City wants controversial land site to mark 500 years of Panama

While Panama’s president and vice- president were  exchanging barbs at a earlier ceremony marking Panama’s separation from Columbia, a city councilor moved in to claim for the city  a piece of land that kicked off a major scandal.

Carlos Perez Herrera, asked President Ricardo Martinelli for  the transfer  to the city of  11,379 square meters of land  in Paitilla, facing the Bay of Panama.

It is the spot which sparked a controversy that has embarrassed the government, and brought about  the collapse of the ruling coalition.

It is the land  that was awarded free  to free Segura Ventures, SA, by the former director of the Land Qualifications Authority (Anati), Anabelle Villamonte.

In August  the Cabinet agreed to reverse the filling through a well hidden complaint before the Public Ministry (MP), which is currently investigating the case. 

"This field can have a happy ending," said Perez Herrera during his speech at the Council  session to commemorate the 108 years of separation of Panama from Colombia. 

According to Herrera, the land would be the ideal site for a commemorative work. . "We want to build a fountain to celebrate the 500 years since the discovery of the South Sea … No other place in the city has the eloquence to do it," he said. "We asked if the president could transfer the land for a commemorative  work ", which after completion could be inaugurated jointly by the  Government and  the Municipality of Panama in March 2013, Herrera Perez said.