Citizens see little Change from $2.5 million contract

WHEN it came to the provision of sporting facilities in the poorer areas of Panama City during the administration of Democratic Change insider, Roxana Mendez, there was little of the promised “Change.”

The mess of uncompleted contracts at the local level by a company said to have received millions of dollars in contracts from the Martinelli government will be left to the incoming administration of incoming MayorJose Blandon.

Among pending projects are nine sports facilities by Alquileres y Construcciones de Panamá, S.A., whose $2.5 million contract was rescinded on April 4. They were to have built a total of three pools, five synthetic soccer fields and a baseball field. 
In the community of Monteria, Pedregal, it was planned to build a synthetic football pitch (20 meters x 40 meters) with metal bleachers and lights. Instead there is an area with weeds, puddles, some building materials , and a few foundations.
"We have nothing left," Luis Guillen, a 15-year resident in the area told La Prensa. He said that before in the same area, youngsters could play a makeshift earth pitch, but now they have nothing.
In the community of Villa Lorena , of Rio Abajo , Maritza Baloy , a 36- year resident of the neighborhood, , said that last year they were told that a swimming pool for the enjoyment of children would be built . "They picked some boys in the neighborhood to work, but three months after they were informed that there was no money to continue the work” she said.
the company pledged to build a pool, bathrooms, and locker rooms, and install lights, costing $459 408 . In the area where is supposed to be a pool, there is only a locked box.
The remaining works were intended for make communities in the districts of Las Mananitas , Juan Diaz , Ancon, December 24 , Ernesto Córdoba , Mayor Diaz and Las Cumbres .
The capital's mayor, Roxana Mendez said that the stoppage of the works reflects the fact that the company failed to comply with the contract , specifically the percentage of completion of the work , adding that the company did not have the financial capacity to continue the pace of construction .
“We are working with a claim to be sure that the next administration can immediately hire another company to finish the work” she said.
Mayor-elect, Blandon said that the situation is all due to a " bad hire " and as this is a problem that he will inherit, he has decided to review all contracts awarded by the current administration.
The construction company , in September last year had already received 30% of the total cost of the project ($816, 505) of the total value ($ 2.5 million) and had its first delivery date in January 2014 , but was given an extension of 45 days so that the work would be finished in March.
Project managers have avoided clarifying the situation, even though they are repeatedly called, says La Prensa.
The company has been awarded at least 11 other projects with other state agencies , such as the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Professional Training for Human Development , which in total could be around $9 million.