Protestors stone president

AFTER BEING STONED by indigenous protestors and forced to take refuge in a schoolroom, President Juan Carlos Varela expressed his satisfaction with the signing of a deal allowing the completion of the Barro Blanco hydro electric project.  

Four police officers were injured in an earlier violent confrontation with groups opposed to the deal.

The deal calls for 15 percent of the revenue from the project to benefit the Comarca Ngäbe Buglé

The company Generadora del Istmo will be replaced in the operation of the project by an independent operator with experience in managing such projects.

This is a key point  of the agreement signed on Monday Aug 22 between the government and leaders of the Comarca Ngäbe Bugle that will allow the completion of the project, on the Tabasará River.

Indigenous groups had blocked its completion which they have opposed since the concession was granted in 2006.

Silvia Carrera, Jeremiah Montero and Gallardo Chito signed the document on behalf of the comarca.

President Juan Carlos Varela, Vice President Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado and  Environment Minister Mirei Endara represented the government.

DIALOGUE
Varela said that his administration inherited the Barro Blanco project from two previous governments, and needed 21 months of dialogue to reach the deal.

The agreement establishes that 15 percent of the gross income from the project will be used for programs within the comarca.

Carrera said that she signed the document because it complies with the demands of the indigenous people and added that she hoped that the authorities will comply with the agreement.

Varela said he was happy to have the issue finally resolved.

“The project will generate 19 megawatts. It had been opposed due to its perceived impact on indigenous communities.

Although the deal has been signed, it still  has opponents, and while Varela was speaking at Barro Blanco protests continued in other parts of the country.