Laurentino Cortizo, who came to power after promising a campaign to reactivate the economy, make constitutional reforms and make structural changes in several entities, assumes the presidency of Panama on July 1.
Laurentino Nito Cortizo Cohen, a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, won the presidential elections by a narrow margin at the beginning of May, concentrating nearly 33% of the votes.
The total amount disbursed by the government in payment of salaries up until October 2017 was $321 million, 18% more than in the same month in 2016.
According to a report by the Comptroller General of the Republic, a total of 233,111 posts were registered in October of last year, which are divided into 209,173 permanent and 23,938 contingent workers.By sector, 150,414 corresponded to the Central Government and 82,697 to the Decentralized Sector.
At the one year anniversary of government of Juan Carlos Varela entrepreneurs are taking stock of his management recommending a better relationship with the private sector and the modernization of the education system.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP):
The parsimony of the Varela administration in decision making and implementation of relevant projects is affecting the competitiveness of the Panamanian economy.
Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce of Panama argue that "... We've come from a state where everything was fast to one that is slow, leading to a conflict not only in terms of perception, but also the numbers that are reflected, "that is to say, the results.
The private sector claims that $1900 million were approved by previous governments for public infrastructure projects which have not yet been executed by the Solís administration.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Construction (CCC) argues that there are projects pending implementation by the National Roads Authrity and Water and Sewage Department which were already approved under the previous administration that have not been carried out.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade in Costa Rica has created a new unit to "support local companies engaged in exports or who have the potential to do so."
EDITORIAL
The question that immediately arises is how this "support" to companies with export potential will be given since it is already well established that official "consultants" who populate the offices of the new unit, do not know how "to be entrepreneurs," but merely how to receive their salaries on time every month, regardless of the fate of companies that they "support":
The productive private sector is signalling a lack of dialogue and clarity as well as conflicting messages from the authorities of the new Costa Rican government, which is also proposing laws that discourage investment.
An increase of more than 4% in the salaries of public officials, lack of action over lowering the cost of energy, lifting barriers which generate legal uncertainty, and initiatives to increase the tax burden on the formal productive sectors are the issues concerning entrepreneurs in Costa Rica.
Businessmen are proposing that the management of customs cease to be the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and instead be managed by a company from the private sector.
In order to streamline the procedures for customs and facilitate intraregional trade Salvadoran businessmen have prepared a series of proposals to the government, including the creation of a Customs Superintendent managed jointly by the public and private sectors.
President Juan Orlando Hernández has completed his first 100 days in office with an executive style that is vastly different.
The article Elheraldo.hn reports that several sectors have felt, "an unprecedented economic and social change" since Juan Orlando Hernández took office as president.
" ... During this time the Nationalist government has implemented strong measures on security, employment, health, education, finance, tourism and development, which has marked a full agenda that involves an economic and social re-boot for the nation. "
The container terminal project in Costa Rica by the Dutch company APM Terminals is being delayed because of poor management and lack of coordination between the public institutions involved.
From the executive summary of a Special Audit Report on the Observance of Character of Contractual Obligations in Preliminary Phase of the Project for Concession of Moin Container Terminal (Tcm):
Why is it that in general public enterprises register losses while private ones normally earn profits?
An analysis of the issue by Rogelio Arce Barrantes in Prensalibre.cr summarizes the situation with the words of the popular [Spanish] saying "If its free, let's party."
Although Arce Barrantes focuses on Costa Rica, the situation can be extrapolated to other Central American countries, where there are state enterprises engaged in various business activities, whether in the production of goods or services.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed for the development of the Information Society and the modernization of public administration in the Republic of Panama.
From a press release published by Red.es in Spain:
The CEO of Red.es, Borja Adsuara and general manager of the National Authority for Government Innovation in the Republic of Panama (AIG), Eduardo Jaen, have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of the Information Society and modernization of public administration in the Republic of Panama.
Several Central American governments have resorted to issuing public debt as a way to continue living beyond their means.
An article by Rafael Delgado Elvir in Laprensa.hn objectively analyzes the tendency of governments to fall in debt when faced with economic slowdowns. Excess liquidity worldwide makes it very easy to issue bonds of any kind and for states to obtain direct loans.
In Central America, in first place is Honduras (133 in the world), then Guatemala (113), Nicaragua (130), El Salvador, Panama (83), and Costa Rica (48).
In Latin America the country where the most corruption in the public sector is perceived is Venezuela (165 in the world), and the place where there is the least is Chile and Uruguay, which share position 20 in the world ranking.
The president of Honduras is inviting bids for the administration of a trust for the timely payment of wages of state officials.
Elheraldo.hn reports that President Porfirio Lobo said that "This measure is intended to end the constant strikes by institutions and workers' protests because of non-payment of wages and other benefits enjoyed by government employees. '