Panama’s supreme court to deliberate on First Quantum mine contract next week
Panama鈥檚 supreme court magistrates will enter deliberations on Nov. 24 to rule on constitutional challenges to a copper mine contract, the court鈥檚 secretary general Manuel Jose Calvo Castillo said in a statement.
Magistrates will consider the first two constitutional challenges to the contract with Canada鈥檚 First Quantum Minerals Ltd 鈥渋n a permanent session, until we issue a ruling in the least amount of time possible,鈥 Calvo Castillo said.
Public arguments for both cases are set to conclude on Nov. 23 and issuing a ruling is a priority for the court, he said.
First Quantum鈥檚 local unit Minera Panama said Thursday it paid $567 million in taxes and royalties to the government, covering the period between Dec. 2021 and Oct. 2023. Protests against the mine have continued since its contract was extended in October, and some groups have called for a national strike on Monday.
Anti-mining roadblocks and violent street protests over the past month have caused $1.7 billion in losses to business, the country鈥檚 National Council of Private Enterprise said this week.
(By Michael McDonald)
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