Singaporean company wants to build a port in Panama

Interesting news about the Panama Canal Expansion:

Panama City - Singaporean company PSA International wants to build a port to handle containers in an area of Panama's Pacific coast adjoining the Panama Canal, the Central American country's trade minister confirmed Monday.

Panamanian Trade and Industry Minister Alejandro Ferrer said in a press conference that the country's government will evaluate the technical aspects of the project once PSA International provides the details. The plan would use land that was formerly part of the Rodman US Naval Base. Ferrer's announcement caused surprise in Panama's economic circles, because the installation of a mega-port on the western entrance of the canal has already been approved.

However, the minister hinted that both investments on the Pacific coast could complement each other, and he stressed that all initiatives will be properly evaluated. Until now, the British company P&O Ports, Japan's NYK, the United States' Stevedores Services of America SSA, Denmark's APM Terminals and the United Arab Emirates' DPA have shown an interest in participating in the mega-port, which would involve an investment of 600 million dollars.
Ferrer said PSA International's project consolidates Panama's position as the main centre for logistics in Latin America and as the most important cargo-distribution centre in the world.

PSA International is one of the most important companies in its sector and annually handles over 50 million tonnes of TEU (twenty- foot equivalent unit). In a referendum in October, Panama voted to add a third set of locks to the two existing in its canal to allow two-way traffic, accommodate larger ships and almost double the tonnage that can be carried the canal. The construction is projected to cost around 5.25 billion dollars and would be scheduled for completion by 2015.

Panama Canal Expansion

For all the panamanians this inversion in the Panama Canal it's very important. Our future depends of that. Here, I find this information about the Canal expansion in Wikipedia:

"The Third Set of Locks Project is a megaproject that will expand the Panama Canal more so than any previous expansion since the Canal's construction. The Panama Canal Authority proposed the project after years of study. Panamanian President Martín Torrijos presented the plan on April 24, 2006 and Panamanian citizens approved it in a national referendum by 76.8% of votes on October 22, 2006. The project will double the canal's capacity and allow more traffic.
The project will create a new lane of traffic along the Canal by constructing a new set of locks. Details of the project include the following integrated components:
Construction of two lock complexes — one on the Atlantic side and another on the Pacific side — each with three chambers, which include three water-saving basins;
Excavation of new access channels to the new locks and the widening of existing navigational channels; and,
Deepening of the navigation channels and the elevation of Gatun Lake’s maximum operating level.[1]
As stipulated by the Panamanian Constitution, any project to expand the Canal had to be approved by the Cabinet, the National Assembly and by a referendum[2]. On Friday July 14, the National Assembly unanimously approved the proposal. In addition, the Assembly passed a law mandating a national referendum on the proposal. The referendum was held on October 22, 2006, the first Sunday more than 90 days after National Assembly approval.[3]"

I don't understand why so many panamanians said "No" in the last Referendum for this project (They lost but it's worrying). What is in their minds? The politicians used the Referendum as a thermometer for their aspirations in the next Campaign. Sad