Panama-corruption reforms called a band-aid

REFORMS  to attack corruption in Panama  are just a band-aid  said the chairman of a citizens  group on Tuesday Mar 15,  during  public discussions of a bill to impose tougher sanctions.

“ More should be done to prevent the evils that afflict procurement,” said. Carlos Gasnell  Chairman of the Foundation for the Development of Free Citizens .

Over 40 representatives of civic organizations and business were set to speak on Wednesday, on issues including  the lack of regulation of direct contracts and the automatic disqualification of a contract if a person or company connected to it has been convicted of corruption, which is currently limited to only decisions handed down in Panamanian courts.

There have been repeated warnings about the need to strengthen the legal text so that it complies with the objective of combating corruption

Economy and Finance Committee Chairman Miguel Salas said that the proposals would eliminate abbreviated tenders and urgent procurement. He said those two issues “generate suspicion among the citizens.” He also said it would require that consulting work be publicly bid and require more training for the staff involved in the contracting process.

Among the participants in the debate are representatives of the National Bar Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the National Secretariat of Science and Technology, the Electric Transmission Company and The  Tourism  Authority.