MEDIA WATCH: When a City is blind to corruption links

hoyporhoy, La Prensa, March 28

THE FIXATION of  our leaders regarding Odebrecht, is beyond all imagination.

As the mayoralty $99 million project for the construction of sidewalks, which is  about to be  awarded,, seems insignificant compared to the more than $9 billion in contracts which  have been accumulated in our country, it’s not surprising the Panamanian authorities seem not to care that public resources continue going to the insatiable pockets of the largest and most corrupt construction company in Latin America.

Odebrecht has already lost investment grade and one of the most prestigious credit rating  agencies  states that the company faces negative implications for liquidity.

If we add that currently Marcelo Odebrecht, who has already been sentenced to over 19 years for corruption, is trying to reach  an agreement to avoid additional  sentences, it is inconceivable that here we continue providing them lucrative contracts. Of course, we want to think that the incessant awards have nothing to do with the existence of a systematic bribes structure revealed by prosecutors in Brazil; apparently, we should not assume that they relate to the delay in the amendments to the Public Procurement Act, defaced in the past administration, with the consequences we all know.

Gentlemen rulers, remember that you are responsible for the good or misuse of state funds. Odebrecht is a dying empire, how long will it jeopardize our resources? The imminent award of another millionaire contract with the city government is now in the eyes of  its citizens