President denies link between friends development and Costera expansion

President Ricardo took found time  during an official visit to Spain on Tuesday, to deny what has been called the “missing link” in  explaining his enthusiasm for the extension of the Cinta Costera.

Soon after Minister  of the Presidency Jimmy Papadimitriu has said there would be no immediate response from the executive the president went to his Twitter account to say that the massive project planned for 36 hectares of reclaimed land next to the Amador Causeway, was the brainchild of an entrepreneur, and the development had no connection with the Cinta Costera 3 extension.

The suddenly unveiled “Amador City Marina” development may be approved despite having been denied by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

It belongs to developer Rafael Boli Bárcenas a close friend of Martinelli and would require the privatization of the area, seized from Jean Figali,  a process that falls under the auspices of the Office of Reverted Properties, which is under the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

But the National Land Authority has sought to change the law so that it would be responsible for the decision.  That would bypass the  Minister of Finance and Economy AlbertoVallarino and place the decision under the Executive. That would seem to benefit Boli Bárcenas,

The project is also supported by the Maritime Authority of Panama.

Roberto Linares another close friend of the president heads the Authority. He said that the "project is beautiful." Bárcenas has credited the Maritime Authority for helping him "make all the necessary connections" so that the project can move closer to reality.

The development would include at least 16 towers,  a marina, a convention center and a commercial area. Some of the residential towers would be 30 floors high, three times higher than the existing permitted level.

Politicians and activists did not doubt that there is a relationship between the government's efforts to build phase threeof the coastal strip and the Maritime City project. They pointed out to a substantial mutual benefit from both projects.