Panama's government on Thursday formally rejected public statements made by Panama Ports Company, describing the company's remarks about canceled port contracts as "fallacious and libelous." The government said the CK Hutchison subsidiary and related affiliates have not cooperated with officials and have impeded a coordinated handover following the annulment of the contracts.
PPC had said on Monday that the Panamanian government failed to respond to proceedings by a March 13 deadline and petitioned for an extension because it did not have legal counsel in place. The government dispute centers on the sequence of actions taken after a judicial decision that led to the contracts being annulled.
President Jose Raul Mulino also addressed the issue on Thursday, rejecting PPC's account and calling the allegations outrageous and a lie. The president said the state has appointed international legal counsel to represent Panama's interests in the matter.
The contractual annulments were finalized in late February after a ruling from the nation's Supreme Court. The government statement reiterated its position that PPC and its affiliates have been uncooperative in the aftermath of that ruling, characterizing the company's statements as misleading and defamatory.
The competing public claims reflect a dispute over process and cooperation rather than new legal findings, with each side presenting a divergent account of what has occurred since the contracts were voided. The government emphasized its retention of international counsel as part of its response, while PPC highlighted procedural timing and representation issues in seeking an extension.
Details released by both parties focus on legal and operational coordination following the annulment; the government accused the company of concealing information and obstructing a transition, and PPC pointed to a missed deadline and the need for representation as the basis for its request for more time.
At this stage, the public record presented by both the government and PPC centers on their competing statements and the actions they say they have taken since the Supreme Court decision and the late-February finalization of the annulments.
Summary
Panama's government has publicly repudiated assertions by Panama Ports Company regarding canceled port contracts, accusing PPC and affiliated entities of failing to cooperate and impeding a managed transition after the contracts were annulled following a Supreme Court ruling finalized in late February. PPC maintains the government missed a March 13 deadline and sought more time because it lacked legal representation. President Jose Raul Mulino labeled PPC's claims untrue and said international counsel has been appointed to defend the state's interests.