Hydroelectricity concessions a family business
GOVERNMENT officials during the recent energy crisis, rushed to stress the need to build more hydropower plants to increase power generation capacity in the country.
La Prensa revealed on Monday, May 20 that the projects will move millions of dollars to relatives and business associates of President Ricardo Martinelli and to senior employees of Ricamar Importer, SA (Super 99)
Of 10 hydro electric plants to be built in the province of Veraguas, 8 involve Martinelli family or associates.
Carlos Manuel Quintero, chief executive of super 99, was appointed by Martinelli as treasurer on the board of the Electricity Transmission Company, SA (Etesa).
The appointment was made despite Quintero appearing alongside another Super 99 executive Ulises Gonzalez a partner of Martinelli -in a company interested in building hydroelectric.
Ulises Gonzalez (father of the now former director of Migration María Cristina González who departed under a cloud) also chairs the firm CD, SA, the same business as that received $380,000 via Henry Ho-head of the garbage authority from convicted Colombian fraudster David Murcia-to support Martinelli's presidential campaign in 2009.
The involvement of Leonel Zapata, a close friend of the president's sons is also detailed.
La Prensa carried a detailed two page spread showing the various connections including Labor Minister Alma Cortés who a day after violent clashes in eastern Chiriqui between police and the Indians said: "If we do not invest in water, we will continue to have a spot market, and we will suffer constant electricity hikes," last year. She was shown to represent a company with the same address as the Super 99 company.
