Panamas heritage escapes endangered listing by a whisker

Casco Viejo escaped listing by as an endangered Heritage by a whisker at the UNESCO ( UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) gathering in Paris on Thursday June 23.

A draft resolution, which also  included Panama la Vieja, the original city, had already been prepared.

It was saved by a last minute the commitment by the Panamanian delegation hat a panel of experts would be drawn up discuss  the altenate proposals to connect Avenida Balboa and Avenida de los Poetas in Chorrillo.

"The Committee has agreed not to move forward until studies are done," said Nuria Sanz, section chief of Latin American and Caribbean Committee.
The decision was made based on the "readiness" of the Panamanian authorities not to make the connection without debating the technical, environmental, archaeological and socio-economic ramifications
The government has six months to come up with answers.

Public Works Minister, Federico Suarez,  who was in Paris to explain plans for phase  three of the Cinta Costera, said UNESCO would be provided with  all the information necessary to satisfy its needs.

Sanz said   UNESCO had received information on only the first  of three options, a coastal road, and little beyond drawings on the possibility of a tunnel  or a bridge like the Corridor Sur.
The  Portobelo-San Lorenzo  fort  was also on the danger list, but this too was averted with promises to take measures to protect the site.

The first time the Committee asked the government to put a hold on the extension, President, Ricardo Martinelli, ignored the recommendation and gave the go ahead  to the Brazilian construction company Norberto Odebrecht, which has garnered  over  a billion dollars in contracts from the government.