Panama: Cinta Costera Construction Under Consultation
President Ricardo Martinelli has announced that he will submit the expansion of the Cinta Costera to a referendum.
Friday, July 1, 2011
The project, projected to cost $776 million, has been the subject of much debate and is viewed with apprehension by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
An article in Laestrella.com.pa reports: "The consultation is so that the voters of the districts of San Felipe, (neighboring) Santa Ana and the Chorrillo can have a say in what should be done in the work that is to be developed by the Brazilian construction company, Norberto Odebrecht.
Martinelli said the referendum will be by Electoral Tribunal within in the next 60 days and will cost $100 000.
On June 23 in Paris after a meeting at UNESCO, because of its distinction as ‘Heritage of Humanity’, which Casco Antiguo (‘the old town’) has had since 1997, the Government and United Nations agency will jointly evaluate and analyze technical, environmental, social and heritage reports existing on each of the three proposals for interconnection between the roads Balboa Avenida and Avenida de Los Poetas. "
As part of the Master Plan of Road Reorganization in Panama City, construction has began on the interconnection between Avenida Balboa and the new Avenida Los Poetas.
A press release from the Ministry of Public Works of Panama (MOP) reads:
The Ministry of Public Works announces that as part of the Master Plan of Road Reorganization in Panama City, today sees the start of construction of the interconnection between Avenida Balboa and Avenida Los Poetas.
The President of Panama has announced that the third phase of the coastal strip project will begin immediately, and has discarded the construction of a tunnel that would increase costs by $200 million.
Martinelli denied that last week a Panamanian delegation in Paris had agreed with UNESCO to submit to an international panel three options for the interconnection of the Balboa and Poetas Roads on the coast of Panama City.
The Minister of Public Works has announced that the interconnection works between the Balboa and Los Poetas roads will have the consent of Unesco.
The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), is considering including Panama in the list of countries with ‘Heritage in Danger’ due to the lack of technical and feasibility studies to ensure that the construction of the third phase of the Cinta Costera will not affect Casco Antiguo and Panama Viejo.
Two historic neighborhoods in the Republic of Panama are in danger of losing their status of World Heritage Site as recognized by UNESCO.
According to UNESCO on their last evaluative trip to Panama, there existed several important threats to the sanctity of Panama Viejo and Casco Antiguo.
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