business

ZLC expansion opposed

Opposition is mounting to a plan recently announced by the Zona Libre de Colón (ZLC) to develop eight hectares of forest in the reverted areas for use as warehouse space.

The area, formerly known as Davis but now called José Dominador Bazán, is located at the entrance of a residential community, about a kilometer from the Gatun locks.

“From our windows we can see monkeys, parakeets and toucans,” said resident Sayori Archibold. “We live in paradise, and they want to destroy it.”

Archibold added that by deforesting areas near the Panama Canal, the government risks changing the ecology of the area, which could threaten the waterway by reducing the amount of water it receives.

“The government does not respect the existence of rainforests that supply the Canal with water,” the resident said. “They are not doing any planning.”

ZLC assistant director Juan Fidel Macías said that the area was awarded to the agency by the former Autoridad de la Región Interoceánica, which was charged with disbursing property formerly occupied by the U.S. He said the development is within the agency's long-term plans.

Macías said several meetings have been held with residents of the area and that issues such as increased truck traffic in the area have been discussed.