Previous Government Cost Overruns and Irregularities Are Being Discovered

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Previous Government Cost Overruns and Irregularities Are Being Discovered

Posted 12/07/2024

Our new President José Raúl Mulino, is discovering many cost overruns within the previous Government’s operations.  In the final stretch of Cortizo's government, Meduca spent $8 million on interactive televisions, more than double the usual cost.  The purchase was managed through a framework agreement, in favor of the companies Multitek Internacional SA, and Tanaka Services Inc., between March 25 and June 20, 2024; that is, it was completed 10 days before Cortizo was replaced in office by José Raúl Mulino.  In the 11 purchase orders that cover the entire transaction, it is observed that payment to suppliers would be, in some cases, in “cash”.  The Ministry of Education (Meduca) has not yet received the equipment.

  The government of José Raúl Mulino reported that they found alleged irregularities and conflicts of interest in contracts that the administration of the Colon Free Zone (ZLC) has detected, signed between February and June of this year.  Contract processing suspended and audits ordered for contracts related to logistics and airport activities. This involves the concession of two large tracts of land adjacent to the Colón International Airport, as well as the public tender for commercial exploitation, maintenance and parking reported by the management of the Colón International Airport.  Spokesmen for the Presidency reported that the negotiation involved the allocation of 120 hectares of land located in the vicinity of the Enrique Adolfo Jiménez airport terminal in Colón, for a period of 20 years.  The transaction in favor of the company ONX, SA, was endorsed for a value of 0.005 cents of a balboa per square meter. This transaction was validated by the management of the ZLC during the period 2019-2024. During the government of Laurentino Cortizo, the manager of the ZLC was Giovanni Ferrari.

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