Demonstrators threaten to step up protests against mining contract in Panama

Online News Editor
October 17, 2023
2 minutes read

Panama City, Oct 17 Oct (EFE). – A group of workers, trade unionists and environmentalists renewed their protest on Tuesday against a mining contract between the state and a subsidiary of the Canadian company First Quantum Minerals (FQM), threatening to intensify demonstration if the agreement is approved by the Panamanian parliament.

Tuesday’s demonstration took place one day before the National Assembly (AN) resumes debate on the bill for the concession contract between the state and Minera Panama, which operates the largest open-pit copper mine in Central America.

“This is a leonine contract, a contract that sells the country, which the oligarchy wants because it benefits from it,” Saúl Méndez, general secretary of the militant National Union of Construction and Allied Workers (Suntracs), told EFE.

Méndez said that First Quantum had “found in the corrupt insiders and the corrupt businessmen the way to prevail against legality and constitutionality”.

“That is why we have chosen the people, and we are sure that the people have the strength to defeat this contract,” the union leader added.

More:
https://www.laprensalatina.com/demonstrators-threaten-to-step-up-protests-against-mining-contract-in-panama/