Canal board appointee denies conflict of interest

While complaints about the appointments of two of the three new directors of the Panama Canal continue to surface in many quarters, one of them has come to her own defense.

Critics, even the opposition PRD, have praised the choice of former finance minister Alberto Vallarino. but have come down on the naming of two “unknowns” Henri Mizrachi and Lourdes Castillo. by President Ricardo Martinelli and there were reported concerns with some inside the cabinet about lack of information

Some, familiar with the rules of the Canal Authority, have claimed that Castillo has a conflict of interest because of her business relationship with the canal.
On Tuesday, February 4, Castillo, said that there is no conflict of interest with her appointment.
Castillo is manager of Naves Supply, a company dedicated to picking up trash and sewage from ships arriving in the port of Balboa to use the Canal.
She said that the standard says that for there to be a conflict of interest, the company must have business or contracts with the authority, which is not the case.
"My clients are the owners of the boats…they do not receive a penny from the Canal Authority," she said.
Castillo said she was not born in a "cradle of gold" and built up her business through hard work and effort. She also said that she was selected because she is one of the few women in the sector.
Castillo said that she will represent the interests of all Panamanians and that she is not serving out of economic interest but rather pride for her family. She added that if President Ricardo Martinelli withdraws the appointment because of her business contacts she will understand.
"If the president decides not to give me the job, it is his decision and I respect it," she said. "I'm going to wait to see what is going to happen."
Predictably government spokespersons have defended the president’s choice’s including Minister of the Presidency Roberto Henrí¬quez who escribed Mizrachi, as a young entrepreneur. He said the appointments were not heavily debated within the Cabinet Council because "we knew these individuals."
Minister of Economy and Finance Frank De Lima said that the experience has shown that this country "always finds the fifth leg to the cat.".