OFF THE CUFF : Government honeymoon waning?

IS THE HONEYMOON for the Varela Administration, nearing its end as its first anniversary approaches?
Panama’s private sector has identified several government actions that are undermining the foundations and underpinnings of the Panamanian economic model which is based primarily on local and foreign private investment says the National Council of Private Enterprise (Conep)

.In a press conference this week the Council and its members spoke of “legal uncertainties.” Conep’s concern stems from the uncertainty of the business sector in the face of changes that have been made to established rules, where private investment has been affected, and against which no precedent has so far been set. Added to this is concern over the lack of dynamism of the economy, which has been felt to date.

Earlier a  CentralAmericaData report said:  “The parsimony of the Varela administration in decision making and implementation of relevant projects is affecting the competitiveness of the Panamanian economy.”
Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce of Panama argue that “… We’ve come from a state where everything was fast to one that is slow, leading to a conflict not only in terms of perception, but also the numbers that are reflected, “that is to say, the results. In response to this, the private sector has asked the government to execute the national budget and streamline decision-making in order to invigorate the economy.”
Local business leaders have suggested to Newsroom that while the drive to uncover the corruption scandals in the previous administration are welcome, it has slowed down decision making by current administrators who are looking over their shoulders, and think twice before taking action.

When the news was made pubic that the Brazilian Company Odebrecht was the likely winner of the contract  for phase two of the Metro subway project, talking heads on radio and TV were quick to pounce about the company’s alleged dealing with the Martinelli administration and its links to corruption scandals in its home country.