The possible appointment of Carlos Ernesto Gonzalez de la Lastra for the board of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) comes at a time when come to light a series of court cases related to the financial collapse of the newspaper disappeared that caused serious economic damage to a 150 journalists.
Gonzalez De La Lastra, for the years 2000-2002, when the media economic collapse happened he listed as director and general manager.
For this reason, it is directly responsible to take the order to give a ruling by the Directorate General of Labour, who condemns the publishing group El Universal to pay the sum of $534,527 in respect of unpaid wages and compensation to this group journalists.
A source revealed that the figure of Gonzalez De La Lastra is driven by the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE) to fill a vacancy on the board of the ACP, which should be completed this year.
The postulation contradicts the discourse of transparency that has been manifesting Apede regarding the management of the different organs of the State.
Recently, the union issued a statement to express its view on the current crisis the Supreme Court lives.
At that time, he summoned the magistrate Harry Diaz to present evidence of the allegations he made in a local television.
In that statement, the Apede spoke of the deterioration of system administration of justice, which urges to grow trust and accountability that should give the officials working in the different organs of the State.
the directors of the main journalists' associations were contacted for a reaction on the subject.
According to the leadership of professional pen, it is still not appropriate to react, because there is nothing official on the appointment of Carlos Ernesto Gonzalez de la Lastra, as director of the ACP.
What has been questionable is the political affiliation of Gonzalez De La Lastra, who until recently was listed as an important member of the Popular Party, a political group that is part of the alliance that led to the presidency of the Republic, Juan Carlos Varela .
For Ernesto Cedeño, lawyer, it is counterproductive to be appointed on the board of the ACP people who are affiliated with political parties.
The reason is that it could politicize the ACP and, according to Cedeno, would be very sensitive to our main source of income.
Gonzalez de la Lastra, representing the day, affected the economy of journalists to dismiss without justification and denying them compensation.
Also he did not pay the workers' employer's share of Social Security Fund (CSS), and other discounts, which caused them to lose their homes and vehicles, among other goods.
Gonzalez de la Lastra has a pending criminal prosecution for debt with CSS.
