Panama dismisses criticism of canal construction

Published November 17, 2014

The Panama Canal administrator says a consortium building new locks won the $5.2 billion contract in a fair and open process.

Alberto Aleman Zubieta says the work is on schedule and has the support of the Panamanian government.

Aleman spoke to reporters Wednesday in rebuttal to a U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks quoting Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli as doubting the Spanish-based GUPC Consortium's ability to complete the project.

Aleman invited the media to travel to the site and see the work.

He dismissed the cable as "all embassies trying to lobby for their companies." The cable says the U.S. Embassy lobbied for U.S. company Bechtel to get the bid.

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