Government and Ngäbe Bugle sign agreement for Barro Blanco

Today, Monday August 22, members of the Panamanian government and authorities of the Ngäbe Bugle Comarca signed an agreement on the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project in Chiriquí. In attendance were President Juan Carlos Varela and Vice President Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado. 

The agreement comes after many protests from the indigenous community which the project will directly affect and will covers social, environmental, cultural and economic development. The agreement includes proposals to address and remedy the issues caused by the project, it also promises 15% of the revenue from the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project to be given back to the Ngäbe Bugle Comarca.

Genisa, the group previously in charge of the project has been replaced. Operations will be handed over to a third, independent party with sufficient experience to take on the operation and maintenance of the hydroelectric plant. According to sources, Genisa shares will be transferred into a trust as security for the repayment of loans granted by banks. The National Bank of Panama will be the trustee and custodian of assets. If sold, the Panamanian Government will have the first option to purchase. 

Protests continued before and after the signing of the agreement. These protests delayed the signing by blocking the access and several reports indicate that they turned violent, with four officers of the National Police injured by stones. Reports explain that Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Isabel Saint Malo and The Ngäbe Bugle chief, Silvia Carrera, were removed from the public space and took refuge in Llano Tugrí school while violent protests took place. President Juan Carlos Varela addressed the crowd before joining them. 

According to a statement from the Ministry of Communication of the State, the President and the Vice President regretted these isolated acts of violence following the signing of an agreement that resolve differences. 

According to the Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo, the main points of the Barro Blanco agreement are:

- The operation of the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project will be managed by an independent third party with sufficient experience for the operation and maintenance of hydroelectric plants.

- 50% of the staff will be indigenous from the Ngäbe-Bugle Comarca. 

- 15% of the revenue from the Barro Blanco hydroelectric project will be given back to the Ngäbe Bugle Comarca.

- The Panamanian Government will be committed to working with district authorities to create a trust and put profits from the hydroelectric project towards the development of agricultural, livestock, forestry, tourism and craft