Empresa municipal impulsada por Mayer Mizrachi: ¿opacidad o modernización? | La Prensa Panamá

Controversy Surrounding a New Municipal Company in Panama City

Mayor Mayer Mizrachi's initiative to establish a municipal company in Panama City, approved by the City Council, has faced criticism regarding transparency and adherence to legal norms.

Legal Concerns and Lack of Transparency

Legal experts like Daniel Lombana question the company's alignment with existing legislation, particularly concerning its stated objectives. The lack of public debate and consultation further fuels concerns. Former mayoral candidate Guillermo Bermúdez highlights the absence of prior Contraloría General review and worries about potential evasion of public procurement and oversight.

• The company's proposed activities, including internal consulting, do not align with the legal definition of municipal enterprises.
• The approval process lacked transparency and public consultation.
• Concerns exist regarding potential evasion of bidding processes and lack of sufficient oversight.

The Mayor's Justification

Mayor Mizrachi defends the company as a means to modernize the municipality and enhance technological services, emphasizing that it is not intended to be a parallel administration.

Key Concerns

The main concerns revolve around potential opacity in the decision-making process, the absence of robust control mechanisms, and the ambiguous nature of the company's objectives. Questions persist concerning the allocation and management of funds.