Undeterred by skepticism in some quarters Panama’s mayor José Luis Fábrega continues to express his faith in returning a beach suitable for bathing to the city he rules.

On Tuesday, January 28  he said that “at the rate that it is being worked on,” the beach recovery project ma be completed in 2022.

Fábrega presented his investment plan for 2020, in which he will manage a budget $292 million budget.

“We are working with Sanitation of the Bay, Miambiente [Ministry of Environment] and, believe me, that by 2022, in the rhythm that we are working on and with the urgency that the Government of President [Laurentino] Cortizo has given to sanitation, we are going to be close to having bathing beaches, ”he said.

The citizen consultation on the beach recovery project in Calidonia and Bella Vista - estimated at $120 million - will be held on March 11.

Regarding the disarray on Calle Uruguay Street, Fábrega said that the work undertaken in the management of Mayor José Blandón (2014-2019) began without plans.

“It hurts me that the past administration acted irresponsibly. In the case of Calle Uruguay, the plans were presented at the end of 2018. They began to do the work without having plans,  operating by trial and error, ”he said.

He added that they have taken over the projects that the past administration s initiated, and no matter what their intention is to conclude them.

Investment
Fábrega said that $2.6 million will be allocated to social works, which includes care for the homeless and older adults, among others.

In the sports area, he highlighted the investment of $670 thousand in infrastructure repairs of swimming pools, gyms and stadiums.

Other investments will be in municipal infrastructure and services ($492,638), environmental management (49,000, digitalization of services ($463, 000) and citizen security ($1 million)