Confusion reigns in apartment confrontation

BATTLE LINES  remain drawn between  buyers of condos waiting to move into an El Carmen apartment complex and local residents who opposed its construction.

Meanhile Panama City Mayor Jose Isabel Blandon,  struggling to play the role of adjudicator,failed to show for a  scheduled meeting to reach a consensus concerning the future of the Scala building.

The meeting was set for 6 p.m. in Benito Juarez Park, and was scheduled by promoters and buyers of the project, but  Blandon and authorities of the City Municipal Council and Panama City Mayor did not attend.

Blandon said that he did not attend because he was told the meeting had been canceled.

Meanwhile  members of the Citizen’s Urban Network, in conjunction with residents of El Carmen, sent a statement announcing  they would not attend the meeting.

Participating would “legitimize actions that violate the already weakened legal system of our country,”said the notice.

The statement referenced a recent decision of the Supreme Court which annulled two resolutions of environmental impact studies for the 20-story building.

More than 50 buyers attended the meeting, banners in hand, describing the action by the authorities as a lack of respect.

Promoter Rafael Sabonge said that they were never notified that the mayor would not attend.