Authorities suspend concessions and announce audit for land rental

The National Government ordered an audit for possible irregularities in the rental of State land in Colón and its link with the processing of a concession for the commercial exploitation of the airport of this Atlantic city.

This involves the concession of two globes of State land measuring one million 73 thousand 965 square meters in the Coco Solo sector, in Colón, and the concession on the airport. 

As a preventive measure, the new Administration of the Colón Free Zone has ordered the suspension of the concession and the carrying out of an audit in order to determine if there are irregularities, including a possible conflict of interest. Depending on the results of the audits, these authorities would file the corresponding complaints with the Public Ministry.

Also, Tocumen S.A. ordered the suspension of the tender that sought to grant the contract for the commercial exploitation of the Colón airport.

In the case of the concession of the administration of the ZLC, these are lands that surround the Colón airport and have access to maritime facilities.

The concession was granted by the last administration of the Colón Free Zone for 20 years, extendable, and with a monthly rental fee of only 0.005 thousandths. 

The company that would benefit had the use of these two balloons located under lot N.1575 since last June 1, moored at the beginning of the commercial exploitation of the Colón airport, whose measurements are 103,618 square meters.

On February 15, two consortiums competed in the tender for Tocumen S.A. to commercially exploit the Colón airport, a process that has already been suspended. The consortium would have links with the company that received the concession of the lots adjacent to the air terminal from the administration of the Colón Free Zone.

For the lands granted by the last administration of the ZLC, the company only provided a guarantee of $16,109, according to an official memorandum.