Santa’s choice: An early Christmas gift or another snafu

From the sidelines

Panama’s much anticipated early Christmas present, the start of a functioning Metro Bus system could still be in Santa’s sack when delivery date roles up.

Currently the motive power of the operation of the system is hovering between park and reverse.
A series of administrative miscalculations has ensured that of the start up date of December 18 is achieved, it will be without the much trumpeted 21st Century prepaid card system, providing customer convenience and a safeguard against operators with sticky fingers padding their wallets.
Alas, the “forward planning” went astray, and in the rush to meet politically  inspired commencement dates, there were some administrative boondoggles. When the specifications for bids were first drawn up by the Transport Authority, some key elements were missing, and the lucky winner of a contract that was to span 15 years, had little time to celebrate.
At the behest of Minister of the Presidency, Jimmy Papadimitriu, the deal was canceled and new guidelines prepared including the reduction of the contract term to five years. A bigger slew of interest companies came forward, for the trumpeted restart of the bidding process, but it was clear that the system would not be in place by opening day, as the deadline for submission was moved to November 30.
It took only a few days for the would be bidders to come knocking at the doors to point out that a five year contract was not long enough to guarantee a return on investment.
The government, which prides itself on having a large caste of business luminaries did another flip and the contract period was extended to 10 years.
That also led to yet another revised closing date for bids: this time December 15, three days before the announced start of the new bus system.
So, instead of magnetic prepaid cards, passengers will have to pay cash. No word yet on what controls will be in place to ensure that drivers, brought up in the Diablo Rojo environment, do not get an unplanned Christmas bonus to add to their newly achieved $580 a month.
The good news is that the first 20 buses have arrived in Panama; drivers schooled in chariot races though the city streets have been re-educated, and told to be polite and helpful to passengers; buses will have a maximum speed of 80 km and Minister Papadimitriu says the first buses will be operating on the Corridor Sur on December 18, one week before Christmas. Ho, Ho, Ho.
No information yet on dedicated bus lanes, new bus stops installed 500 meters apart and platforms to give the elderly and infirm easy access to the low steps.
But hey, there’s not room in Santa’s sack for everything. {jathumbnail off}