President Mireya Moscoso of Panama made a final appointment for the post of Minister of State for Canal Affairs. Jerry Salazar, former director of the Panama Maritime Authority, has been appointed to the said position. Since the Canal Minister chairs the ACP board, Salazar will assume the Chairmanship of the Panama Canal Board of Directors. Salazar replaces Ricardo Martinelli, who resigned as Canal Affairs Minister in January.
Salazar brings experience in developing and executing maritime policy. In 1989, he was appointed Director of the National Ports Authority, which eventually became the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP). As director of the AMP, Salazar promoted and regulated all activities in the development and operation of Panama's port industry and represented Panama before the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
In his position at the AMP, Salazar represented Panama before the Permanent Ports Committee, the Association of American Ports, the International Organization of the Maritime Labor Sector, the Inter-American Committee for Tropical Tuna, the Tuna Atlantic Committee and before the International Association of Ports and Harbors. He is currently a member of the Central American Maritime Transport Committee. Prior to being director of the AMP, he was the General Manager of Japan Tuna from 1972 to 1989. Salazar also received his degree in Business Administration from the University of Panama.