ODEBRECHT the Brazilian construction company whose name has become synonymous with  bribery and corruption, But that hasn’t stopped its current leaders from attempting to re-enter the market for Panama’s lucrative state construction projects from which it has garnered  some $9 billion in contracts   handed out by successive administrations  from Martin Torrijos  through the Martinelli years to the Varela era.

The company is currently in the penultimate stages of completing Metro Line 2, Tocumen International Terminal   2, a Colon redevelopment project and a  Panama city highway refurbishing handed out by the mayor’s office which has been widely criticized after unprecedented flooding during the current rainy season.

Now, after being frozen out of the $1.5 billion fourth canal bridge project The Brazilian company  appears to be the likely winner  with a $45 million  bid for a Ministry of Public Works (MOP) project  to rehabilitate streets in  Betania, Curundú, Don Bosco, Juan Díaz, Lefevre Park, Pueblo Nuevo and Río Abajo. In a contest with other international consortia, it has presented the lowest proposal, although by just a few dollars says La Prensa.