OPINION: Comptroller drags feet on Odebrecht audit

La Prensa Feb 18

THE COUNTRY is still in a state of disruption, despite the fact that a  little is revealed  of the criminal operations carried out by Odebrecht through our financial system. However, the true extent of their misdeeds is not yet known.

It awaits  the Comptroller General to order audits of all the projects entrusted to this Company, which should go hand in hand with the preparation of their respective analysis of costs and appraisals.

Only then will the authorities of the Public Ministry be able to  undertake   rigorous investigations of rigor, in order to determine possible injuries to the State.

Even though yhe private sector initiative is highly positive and will help determine responsibilities,Panamanians demand that the authorities carefully investigate each of the contracts, and with due transparency and accountability inform their results.

Two years and eight months have already passed and it is worrying that the Comptroller continue to impede investigations by not conducting audits, requesting cost analyses and evaluations.