Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 22, 2021 Moderators Share Posted September 22, 2021 Quote Taxpayer funded double dipping Posted 21/09/2021 A driver, who at the same time is mayor; who receives his two salaries, even if he is on leave from one of his jobs, or administrative assistants who share directives with Deputy Yanibel Ábrego and who attend to the business of the official and her relatives, are just some of the findings in the personnel payroll permanent office of this deputy. Ábrego, with 28 public servants at her service - whose salaries add up to a whopping $51,000 a month - has apparently seen us look stupid, since part of his staff, in addition to what has already been described, works on her political and electoral campaigns, instead of going about the business for which they are paid thousands of dollars a month. There are even people who maintain that they have received money and food in exchange for joining the ranks of the Ábrego political group. Is it the only one that has your staff involved in your companies and campaign? It is very possible that it is not the only one. This is how our taxes are spent: it is the petty cash of the game – LA PRENSA, Sep. 21. https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/taxpayer-funded-double-dipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 23, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted September 23, 2021 Quote Protestors return to the streets Posted 22/09/2021 Students, workers, and union leaders began to march at about 4:00 pm Wednesday from Parque Porras to the Assembly. The demonstration was called “Pueblo Unido”. Prior to the arrival of the protesters, the National Police placed metal fences in the streets surrounding the legislature. As on September 14, hundreds of people will gather on the premises of the National Assembly demanding transparency and punishment for corruption. The most recent scandal in the handling of public funds occurred after an investigation published on September 21 in La Prensa, which reported that officials from the office of deputy Yanibel Ábrego also appear in companies of her and her family. In addition, it was revealed that the mayor of Capira, Jorge Ramos, in addition to his salary as mayor, also receives payment as a driver in the National Assembly. In total, he earns $6,600 a month, adding up the mobility expenses. Ábrego, from Cambio Democrático, said that it is persecution. “This is a class struggle. This is nothing else. Yanibel Ábrego, cannot aspire, because she is the daughter of a fisherman ”. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/protestors-return-to-the-streets-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted September 27, 2021 Author Moderators Share Posted September 27, 2021 Quote Movin presents draft bill to end double-dipping Posted 27/09/2021 A draft bill that would curb “double-dipping” was presented to the National Assembly on Monday, September 27 by the Independent Movement (Movin). The draft seeks to repeal two articles of Law 37 of June 29, 2009, referring to paid leave for mayors and representatives of townships. "We are shocked at the idea that there are people who are getting paid without working," said Annette Planells, director of Movin. The initiative, presented at the Citizen Participation Office of the Legislative Branch, would incorporate an article that reads: “The repeal of articles 72 and 83 of Law 37 of June 29, 2009, is established, prohibiting any elected official from any type of leave, lost wages, regardless of whether they are public or private sector employees at the time of being elected. According to Planells, this would automatically suspend the collection of paid leave. Movin said in a statement that the spending of the State payroll has tripled in just 10 years, according to figures from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, "generating a constant expense that citizens assume with our taxes, without improving public services ”. “This is even more serious when the pandemic contributed to a 15% drop in our country's GDP. Even when the country is slowly recovering, it is imperative that the national government practice the austerity that the country so badly needs at this time, ”said the organization. Movin stressed that the double salary of civil servants is prohibited in article 303 of the Constitution and, although "it leaves the door open to special cases", it should be reserved for –for example– the exercise of university teaching, as is the case in most of the laws that govern public servants. “However, the fact that mayors and representatives can have leave with salaries from public entities is a comfortable and whimsical interpretation of that article of the Constitution . This situation is aggravated by the indefinite reelection of these positions, allowing them to spend years, some even decades, accruing double salary from the State, while fulfilling a single function, "added the group. In 2020, the Comptroller General revealed that a total of 30 mayors and 172 district representatives have paid leave, that is, they have double salary. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/movin-presents-draft-bill-to-end-double-dipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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