Pilots pledge to defend Canal Authority against attacks

THE PANAMA Canal Pilot’s union says that it will defend the institutions of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP ) against any " external or internal " attack.

The decision of the canal guild comes following recent statements by Lourdes Castillo, about an ongoing investigation of Canal executive Rodolfo Sabonge by the Inspector General of the ACP.

"Despite our differences with management in labor-management issues , we defend the institutional and legal independence of the ACP as collateral to keep the Canal for the benefit of the Panamanian people ," said Reiniero Salas, secretary general of the Union..
The spokesman for the union, which represents about 250 Canal pilots , have the perception that " there are external forces that want to somehow have interferein the institution of the Panama Canal , and that is very dangerous."
The Union called for respect of the regulations of the Canal and the confidentiality of the process of any ongoing investigation.