Ricardo Cerrud, representative of the Cristóbal district, demanded that contracting companies linked to projects of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) comply with the payment of municipal construction taxes.
During his intervention at this session of the local government body, Cerrud pointed out that it is unfair for the works that the ACP carries out in the province to stop generating real benefits for the community, recalling that the special regime of the ACP does not exempt private companies from their tax obligations.
He indicated that the Constitution and the Municipal Code support the autonomy of municipalities to collect taxes within their jurisdiction, including those related to construction works.
In this sense, contractors executing projects in Colón must comply with these taxes, as there is no express legal exemption. Law 19 of 1997, which organizes the ACP, clearly establishes that the ACP can hire private companies, and these companies do not acquire automatic tax privileges, he added.
Contracts must be executed respecting the current national and local laws.
In this regard, Cerrud also defended the hiring of local labor, highlighting that there is qualified and prepared personnel in Colón.
“Colón cannot continue to see development pass by without participating in it,” he stated.
The ACP has not made any comments or issued a statement following Cerrud's declarations at this public forum of the Colón Municipal Council.
