|
|
Delegation Reports
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO PANAMA
17 TO 22
JUNE 2007
Outward Delegation to Panama 17 to 22 June 2007
Delegation
Charlotte Atkins
Leader – Labour
Bob Blizzard MP
Labour
Anthony Steen MP Conservative
Kenneth Courtenay
General Secretary,
British Group IPU
Monday 18 June: The delegation arrived in the early hours after a flight
delayed in Miami by bad weather. After a brief rest in the hotel we went
to the residence of His Excellency Richard Austen, Ambassador, for a breakfast
briefing from him and his staff, which included two officers from the
Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA).
Topics covered included the plans to increase the capacity of the Panama
Canal, drug smuggling, money laundering as evidenced by the unprecedented
building boom, corruption in the police, the poor state of prisons and
the judiciary.
The next meeting was with senior officials of the Ministry for Social
Development who gave a presentation on the poverty reduction programme.
Some 16.6 per cent of the population is classed as living in extreme poverty
(income less than US $1 per day), mostly indigenous people in rural areas.
In the 0-5 years age group, this figure increases to 50 per cent. The
poverty reduction plan provides for cash incentives to take part in education
and health programmes.
We then visited the Panama Canal’s Miraflores Lock where we had
a presentation on the widening project. The tone was very optimistic.
Tendering is on schedule, there is nothing particularly complicated about
the project, and services and labour are close at hand. To finish the
visit, we had a tour of the museum and lunch in the restaurant in the
visitor centre which allowed us to witness a ship transiting the lock.
The first meeting of the afternoon was with the Vice-Minister Foreign
Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. We were told that the
biggest infrastructure project in Panama is an oil refinery near the border
with Costa Rica. There are also plans for a renewable energy supply, a
gas pipeline from Colombia and to make Panama a regional energy hub. No
less than 197 (high rise) buildings are being built in Panama City (raising
concerns of money laundering).
There is a great need for a public transport system in Panama City. In
addition to the expansion of the Canal, the former US Howard Air Force
Base will be developed into a logistic base. A contract has been awarded
to the UK firm, London Properties. The minister pointed out that Panama
is democratic, has a fluid and bilingual workforce that understands the
Anglo-Saxon mentality and it is easy to trade within the region. As for
the judiciary, mediation is being promoted as a means to ease the backlog
in civil cases, but there is a long way to go in reforming the criminal
legal system. There are very large copper reserves.
The delegation met the President of the National Assembly, His Excellency
Elias Castillo, accompanied by H.M. Ambassador in Panama and the Ambassador
of Panama to the United Kingdom who congratulated the British Group of
the IPU for initiating the visit.
Tuesday 19 June: The second day started with a meeting with the Committee
for Prevention, Control and Eradication of Drugs, Drug Trafficking and
Money Laundering, chaired by the President of the committee, Dr. Carlos
Alvaro. The President of the Health Committee, a member of the Work (Employment)
Committee and two other members of parliament were also present. The Chair
pointed out that many law enforcement agencies have been penetrated by
drug traffickers. The “first world” is the final destination
of most drugs that transit Panama and more must be done to reduce demand.
The UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency could do more in the region
if resources were available.
At a meeting with His Excellency. Hector Aleman, President of Commission
the Foreign Affairs Commission, and five of his colleagues, topics covered
were Panama’s membership of the UNSC, the role of the Commission,
threats to the canal, the stability of Latin America within the context
of the move to the political left in some countries and combating corruption.
The UK delegation was questioned on Iraq and the Middle East.
After lunch, the delegation went to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for
a meeting with Ricardo Duran, the Vice Chancellor (minister). The minister
pointed out that the Cabinet travels around the country to gauge public
opinion. The government is popular. The election of Panama to the UNSC
is a public recognition of Panama’s growing status. It will be difficult
to handle the UNSC task with such a small department.
The referendum on expansion of the canal was a boost for the government
and the project is a marvellous opportunity for the country. The government
is working on a political consensus to make the energy hub project work.
Panama needs the UK’s help with language training and scholarships.
The next meeting was with Olga Golcher, the Minister for Government and
Justice. She said that of the 12,000 prisoners in jails, only 40 per cent
have been convicted. There has been an historic lack of investment in
prison infrastructure. A programme has been started to introduce clinics
into prisons. The police needs more technical competence. Other topics
covered were human trafficking, domestic violence and drug trafficking.
In the evening, there was a very well attended British Embassy Reception
on the occasion of the Queen’s Official Birthday.
Wednesday 20 June: The first meeting of the day was with His Excellency
Maricruz Padilla, President of the Commission for Women Affairs, Rights
of Children, Youth and the Family. The delegation was given a presentation
on national policies of social inclusion of disabled people. The main
causes of disability are the lack of ante natal care in indigenous areas
and accidents at work and while travelling. There followed a discussion
on women’s place in society, domestic violence, trafficking of women
and children and the concern at the increase in indigenous areas. The
provision of school, pre-school and kindergartens is designed to allow
mothers to go to work.
After a lunch with the Panamanian-UK Business Association, the delegation
drove out to the small town of La Chorerra. There we met the mayor and
five councillors who described the structure of the town’s local
government and main areas of difficulty. The town has a population of
150,000 and at the last local elections a turnout of 75 per cent returned
18 councillors. The main concerns for the town are a lack of drinking
water, high unemployment, an inadequate sewage system, no ambulances and
poor roads. The delegation then drove to a local pineapple farm, a major
employer for the town which exports much of its production to the EU,
before returning to Panama City.
Thursday 21 June: The journey to the UK started in the early afternoon
and the delegation arrived in London on Friday morning.
|
|
