Vice president calls for moratorium on mining concessions

Signs of a split in the Panama’s governing coalition over changes to the country’s mining laws are appearing with ministers in doubt and  vice president Juan Carlos Varela calling for a moratorium on mining concessions 

Varela has recommended to president, Ricardo Martinelli, a strong advocate of mining development, the suspension of mining concessions until a positive outcome of projects already under way is seen.
 Existing licensees he says may continue to develop projects but the country needs to see successful results from both the environmental, social and economic development and then begin the discussion on other areas where there are large reserves of mining and that he estimates , would take two years.
Proposed amendments to the Mining Code, submitted by the Executive, aim to raise the fees, royalties and fines to be paid by mining operators and introduces environmental standards for the management of mining projects. But the sticking point for some is the removal of the current prohibition on other countries to exploit the country's mineral resources.
The initiative was presented to the National Assembly on January 13 but it, had already been approved by the Cabinet Council in October 2010.
Varela and Social Development Minister, Guillermo Ferrufino. did not sign the document and, the Minister of the Presidency, Demetrio Papadimitriu, abstained from voting.