Insurmountable corruption barrier needed for state purchases

PANAMA’S PROCURMENT law needs to be “an insurmountable barrier for the crime of corruption” said Independent Deputy Ana Matilde Gómez during the continuing debate on proposed changes.

The bill was debated from 11:50 a.m. until 5:27 p.m., when Assembly President Rubén De León ordered a recess to reconcile positions on the law.

There were at least 35 proposed amendments presented by the various caucuses on Wednesday and, the deputies decided to exclude the purchase of medicines by Social Security from the changes.

One major sticking point was the proposal to expand the law to cover corruption allegations in other countries, and not just Panama.