega, hit a legal block on Wednesday, September 2 and will remain suspended until the process of citizen participation, established by the Decentralization Law, is fulfilled. The First Superior Court of the First Judicial District confirmed a March ruling by the Fourth Civil Court of the First Judicial Circuit, which granted an Amparo of guarantees against the beach project. In March, lawyers Ricardo Alberto Lombana González and Martita Cornejo Robles, as Panamanian citizens and echoing multiple complaints from residents of the capital filed the Constitutional Rights Amparo Action against the Municipal Council of the District of Panama, which was accepted by the Court but the Municipal Council later presented an appeal to revoke the sentence, also requesting that the corresponding line of decentralization investments be maintained at the point of the recovery of beaches in the Bay of Panama, that is, the $30 million approved in 2019 to be used in 2020. “The Panamanian justice heard the clamor of the people for a participatory government, which is already established in the Decentralization Law, but which the mayors and representatives of the townships ignore. A participatory government is one that takes into account the voice and vote of its citizens, this being the essence of the Decentralization Law, ” said lawyer Martita Cornejo after the Court's decision. https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/mayor-fabregas-beach-project-in-legal-quicksand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted September 3, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted September 3, 2020 Quote Alcalde Fábrega sufre revés en el proyecto de playas Un tribunal confirmó la sentencia que concedió un amparo de garantías contra la obra que impulsa el alcalde José Luis Fábrega por $120 millones. Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo 03 sep 2020 - 12:00 AM En marzo pasado, ciudadanos llevaron a cabo una manifestación contra el proyecto de recuperación de espacios públicos y playas, mes en el que estaba previsto una consulta pública sobre el proyecto. Quienes se oponen a la obra sostienen que no es un El proyecto de recuperación de espacios públicos y playas de Bella Vista y Calidonia queda suspendido, hasta tanto se cumpla con el proceso de participación ciudadana que establece la Ley de Descentralización. Esto luego que el Primer Tribunal Superior del Primer Distrito Judicial confirmó la sentencia del 11 de marzo de 2020, emitida por el Juzgado Cuarto Civil del Primer Circuito Judicial, que concedió un amparo de garantías contra el proyecto de playas que impulsa el alcalde del distrito de Panamá, José Luis Fábrega, por unos $120 millones. El amparo fue promovido en marzo por el excandidato presidencial independiente Ricardo Lombana y la abogada Martita Cornejo Robles. En el mismo detallan que el Acuerdo 243 aprobado por el Consejo Municipal de Panamá asignó $30 millones al proyecto de recuperación de playas y que, siendo fondos que provienen de la descentralización, debieron ser consultados con las comunidades del distrito. Según el Primer Tribunal Superior para la elaboración del Plan Anual de Obras e Inversiones de los municipios deben identificarse las necesidades de la comunidad, un proceso que debe llevarse a cabo utilizando mecanismos de participación. “No habiendo satisfecho este requisito previo para la aprobación de la línea censurada [presupuesto] evidentemente se incumplió con el procedimiento establecido en la Ley 66 de 29 de octubre de 2015 [Descentralización] y por tanto se vulneró el principio del debido proceso que es recogido en el artículo 32 de la Constitución”, argumenta la sentencia del 28 de agosto. Para Cornejo Robles, con esta decisión la justicia escuchó el clamor del pueblo que exige un gobierno participativo. Además, dijo que esto sienta un precedente para otros proyectos en el país, que se quieran hacer sin consulta de la población. Mientras que el Consejo Municipal informó que analizará la sentencia. Como ‘victoria ciudadana’ califican sentencia de Tribunal Como una “victoria ciudadana” fue calificada la decisión del Primer Tribunal Superior del Primer Distrito Judicial, de confirmar la sentencia del 11 de marzo de 2020 emitida por el Juzgado Cuarto Civil, que concedió un amparo de garantías contra el proyecto de playas de la Alcaldía de Panamá. Para la abogada Martita Cornejo Robles, quien promovió el amparo junto al excandidato presidencial independiente, Ricardo Lombana, además de una victoria ciudadana con esta sentencia se sienta un precedente contra próximos proyectos que se quieran emprender sin consultar con las comunidades y el pueblo. “La justicia panameña escuchó el clamor del pueblo por un gobierno participativo, lo cual está ya establecido en la Ley de Descentralización, pero que los alcaldes y representantes de corregimientos ignoran. Un gobierno participativo es aquel que toma en cuenta la voz y el voto de sus ciudadanos, siendo esa la esencia de la Ley de Descentralización”, manifestó la abogada. El proceso El pasado mes de marzo, Lombana y Cornejo Robles impulsaron un amparo de garantías constitucionales contra el Acuerdo 243 del Consejo Municipal que aprobó el presupuesto del Municipio de Panamá, específicamente en lo concerniente al proyecto de recuperación de playas. En dicho amparo, que fue admitido por el Juzgado Cuarto de lo Civil, se detalla que el Acuerdo 243 asignó $30 millones al proyecto de recuperación de playas y que, siendo fondos que provienen de la descentralización, debieron consultar a las comunidades que conforman el distrito. El Consejo Municipal respondió a la acción interpuesta en julio pasado, presentando un recurso de apelación para que se revocara la sentencia del Juzgado Cuarto Civil del Primer Distrito Judicial. Además de pedir que se revocara el fallo, el gobierno local solicitó que se mantuviera el presupuesto de $30 millones asignado a la obra para 2020. No obstante, el pasado 28 de agosto el Primer Tribunal Superior del Primer Distrito Judicial confirmó la sentencia del 11 de marzo de 2020, emitida por el Juzgado Cuarto Civil. Con eso queda en pie la suspensión de dicho proyecto hasta tanto se cumpla con el proceso de participación ciudadana que establece la Ley de Descentralización. De acuerdo con el Primer Tribunal Superior, para la elaboración del Plan Anual de Obras e Inversiones de los municipios deben identificarse las necesidades de la comunidad, un proceso que debe llevarse a cabo utilizando mecanismos de participación. “No habiendo satisfecho este requisito previo para la aprobación de la línea censurada [presupuesto] evidentemente se incumplió con el procedimiento establecido en la Ley 66 de 29 de octubre de 2015 [Descentralización] y por tanto se vulneró el principio del debido proceso que es recogido en el artículo 32 de la Constitución”, argumenta la sentencia del 28 de agosto. Consulta ciudadana Al respecto, Lombana subrayó que la participación ciudadana no es opcional, no es un favor ni una concesión que se le hace a la ciudadanía. “Es mandatoria y ni el Consejo Municipal ni la Alcaldía de Panamá le pueden pasar por encima y hacer lo que quieran con los fondos públicos. “El Tribunal Superior así lo confirma”, acotó. Según Lombana se tiene que respetar la ley y respetar a los ciudadanos. “Los fondos públicos no son de la Alcaldía ni del Concejo, son de la gente. Y me alegra que el Tribunal haya confirmado lo que ya se dijo en primera instancia. Tiene que haber participación ciudadana”, puntualizó Lombana. María Chávez, presidenta de la Red Ciudadana Urbana de Panamá, indicó que es “positivo” lo decidido por el Primer Tribunal Superior y sugirió a la Alcaldía de Panamá que desista de este proyecto y destine los $120 millones a educación, salud y espacios públicos para los contribuyentes del distrito capital. Ediles evaluarán El Consejo Municipal de Panamá, donde se reúnen todos los representantes de corregimiento del distrito de Panamá, informó que evaluará la sentencia y que en los próximos días emitirá una posición. De hecho, fueron los ediles capitalinos los que aprobaron el Acuerdo que concede los $30 millones iniciales, para el cuestionado proyecto de playas. El proyecto de recuperación de playas tendrá un costo aproximado de $120 millones. En 2020 comenzaría su primera fase y contemplaría inicialmente un gasto de $30 millones. Hasta el momento, la obra, que va desde el río Matasnillo hasta el Mercado del Marisco, en la bahía de Panamá, está en fase de evaluación del estudio de impacto ambiental. Fábrega ha dicho que la obra va más allá de recuperar una playa e implica recuperar espacios públicos entre Bella Vista y Calidonia. Moderator comment: Below is an unedited automated translation of the above news article. Quote Mayor Fabrega suffers setback in the beach project A court confirmed the sentence that granted a protection of guarantees against the work promoted by Mayor José Luis Fábrega for $ 120 million. Ohigginis Arcia Jaramillo 03 Sep 2020 - 12:00 AM <<CXPSTUDBZFG43PZSMFKOXOJGUM.jpg>> Last March, citizens held a demonstration against the project to restore public spaces and beaches, the month in which a public consultation on the project was scheduled. Opponents of the work argue that it is not a The project for the recovery of public spaces and beaches of Bella Vista and Calidonia is suspended, until the process of citizen participation established by the Decentralization Law is fulfilled. This after the First Superior Court of the First Judicial District confirmed the sentence of March 11, 2020, issued by the Fourth Civil Court of the First Judicial Circuit, which granted a protection of guarantees against the beach project promoted by the mayor of the district of Panama, José Luis Fábrega, for about $ 120 million. The amparo was promoted in March by the former independent presidential candidate Ricardo Lombana and the lawyer Martita Cornejo Robles. In it, they detail that Agreement 243 approved by the Municipal Council of Panama allocated $ 30 million to the beach recovery project and that, being funds that come from decentralization, they should have been consulted with the district's communities. According to the First Superior Court, for the elaboration of the Annual Plan of Works and Investments of the municipalities, the needs of the community must be identified, a process that must be carried out using participation mechanisms. “Not having satisfied this prerequisite for the approval of the censored line [budget], evidently, the procedure established in Law 66 of October 29, 2015 [Decentralization] was breached and therefore the principle of due process was violated. in Article 32 of the Constitution ”, argues the sentence of August 28. For Cornejo Robles, with this decision, justice heard the clamor of the people demanding a participatory government. In addition, she said that this sets a precedent for other projects in the country, which want to be done without consulting the population. While the Municipal Council reported that it will analyze the sentence. They qualify as a ‘citizen victory’ Court ruling The decision of the First Superior Court of the First Judicial District, to confirm the sentence of March 11, 2020 issued by the Fourth Civil Court, which granted a protection of guarantees against the Mayor's beach project, was classified as a “citizen victory” from Panama. For the lawyer Martita Cornejo Robles, who promoted the amparo together with the former independent presidential candidate, Ricardo Lombana, in addition to a citizen victory with this ruling, a precedent is set against future projects that they want to undertake without consulting with the communities and the people. “The Panamanian justice heard the clamor of the people for a participatory government, which is already established in the Decentralization Law, but which the mayors and representatives of the corregimientos ignore. A participatory government is one that takes into account the voice and vote of its citizens, this being the essence of the Decentralization Law, ”said the lawyer. The process Last March, Lombana and Cornejo Robles promoted a constitutional guarantee protection against Agreement 243 of the Municipal Council that approved the budget of the Municipality of Panama, specifically with regard to the beach recovery project. In said amparo, which was admitted by the Fourth Civil Court, it is detailed that Agreement 243 assigned $ 30 million to the beach recovery project and that, being funds that come from decentralization, they had to consult the communities that make up the district . The Municipal Council responded to the action filed last July, filing an appeal to revoke the sentence of the Fourth Civil Court of the First Judicial District. In addition to requesting that the ruling be reversed, the local government requested that the budget of $ 30 million allocated to the work for 2020 be maintained. However, on August 28, the First Superior Court of the First Judicial District confirmed the sentence of March 11, 2020, issued by the Fourth Civil Court. With that, the suspension of said project remains in place until the process of citizen participation established by the Decentralization Law is fulfilled. According to the First Superior Court, for the elaboration of the Annual Plan of Works and Investments of the municipalities, the needs of the community must be identified, a process that must be carried out using participation mechanisms. “Not having satisfied this prerequisite for the approval of the censored line [budget], evidently, the procedure established in Law 66 of October 29, 2015 [Decentralization] was breached and therefore the principle of due process was violated. in Article 32 of the Constitution ”, argues the sentence of August 28. Public consultation In this regard, Lombana stressed that citizen participation is not optional, it is not a favor or a concession that is made to citizens. “It is mandatory and neither the Municipal Council nor the Mayor's Office of Panama can go over it and do what they want with public funds. "The Superior Court confirms it," he said. According to Lombana, you have to respect the law and respect the citizens. “Public funds do not belong to the Mayor's Office or the Council, they belong to the people. And I am glad that the Court has confirmed what was already said in the first instance. There has to be citizen participation ”, pointed out Lombana. María Chávez, president of the Urban Citizen Network of Panama, indicated that the decision of the First Superior Court is "positive" and suggested that the Mayor of Panama desist from this project and allocate the $ 120 million to education, health and public spaces for the capital district taxpayers. Councilors will evaluate The Municipal Council of Panama, where all the representatives of the district of Panama meet, reported that it will evaluate the sentence and that in the coming days it will issue a position. In fact, it was the capital city councilors who approved the Agreement that grants the initial $ 30 million for the questioned beach project. The beach recovery project will cost approximately $ 120 million. Its first phase would begin in 2020 and would initially contemplate an expense of $ 30 million. So far, the work, which runs from the Matasnillo River to the Mercado del Marisco, in the Bay of Panama, is in the evaluation phase of the environmental impact study. Fábrega has said that the work goes beyond recovering a beach and involves recovering public spaces between Bella Vista and Calidonia. https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/fabrega-sufre-reves-en-el-proyecto-de-playas/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted September 4, 2020 Author Moderators Share Posted September 4, 2020 Quote A Stubborn Pharo Facing Reality Posted 03/09/2020 The setback that the mayor of the capital has suffered in the courts of law, by wanting to make a limited consultation about his beach project on Balboa Avenue, will hopefully make him reflect on this pharaonic work. There are many more pressing issues that require significant investments. If it were dedicated to satisfying those needs, it is very possible that the beautification of the city would then be a requirement of the citizens of the capital. But the mayor's stubbornness has prevailed over reason. The mayor cannot unilaterally impose his will when the electoral mass that he represents demands that he solve the problems that this city has. And it is that what the official wanted with his query was a clear manipulation of results, to make his will over that of others. Now, If you want to go ahead with your project, you will have to do what you should never have avoided: that all citizens of the capital can express their approval or disapproval. And since you will be involved in the consultations, why not ask your constituents what their most urgent needs are. This may give you an idea of what to do with those funds. - LA PRENSA, Sep 3 https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/a-stubborn-pharo-facing-reality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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