The Maritime Authority of Panama (AMP) condemned the approval of bill 53 guaranteed in an “illegitimate manner” by the National Assembly.

In a statement signed by the administrator of the AMP, Jorge Barakat, it is indicated that the institution has made an effort to attract foreign companies and investments to the country, in order to continue consolidating the country’s international services platform.

Barakat considers that the “nefarious actions of some Assembly deputies endanger these efforts to the detriment of the maritime sector, affecting the generation of jobs and the legal security of the country.”

The official indicated that an investigation of these facts by the competent authorities is essential and to focus on promoting legal and constitutional mechanisms that prevent these illegitimate actions against the national economy and all Panamanians from being repeated.

In another statement, the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel) categorically rejected ‘this malicious and irresponsible bill that directly affects the legal security, the economy and the generation of jobs in the Panamanian maritime sector.’

This project and with an investment of $ 800 million in three years, indicated the Mitradel, has generated thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the Panamanian workforce.