The Comptroller General of the Republic, Anel Flores, spoke this Thursday to deny rumors linking his administration to alleged dealings involving the Chiquita Banana company and ethanol in Panama.
Flores clarified that, contrary to versions that circulated after the president's trip to Brazil, the recovery of Chiquita Banana has allowed for the reincorporation of more than 3,000 jobs, a figure projected to reach 5,000, bringing peace of mind to the affected labor community.
"We managed to get the company back to Panama, and to date, more than 3,000 jobs have been recovered. We are on track to reach 5,000, and it provides great peace of mind to that community and the province," he stated.
Regarding ethanol, the comptroller denied any involvement in corrupt dealings, stating that he is a shareholder in one of the country's four sugar mills, but "not a single cane is for ethanol here."
He assured that the existing cane will continue to be used exclusively for sugar production, protecting the food supply for the population.
Flores indicated that changes to the law, to be presented in early January, will allow any interested party to import ethanol, but only after guaranteeing the purchase of the product produced in Panama.
"The only requirement we are asking for is that the product produced in Panama be purchased first," he reiterated.
The comptroller highlighted the importance of protecting national investments, which total more than $400 million in equipment, new hectares, and the generation of about 20,000 jobs.
"Obviously, we want that effort to be bought first before importing. Once the national purchase of the products is covered, whoever wants to import, let them import," he affirmed.
Finally, Flores emphasized that there is no corruption or scandals related to these issues and described the accusations against him as "urban legends," assuring that no ethanol plant has been built and that everything is subject to current regulations and the strengthening of the national agribusiness sector.
