In its year-end statement, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap) pointed out that the freshly-appointed authorities of the Attorney General’s Office (Luis Gómez) and the Comptroller General of the Republic (Anel Flores), who will take office next January, will have to endure high responsibility to combat impunity.

For the Cciap, it is high time to put aside personal interests on the path to strengthening institutionality and full respect for the rule of law.

According to the Cciap, a case in point is the trial for money laundering and corruption in the Odebrechet case, scheduled for January 20 and involving 31 individuals, including former presidents Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) – sitting in the Nicaraguan embassy since February- and Juan Carlos Varela (2014-2019), as well as several of their ministers.

Other priority issues, according to the private business association, are the need for a prompt decision on the Social Security Fund Bill, in the hands of Parliament; and the fiscal overhauling of the State, in line with the established strategic plan.

The promotion of investments to generate employment, escorted by a significant improvement in education, promoting key sectors such as the Panama Canal, logistics, agriculture, and tourism, raising them to standards of excellence, are other key issues for the Government’s attention, according to the document.

Also occupying the agenda are the management of water resources, solid waste management, the quality of medical services, access to medicines, citizen security, irregular migration, road network and the construction of social housing as key issues.

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