Rush to destroy and build disturbs Sunday peace
The government’s rush to get the mega 70 story tower on Panama’s Avenida Balboa underway has already led to demolitions teams flouting the construction noise law.
President Ricardo Martinelli has said that the building would be finished in two years, meaning it could be occupied, with a presidential office on the 62nd floor, before his term of office expires in 2014. {jathumbnail off}
Critics, closer to the construction business are skeptical, and point to much smaller towerson Balboa, still unfinished after four years.
However, they did not have the power of the presidency behind them.
Meanwhile, through Sunday, when noise on building projects is not allowed, three giant machines hammered away sending up clouds of dust as they demolished the remains of the former U.S. Embassy which on two sides abuts the Santo Tomas Hospital.
Late morning local residents called the
police to complain, and at 1.15, after a visit from a patrol car the noise stopped.
A small victory but with construction of the monster edifice soon to begin, there will likely be more calls, or maybe yet another law will be amended in the name of "progress".
