In addition to the lands belonging to the former employees of Coosemupar, the North American company Del Monte may also be able to use 4,000 hectares in the area that are owned by the state.

Depending on what is negotiated in the agreement between the government and Del Monte, the bill for which will be submitted to the Assembly in January, 4,043 hectares in the Baru area suitable for growing bananas could be used, land which is owned by the Panamanian government. These would be in addition to those leased by company, through the State, by the former employees of Coosemupar.

Prensa.com explains that “…The price at which the government will lease these lands caused a further delay. This led to a (government) team  … seeking a formula that pleased both sides. A source in the banana sector Baru said that at the start of negotiations Del Monte agreed to a price of more than $200 per hectare per year but with the right to a review. With the next agreement about to be finalised, the company requested an appraisal of these lands from the Comptroller.

“… Del Monte could ask the same price of $135, at which the State rented land to Chiquita Brands. In the end, this point may amount to $187.50.  Consulted on the price, the German minister said he could not provide information on this point, since the negotiations are not 100% complete. ‘That was the object of the negotiation, and we arrived at a reasonable figure for the state and for them (…) It was not what the state initially wanted or what they were asking for.’