The document is being assessed by legislators amid protests by environmentalists pointing to the illegality of this deal with Canadian First Quantum transnational for an extendable 20-year exploitation of a copper mine in the eastern Donoso town in Colon.

In a communiqué, to which Prensa Latina had access, it is further detailed in view of 2024 general elections; traditional politicians are searching resources to finance their campaign by means of customers.

In that sense, they spare no scruples to approve a project so detrimental to Panamanians in exchange for these funds.

It is immoral that the government pretends to blackmail the population by linking improvements in pensions, the sustainability of the Social Security Fund and investment in Education to the condition that the mining contract is approved, the message adds.

It also indicates that mining cannot be the basis of any sustainable development model, since its characteristics, especially open-pit metallic mining, is deeply aggressive to the environment, life and health of the people.

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