New Ministry to be created

PANAMA. The Cabinet has approved the creation of a new Ministry of Road Infrastructure, Transit and Transport (Mivitte) out of the old Ministry of Public Works (MIOP) and Transport Authority (ATTT).

This will enable transport issues to be addressed directly by the cabinet and so resolved more quickly, according to the interim head of the ATTT, Jorge Ricardo Fabrega.

Mivitte will be headed by two vice-ministers - one for transit and transport and one for infrastructure.

The vice minister for transit and transport will be responsible for “directing, supervising and legalising” public transport and will have to present four-monthly reports to the cabinet.

Human resources which number some 1,096 in the ATTT and 3,266 in MOP will be managed jointly.

Operators of public transport said that they were concerned that with the abolishment of the executive board of the ATTT they would no longer have representation in transport decision making. They will ask their lawyers to look at the legislation creating the new ministry, the director of the 23 October Movement, David Ramirez, said.

ATTT director Fabrega said that a clause in the documentation considers the creation of a consultative committee to represent transport users and workers.

The National Transport Chamber said its members would consider the proposal on Wednesday. It will also be considered in the National Assembly where it will be discussed in the first round by the Legal Commission for Transport.