national

Mining risky

Former state ministers, legislators and health professionals agreed yesterday that open pit mining is more "harmful" than beneficial, while environmentalists continued to argue that "the best mining project is the project that doesn't exist."

Such were the conclusions reached at the end of the first day of an event called El futuro de Panamá y la minería, or Panama's future and mining. The forum brings together environmentalists and other experts from throughout Latin America. Yesterday, they focused on two major topics: the lack of clear public policy on mining in Panama and the social impact of mining.

Former minister of Comercio e Industria (Mici) Fernando Manfredo was one of the first to raise his voice against mining in Panama. Manfredo, who was elected minister in 1969, argued that concessions have been and are continuing to be given to mining companies in Panama in the absence of any guiding policies.

"This lack has resulted in placating mining companies while infringing on national interests and the natural environment," he said.

President of the Comisión de Ambiente of the Asamblea Nacional, Milciades Concepción, differed somewhat from Manfredo, saying that "the laws exist, they only have to be enforced."

Regarding the social effects of mining, Instituto Gorgas's director Jorge Motta made it clear that the social cost of a mining project exceeds the investment in it. "The Petaquilla project will have a biological and social impact," he said.