The Panamanian president approved the bill that creates the Agencia Panamena de Alimentos (Panamanian Food Agency) and repeals Decree Law 11 of 2006, which created the Panamanian Food Safety Authority.
The new law establishes that the constitutional competencies related to phytosanitary and zoosanitary measures return to the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) with the objective of protecting the national agricultural patrimony, to the Ministry of Health the competencies related to food safety, the control of zoonoses and food-borne diseases (ETA), while the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, the one related to Copanit technical standards and the administration of compliance with international trade agreements, details an official statement.
In 2019, the perception of corruption in public institutions increased in all countries of the region except Costa Rica, where it remained the same as in 2018.
As has been the case in recent years, Nicaragua's public sector continues to be perceived as the most corrupt in the region (transparency level 22 on a scale of 0 to 100), followed by Guatemala (26), Honduras (26), Dominican Republic (28), El Salvador (34), Panama (36), and Costa Rica (56).
Alejandro Giammattei, Guatemala's new president, is hosting a country with weak institutions, legal uncertainty and a business sector that is asking for a less "hostile" environment for new investments.
The National Assembly of Panama approved in first debate the proposals for changes to the Magna Carta, which include the titles from 5th to 7th referring to the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Powers.
According to the deputies, the proposal that was approved on Oct. 23 responds to the assessment of the National Concertation table that comprised more than 20 groups, informed the Assembly.
Businessmen in Panama are optimistic with the proposal of constitutional reforms that are the result of the consensus of different sectors, but are concerned that that inopportune changes to the purposes of expanding and modernizing the institutionality could be made.
The Assembly discusses changes to the country's Constitution, which refer mainly to issues related to the Panamanian State, nationality and foreigners, fundamental and social rights, and political rights, among others.
For Guatemalan businessmen, in order to have solid institutions in the country, aspects of the electoral system, civil service, justice sector and public expenditure must be modernized, strengthened and regulated.
On October 10, the National Meeting of Businessmen for Development (ENADE 2019) was held, which dealt with the theme "From a Liquid State to a Solid State."
The Dominican Republic, Panama and Honduras are the nations in the region where the majority of the population believes that corruption in government institutions has increased in the last twelve months.
The report "Barómetro Global de la Corrupción: América Latina y El Caribe 2019 - Opiniones y Experiencias de los ciudadanos en materia de corrupción" (Global Corruption Barometer: Latin America and the Caribbean 2019 - Opinions and Experiences of Citizens on Corruption), compiled by Transparency International and published on September 23, 2019, evaluated the perception of corruption in the countries of the region and some aspects of insecurity.
After the Salvadoran president announced the possible installation of an International Commission against Corruption and Impunity, the business sector asked to "evaluate the experiences of Guatemala and Honduras.”
After Bukele reported that before his 100 days in office he would present a proposal to install an international commission in the country, the National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP) said it is essential to comply with the law and that there must be real political will to fight corruption.
After two years of non-operation, El Salvador's government and business associations agreed to reactivate the institution dedicated to decision-making on customs matters and trade agreements.
The private sector was represented by the Presidents and Executive Directors of the guilds ASI, COEXPORT, CAMARASAL, CAMAGRO, AMCHAM, CAMTEX and ADES, which are part of the Inter-union Commission for Trade Facilitation (CIFACIL) and participate with voice and vote within the Committee, informed the Salvadoran government.
In 2018, the perception of corruption in public institutions increased in all countries in the region, except Panama, where it remained the same as in 2017, and El Salvador, where it slightly decreased.
As in previous years, Nicaragua's public sector continues to be considered the most corrupt in the region (level of transparency 25 on a scale of 0 to 100), followed by Guatemala (27), Honduras (29), El Salvador (35), Panama (37), and Costa Rica (56).
For Moody's, the withdrawal of the International Commission against Impunity weakens efforts to improve the rule of law in a country with high levels of corruption.
For Moody's, President Morales' decision to end the mandate of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) is a setback for the country because corruption is still widespread and institutions are still fragile.
A bill by the Morales administration in Guatemala proposes creating an agency that would manage issues of commercial promotion, competitiveness, investment attraction and country brand.
Representatives from the Ministry of Economy presented in Congress a proposal for a Law to create the Institute for Commercial Promotion, ProGuatemala, which would absorb the functions and staff that at the moment execute the National Program of Competitiveness.
In Guatemala a bill has been presented to create an autonomous entity, made up of government and private investors, which would be responsible for planning and contracting out infrastructure works.
The legislative project that emerged at the National Entrepreneurs Meeting (Enade) 2017, includes the creation of a Superintendency of Road Infrastructure (Sivial), which would be an autonomous entity with the function of planning, tendering and contracting out infrastructure works.
In 2017, the perception of corruption in public institutions increased in all of the countries in the region, with the exception of Guatemala and Nicaragua, where it remained the same as in 2016, and in Costa Rica, where it decreased slightly.
The public sector still perceives Nicaragua to be the most corrupt country (transparency level 26 on a scale from 0 to 100), followed by Guatemala (28), Honduras (29), El Salvador (33), Panama (37) and Costa Rica (59).
Proportion of people who have paid a bribe in the last year to access a public service: in Panama 38%, in Honduras 33%, in El Salvador 31%, in Nicaragua 30%, in Guatemala 28% and in Costa Rica, 24%.
EDITORIAL
The report "People and Corruption: Latin America and the Caribbean", prepared by Transparency International, shows how inhabitants of Latin American countries have got used to corruption: from the scandalous cases at the highest political level to under the table payments which are made on a daily basis when carrying out procedures as simple as requesting medical care in a public hospital or obtaining a document from a public office.
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