The Tourism Authority informed CCA-Cocige, responsible for building the Convention Center in Amador, the intention to cancel the contract because of critical flaws in the design and infrastructure.

The work was originally awarded to HPC Contratas P&V, but in 2016, after work was halted for 24 months because of a liquidity problem, the project was assigned to the CCA-Cocige consortium.

See “Amador Convention Center Construction Project Resumes”

The situation for the company in charge of the project is complicated, because as a result of a technical report, which details the existence of problems in the firefighting system, inefficiencies in the installation of steel structures, and lack of final plans containing all the changes made to the design, the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) decided to inform CCA-Cocige on February 2 of its intention to cancel the contract.

Prensa.com reviews that “… It is unknown if the faults can be corrected, the cost of the solution and the time involved. In total, the ATP alleges 2,181 incidents or failures committed by the contractor, which include other problems, such as lack of personnel and work performed without the corresponding permits.”

The article adds that “… During an inspection by the National Directorate of Engineering of the General Comptroller’s Office on January 7, it was found that the project is 80% complete, when the work should have been completed by December 31, 2018. Because of this inspection, the Comptroller’s Office issued a note to the ATP asking it to explain what the ‘corrective actions’ would be to guarantee the quality of the work and maintain the cost and recommended that the entity be prepared to ‘execute the performance bond in a timely manner to safeguard the interests of the State.”