CD presidential candidate gave no bid contract to relative

Although officials are prohibited from hiring  relatives related companies, the CD presidential candidate handed a direct contract to his sister-in-law while serving as a minister.

Jose Domingo Arias former , formerly Minister of Housing and Land management hired directly the Chateau Design Company, whose director and owner is his sister-in-law Sheyla  Castillo  de Arias says La Prensa.

The direct hiring of Chateau Design was made five months after José Domingo Arias took office as Minister of Housing, replacing Carlos Duboy Panameñista,after the breakdown of the government alliance.

Arias hired the firm for $15,500 to provide a float for thw iry 2012 City Carnival. The justification was “exclusivity or urgency to hire" and “the proven professionalism of its staff in the organization and performance of this type of social event."

A year later, Sheyla Arias Castillo accompanied him at the launch of his campaign as presidential candidate for Democratic Change, and last week acted as his"representative" at a forum that organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industries about his aspiring to the Presidency of the Republic.

Between February and July of this year Chateau Design also got several thousand dollars to hire a float with recycled items for the Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Health.
Since Friday of last week La Prensa said it has made unsuccessful efforts (8 emails 7 phone calls and visits to his office) to get Arias’s comments on the hiring of Chateau Design during his tenure as Minister of Housing.