Go ahead for Cinta Costera shocks opponents

The news that  an order to  proceed with the third stage of the Cinta Costera has been issued before a scheduled government meeting has sent shock waves through groups  opposing groups.

The order has gone to Norberto Odebrecht the Brazilian company with close ties to President Ricardo Martinelli, and the recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars of construction contracts.

The order to proceed with a connection between Avenida  Balboa and Avenidas de las Poetas was issued some three weeks before a  June 29 scheduled visit to the the headquarters of the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)  which, in a recent report, summed up its finding after visiting the old city. The organization recommended stopping the third phase of the coastal strip, and said that its implementation, as currently visualized would risk the loss of  the World Heritage designation now enjoyed  by Casco Viejo.

President Martinelli is reported to favor a take it or leave it response to UNESCO and o many who have struggled to produce alternative ideas to a tunnel under the city or a road circling it,

"It seems that decisions have already been made” said Hildegard Vásquez, president of the Calicanto Foundation, which advocates heritage conservation.

 "If you are giving the order to proceed, it seems that the issue of UNESCO has not been taken seriously.
Public Works Minister, Federico Jose Suarez, said the contract provides for other jobs, including improvements to Avenida Balboa Avenue and Avenida Pablo Arosemena, where work can start while  the route of the  roadway connection are being discussed. 
Suarez said he was offered a tunnel to meet the costs of this project, but there was the possibility of other alternatives. 

He lined up with  the president, in favoring, a route around the  Old Town which with a saving of $160 million would give the options  option of making two more urban renewal projects like the one planned for Curundu. in the neighborhood of Panama.The savings, he estimated, would be $ 160 million.

One citizen commented that the Financial Tower going ahead on Avenida Balboa, would cost $250 million and would be affecting another Panamanian historical icon, Santo Tomas Hospital.

Vasquez said that there are no known plans of the  extension of the Cinta Costera works although an order has been issued.. "The public is asking for transparency. We are tired of half truths and half lies," he said.

Members of AVAC , communicated on line opinions like: “This news is incredibly sad. I think it's not only a crime that this government tries to destroy the world heritage. What is even more appalling is that it is happening without public participation.”
Another said that  people like Eric Trump and Paul Stallings investing in  the old city   do not care if you do not have the protection of UNESCO