Panama Canal expansion approved by wide margin

World News
Panama Canal expansion approved by wide margin
Panama City, Oct 23: Panama approved an expansion of the country's historic canal by almost 80 percent, according to preliminary results released Monday, but the closely watched referendum was marred by some isolated skirmishes and a dismally low turnout.With 94 percent of votes counted, the "yes" camp was leading by about 78 percent - in line with polls earlier in the week - the country's electoral tribunal said. About 22 percent of voters chose not to back a proposal to expand the canal.Only 57 percent of Panama's 2.1 million registered voters turned out Sunday to decide on a proposal that will almost double the transport capacity of the 80-km thoroughfare - the only central passage for ships between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.Panamaian President Martin Torrijos, whose government had strongly backed the proposal, hailed Sunday as an "extraordinary day", calling the result a "grand example of civic-mindedness".With international trade on the upswing, the election had been closely watched around the world amid growing demand to increase canal's capacity. More than 14,000 ships passed through the canal in 2005.But the election was tarnished by some isolated skirmishes between supporters and detractors of the expansion, particularly in the San Miguelito district of Panama City. The fighting was sparked by supporters at some polling stations handing out instructions on how to vote, with pro-expansion slogans written on the back.Election officials quickly intervened and confiscated the questionable polling material.The Panama Canal is one of the most ambitious engineering projects in history, and the new proposal would mark the first major expansion in its 92-year existence.The proposal will see a new set of locks added to the existing two, allowing two-way traffic through the canal, accommodating larger ships and almost doubling the tonnage that can be carried through.The construction is projected to cost around $5.25 billion and would be scheduled for completion by 2015.The government of President Martin Torrijos favoured the proposal, but critics have questioned the impact a larger canal will have on the poor, who number more than 40 percent of the country's 3.1 million population. They say most of the financial benefit of an expansion would not filter down to that level.The Panama Canal was opened in 1914 by the US, after 10 years of construction that cost thousands of people their lives.Final official results of Sunday's vote were expected on Wednesday.
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