Martinelli and building sites

PANAMA. President Ricardo Martinelli visited three building sites in Punta Pacifica yesterday to make sure that they were complying with the law.

Martinelli's visits follow the deaths earlier this week of two construction workers who lost their lives while working on a skyscraper in Punta Pacifica.

The Only Construction Workers Union (SUNTRACS) has said on several occasions that promoters, architects and engineers of these mega projects frequently scale down safety procedures in order to save money, disregarding the lives of their workers.

The union has also complained that many companies are not giving them safety equipment such as hard hats and harnesses, especially when working at high altitudes.

During the inspection, President Martinelli said the government would make sure safety rules for construction workers are enforced because “security comes first, then productivity.”

He also said that construction companies must provide a safe environment for their workers.

Martinelli toured the Q tower project where last Friday two workers lost their lives in an accident.

SUNTRACS threatened to close the city streets for the next few days after seven of its members were arrested during a confrontation with police in the former Rodman’s base in Cocoli. The union was calling for the closure of the building site after the construction company did not comply with demands made by workers with regards to safety issues.

He also visited the Oasis and Trump Ocean projects. Also touring the projects were the Labor Minister, Alma Cortes; Minister of Public Works, Frederico Suarez; the Minister of Housing Carlos Duboy; and Jimmy Papadimitriu, Presidency minister. Martinelli said that he would make sure that construction workers get the protection that they deserve.