business

Graphic courtesy of ANCON

Chalk that up as at least a temporary win for environmentalist and historic preservationists

An alliance of environmental activists, historic preservation advocates and residents of the former Fort Clayton has fended off the immediate threat that one of the best preserved sections of the colonial-era Las Cruces Trail that's covered by a century-old forest would be engulfed by a residential development. By a 3-2 vote the Third Bench of the Supreme Court suspended the permit issued to the developer by the Interoceanic Regional Authority (ARI). Two magistrates opined that if construction proceeded irreparable damage could be done to the environment and an arguably important national cultural asset. The dissenting magistrate maintained that if construction is halted the developer could suffer irreparable economic damage,

The decision is a temporary one, the rough equivalent of what's know in US law as a temporary restraining order, pending the case's consideration by the full nine-member court. Opponents of the project are hoping that rather than wait out a legal battle that could take years, the developer and the government will agree to exchange a less sensitive parcel of land for the disputed area and allow the housing project to proceed elsewhere.

Also in this section:
Controversial Clayton development suspended
The bird problem at Tocumen
CSS Dialogue mostly civil at the table, but rough stuff behind the scenes
Business & Economy Briefs

Build a home in Las Cumbres with Villa Concordia --- http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/site/pages/concordia.html
Make the Executive Hotel your headquarters in Panama City --- http://www.executivehotel-panama.com