business & economy

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Business & Economy Briefs

Legislature foiled again on sale of Clayton woods

by Eric Jackson

The National Assembly attempts to sell a 15.1 hectare wooded area of the former Fort Clayton to developers, vigorously opposed by an alliance of environmentalists, historic preservationists and people who live in the neighborhood, have come to naught again.

With environmentalists picketing outside, on July 23 at the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Avenida Peru an auction was held and a sole bidder, Eya’s Mazal Tov, SA, offerered $13 million for the parcel. It looked like a deal had been struck, the proceeds from which the National Assembly planned to use to build an addition to the Justo Arosemena Legislative Palace. That is, presuming that lawsuits filed in the course of previous attempts to sell the land would turn out fruitless.

The next day some particularly ugly coverage of the auction result appeared in La Prensa, emphasizing that the bidder is a "Jewish company." Opponents of the sale, refraining from that racist spin, reaffirmed their commitment to continue the fight.

And why the fight? First of all, because opponents have long claimed that the parcel is part of the Camino de Cruces National Park and thus legally protected. Second, because the area contains the best preserved remnant of the colonial era Las Cruces Trail, an important historical site. Third, because there is a dedicated band of environmentalists who oppose the destruction of any more of the capital's wooded areas. Finally, a lot of people who live nearby note that the infrastructures serving their neighborhoods are already overburdened and they'd prefer not to have the problem aggravated by the nearby woods being replaced with yet another subdivision.

While hardcore opponents were talking tough, Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro reiterated his disagreement with the destruction of any more of the city's woods, opining that the legislature may well need expanded quarters but they should find another way to finance it.

Meanwhile, however, on the day after the auction the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) released a new report on the matter, and it was a few days before it came to public attention. The parcel, ANAM said, is indeed within the Camino de Cruces National Park and thus can't be legally built upon.

National Assembly president Elías Castillo called a press conference to defend the sale and showed an earlier ANAM report, an approval by Balbina Herrera's Housing Ministry and a letter of support from the park's director to back his case.

All for naught, however. The Ministry of Economy and Finance declared the auction result vacated and if the legislature wants to persist, they'll have to start again at square one.

SUNTRACS goes to the mat over job safety, company unions
PTP wins a big early court round over Bocas oil spill but the argument isn't over
Environmentalists, historic preservationists gain the upper hand over Clayton woods

Mining companies prompt protests in three provinces

Taboga up in arms about oil pipeline and refinery proposals

The Panama News readership in July
Business & Economy Briefs