BRIEFS. Business

Bill to modernize post office raises concerns

The recent introduction of a bill that aims to modernize the Panamanian mail system has raised concerns among the members of the Asociación de Transporte de Encomiendas y Paquetes (Atepani).

Helmut Flores, president of the organization, said that the government did not solicit any input from the 150 members of the group in preparing the draft of the bill.

Flores and others are concerned that the government may be considering privatizing the postal industry, which would make it much more difficult for private couriers and delivery firms to operate.

They are also fearful that the government will begin subsidizing service it provides for parcel delivery, which will undercut the prices that private firms can charge.

But Marta Amado, the director of the Dirección de Correos y Telégrafos (Cotel), said that there are no plans to privatize the post office.

Amado said the goal of the proposal is to modernize the post office so that is can better serve its existing customers, and not to take business away from private firms.