A CIVIL engineer, accused of having a conflict of interest  when he sat on the evaluating committee of the bidding for Metro  line 2  which was awarded to Odebrecht,  is one of two  new members named to the   Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

Óscar Ramírez,  Rector of the Technological University of Panama and Ricardo Arango, a lawyer were chosen by by President Juan Carlos Varela.

"With these designations, we reinforce the technical and legal capacity of the Board of Directors to further strengthen the institutional framework of the organization," said Varela. Both designations were adopted Tuesday, March 22 at the Cabinet Council.

Ramirez has a degree in civil engineering from the Technological University of Panama (UTP), where he currently serves as rector. He also holds degrees from the State University of New York. He was one of the seven members of the evaluating committee of the bidding for line 2 of the Metro.

Arango has a degree in law and political sciences from the University of Panama, and has master's degrees from Harvard University and Yale University.

In 1987 he joined the law firm Arias, Fabrega & Fabrega (Arifa), where  he has been a partner since 1995. He specializes in banking, securities, and mergers.

He is a director of Corporación La Prensa (Corprensa), Banco General, Bolsa de Valores de Panama and Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (Bladex).

The appointments must be ratified by the Credentials Committee and the plenary of the National Assembly.