Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 16, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 16, 2022 Quote Protests and road closures continue nationwide In the capital teachers marched along the Cinta Costera to the Controleria ‘mismanaged’ say critics by Comptroller Gerado Solis, who did not appear. Posted 15/07/2022 The installation by the Government of a Dialogue Table moderated by the Catholic Church has not stopped closures and protests in Panama City and across the country. At Tocumen Airport, a plan has been activated to transport travelers affected by the closures The Interamerican highway, in the east of Chiriqui and in Santiago de Veraguas, is blocked. In Capira truckers have installed vehicles for days, further aggravating vehicular congestion in the country. Members of the Association of Authentic Independent Teachers of the Republic of Panama closed, the Inter-American highway, at La Pesa (La Chorrera) and protests continue in Cabra, Pacora, Chepo. Members of the Single Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) continued their protests at the national level. The workers protested on the Pan-American highway, near the 7 de Septiembre neighborhood, in Valle Hermoso (Arraiján), and in Howard. They also protested at the roundabout near the Tocumen International Airport, on Vía Brasil, and Calle 50. In northern Panama, there were closures and demonstrations in Caimitillo and San Lorenzo. In the midst of the protests, the Catholic Church announced that on Monday, July 18 it will return to the general dialogue table. President Laurentino Cortizo said yesterday that he expects "sincere" talks, without double agendas. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/protests-and-road-closures-continue-nationwide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 16, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 16, 2022 Quote The dialogue table opens without key players Posted 15/07/2022 The City of Knowledge dialogue table headed by President Cortizo opened on Thursday, July 14. with a religious invocation from the Archbishop of Panama José Domingo Ulloa, without the participation of the associations, guilds, or unions that are demonstrating. "The doors of the country are open to everyone," said the president adding: "There are some political people infiltrated in these good movements, but they are contaminating them with bad intentions." without giving more details. He was flanked by The Minister of Labor Doris Zapata, the Minister of Education, Maruja Gorday de Villalobos, the Minister of Agricultural Development, Augusto Valderrama, the Minister of Health Luis Francisco Sucre, the Minister Counselor of Health Eyra Ruiz, the director of the Social Security Fund Enrique Lau Cortés, the director of the Government Innovation Authority, Luis Oliva. The National - target of much of the anger on the streets- appointed deputies Crispiano Adames, president of this chamber, Manolo Ruiz, Gabriel Silva, Daniel Ramos, Nelson Jackson, and Luis Ernesto Carles to attend. Also present were representatives of the National Council of Private Enterprise, the Chambers of Commerce of Panama, and Colón and other private sector associations. While the dialogue table was being set up, outside the, Suntracs and Frenadeso workers continue to protest and reject the talks that they call "I-with-I Dialogue." https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/the-dialogue-table-opens-without-key-players Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 17, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 17, 2022 Quote More closures planned for next week Posted 16/07/2022 The United People for Life Alliance made up of organizations on the streets demanding that the government take action in the face of the high cost of living, corruption, and high drug prices, announced that they will continue the protests at the national level starting Monday, July 18. They also announced that Sunday at 7:00 p.m. they will proceed to band pots and play car horns. In addition, as of Monday, there will be road closures throughout the country until a single negotiating table is formed. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/more-closures-planned-for-next-week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 17, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 17, 2022 Quote Cortizo intervention is a damp squib as closures continue Posted 16/07/2022 While the Government seeks to reach an understanding with protesting organizations road closures continued Saturday in different parts of the country. In the early hours of that traffic on the inter-American highway, in eastern Chiriquí, was open allowing some trucks carrying merchandise and fuel to their destinations. The National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (IDAAN) confirmed that a truck carrying 16 tons of chlorine gas and chlorine tablets for the provinces of Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro arrived in David. But, at 7:30 am the road was closed again at some points, such as Horconcito, Tolé, and San Lorenzo. Closures are reported in sectors of the province of Veraguas such as Santiago and Atalaya. Similarly, the interruption of traffic is recorded in Capira and Chame, both districts of West Panama. In eastern Panama, the passage over the Pacora river bridge was opened for half an hour, in the early hours of the morning. In the province of Coclé there was a street closure in the Guias de Oriente Meanwhile, President Cortizo, together with a commission from his administration, met on Friday night with indigenous leaders to try to reach an agreement, but the protests are still continuing with negotiations are due to resume on Saturday. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/cortizo-intervention-is-a-damp-squib-as-closures-continue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 17, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 17, 2022 La Prensa reports that agreement has been reached and road closures are over. Quote The National Government and representatives from Ngäbe Buglé and farmworkers came to an agreement on a fuel price freeze to $3.30. The agreement signed between the parties will allow the lifting of road closures, as announced this Sunday, July 17, 2022. Once the content of the agreement was known, it proceeded with the reopening of the routes to the Chirican East that were totally blocked. Read the full story at https://bit.ly/3yF8xi4 #LaPrensaKeustrada continues to report Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 18, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 18, 2022 Quote Closures and demonstrations to continue Monday Posted 17/07/2022 Panama is likely to wake up on Monday to a continuation of cross-country closures and demonstrations as leaders of the most widespread protests in the country’s history call for a single negotiating table and earlier agreements unravel. Indigenous people in the Tolé and Viguí area kept the Inter-American highway closed on Sunday, July at the intersection that connects Horconcitos and Boca del Monte, in eastern Chiriqui, despite the fact that the Government and representatives of the Ngäbe Buglé reported earlier that they had reached an agreement to freeze the price of a gallon of fuel at $3.30 so that all roads in eastern Chiriqui would reopen. Toribio García, a popular Ngäbe leader, considered that they had been "betrayed" with the signing of that agreement, this morning, in the San Félix sector. "They are characters who come excited to a dialogue, whose situations are handled tactically by state negotiators and they fell into their nets," he said. "We were betrayed, so I ask all the bases to stand firm," he added. Lino Gallego, delegate of the general congress of the Ngäbe Buglé region, of the Soloy corregimiento, Besikó district, expressed –– that the majority of the representatives in the San Félix negotiations “are improvised people, who only seek to gain political prominence”. For Gallego, the signed document does not respond to the true interests of the indigenous people and only represents the interests of the government of Laurentino Cortizo. The regional transportation leader, José Acosta Mendoza, lamented that the indigenous comrades betrayed the people with that agreement. "That was not the objective of the fight, unfortunately, the government managed to divide them and impose their plans to open the road," he estimated. Members of the Chirican Educators Association also expressed their dissatisfaction with the San Félix agreement and reiterated that they will remain in a work stoppage. The Alianza Pueblo Unidos por la Vida reiterated Sunday, the request it has made for there to be a single negotiating table with the government As this has not yet been achieved, this alliance decided to "intensify" the actions in the streets for this Monday, July 18 In addition to Suntracs, the United People Alliance is made up of unions such as the Association of Teachers of Panama, the National Central of Workers of Panama, the National Confederation of Independent Union Unity, the National Front for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights (Frenadeso) and the Association of Physicians, Dentists and Related of the Social Security Fund, among others https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/closures-and-demonstrations-to-continue-monday-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 18, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 18, 2022 Quote Sunday protests on the Cinta Costera A sign refers to the $340 a bottle Macallam whisky at an Assembly event. Posted 17/07/2022 Hundreds of protesters gathered on the Cinta Costera on Sunday adding to the massive actions carried out in recent weeks on the streets of the country, to protest the high cost of the basic food basket, along with corruption and the handling of State resources. 'We are patriots, do not sell the homeland', many citizens shouted in the coastal strip The protesters, dressed in black, clamored for concrete answers from government authorities. The popular song Patria, by Rubén Blades, was heard. "I love my country but the government embarrasses me", "If they stop stealing, money is enough for everyone", "With corruption there is no social peace", were some of the messages on the banners of those attending this protest. "Neither roses nor bamboo, we want health, medicine, education, transparency, security, and justice," said another poster. $340-a bottle toast The demonstrators also questioned the celebration that the deputies had, after the fourth period of the ordinary session of the National Assembly was inaugurated, on July 1. In the "coexistence" - as the Assembly president Crispiano Adames described the open bar event- they toasted with bottles of Macallan whisky 18 years. Each bottle cost $340. Last Friday, in several townships in the district of Panama, citizens blew kettles and horns against corruption and the high price of fuel and food. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/sunday-protests-on-the-cinta-costera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 18, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 18, 2022 Quote Negligible Assembly austerity cuts during crisis Posted 17/07/2022 The spending cuts announced by the National Assembly resulting from the economic and social crisis mean a negligible saving managed by the institution for this year says a La Prensa investigation. An analysis carried of the information published in Panama Compra (gob.pa ), an electronic portal for public procurement, shows that measures such as the suspension of the purchase of furniture, food service contracts, and trips abroad, among others, announced by the Legislative directive, mean a reduction in the budget execution of less than $2 million is based on the purchases carried out by that entity in the last year. Since the announcement of the Assembly, on July 13, there was no mention of a reduction in the payroll, despite the fact that the Comptroller General requested an audit on July 5. The bulk of the Legislative's operating budget is allocated to payroll. According to the most recent data from the Comptroller (July), the Assembly has about 4,050 officials with over, $6,586,000 allocated monthly to the payment of salaries and representation expenses- an annual expense of $79,350 708. In the announcement of the Assembly, it was stated that salary increases and permanent appointments would be suspended. According to the Comptroller's Office, 38% of Assembly officials are temporary. In the 2020 Latin American Legislative Transparency Index, the Assembly received a score of 11.7% in terms of administrative and budget management. The index takes into account the publication of the financial statements, the budget in general, and audits. The opacity surrounding the legislative budget has been another important point of citizen complaints On July 13, after a similar announcement by the Presidency, the Assembly reported that it would suspend the purchase of office and computer supplies and that advertising and food supplier contracts would be suspended "immediately." .n addition, they promised to suspend trips, seminars and training in general. The announced containment decisions do not have a major impact on the bulk of the Assembly's budget. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/negligible-assembly-austerity-cuts-during-crisis-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 18, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 18, 2022 Quote Growers distribute free veggies blocked by closures Posted 17/07/2022 Producers from the district of Tierras Altas, Chiriquí, unable to deliver their products to other provinces donated Saturday hundreds of pounds of vegetables in the city of David and Buguba, Faced with the closures at different points of the Inter-American highway, the producers of the region cannot transport the food and to prevent it from being lost, they decided to donate it to a province where food is also scarce due to the demonstrations. The announcement of the distribution of vegetables brought hundreds of people to the Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra park in David to receive the products. The organizers of the delivery highlighted that they are products in perfect condition and fresh, that due to the closure of the Inter-American highway, the sales markets outside of Chiriquí have not been taken, as well as those of the central provinces and especially those of the capital. Additional distribution was planned for Sunday, it will take place in Tierras Altas. The mayor of Tierras Altas, Javier Pitty, and the producers of the region ask the representatives of the Government and the leadership of the organized groups, who are protesting in the streets, to negotiate with unity and humility to overcome the situation in the country. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/growers-distribute-free-veggies-blocked-by-closures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_03 Posted July 20, 2022 Administrators Share Posted July 20, 2022 Quote Road closure deal collapses but gas price drops Posted 18/07/2022 Omar Montilla, Vice Minister of Domestic Trade and Industries announced Monday, that the government will comply with the agreement reached with Anadepo and everyone will be able to go to the fuel stations to fill the tank with gasoline at $3.25 a gallon. He said that it was unfortunate that the National Alliance for the Rights of the Peoples (Anadepo) has not complied with what was agreed. He indicated that the representatives of Anadepo were asked, before the signing of the agreement, if they had decision-making power and legitimate representation of the membership, and they said yes. Hidden agenda "We are seeing the double agenda, that there is a background that is not fighting for the real needs of the population. We are seeing that there is a hidden agenda to destabilize the Government," Montilla stressed. He assured that the delegation of the National Government will continue negotiating with those groups that wish to achieve alternatives and consensus regarding the issues of fuel, basic basket, and medicines. Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo announced Sunday night an agreement with the Alliance to set the price of vehicle fuel at $3.25, but also to lift the roadblocks while the issues. related to medicines and the basic basket continue to be discussed at other tables. Today, Monday, the Anadepo bases announced that they were breaking the agreement with the Government due to some irregularities. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/road-closure-deal-collapses-but-gas-price-drops-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_03 Posted July 20, 2022 Administrators Share Posted July 20, 2022 Quote Suntracs-led protests continue Posted 18/07/2022 Construction workers affiliated with the Suntracs union closed several points in the country on Monday. From early hours, they blocked the Inter-blockages on the coastal strip (in Costa del Este and Punta Pacifica), on the Ricardo J. Alfaro road, Vía España and Aquilino de la Guardia avenue and Avenida Balboa the South corridor, at Costa del Este. SuAmerican highway, at Arraiján and Howard. There were also closures and protests on Centenario road, in front of Merca Panamá. Users reported ntracs, which is part of the Alianza Pueblo Unidos por la Vida, had announced that it would intensify protest actions. Saúl Méndez, general secretary of Suntracs said: "The leaders in Veraguas have attempted to assume and usurp the representation of all organizations at the national level, which is totally unacceptable.” Sunday night, the National Alliance for the Rights of the Organized People (Anadepo), the organization that started the protests two weeks ago signed a pact with the Cortizo government establishing, the price of gasoline and diesel at $3.25. In exchange, the reopening of all streets was allowed. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/suntracs-led-protests-continue-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_03 Posted July 20, 2022 Administrators Share Posted July 20, 2022 Quote Indigenous leaders announce indefinite road closures Posted 19/07/2022 The National Coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples of Panama called for a strike and indefinite closure of the main roads of the Pan-American highway, starting Wednesday, at 7:00 am Leaders of Coonapip, made up of seven indigenous peoples and their 12 territories, said that the National Government authorities have not promptly addressed the issues that affect the original peoples, such as titling of indigenous territories, eviction of settlers, and invaders, environment, health, and education. The National Coordinator decreed the measure after the Government failed to attend a meeting scheduled for Tuesday. They warned that the closures will continue until the Government calls a new meeting with concrete answers to their claims. Although Coonapip announced that it will participate in the single national dialogue table between the government and various popular sectors, they also demand a separate table for the fulfillment of exclusive issues for indigenous peoples. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/indigenous-leaders-announce-indefinite-road-closures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_03 Posted July 20, 2022 Administrators Share Posted July 20, 2022 Quote Police clash with Santiago protestors and clear highway closed for 8 days Posted 19/07/2022 Police Crowd Control Units and demonstrators who kept the Inter-American highway closed at the Santiago bridge in the province of Veraguas clashed in a strong confrontation that ended with the opening of the main road after more than eight days of closure. The National Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, and take control of the bridge leading to the city of Santiago. They also reopened the road in the Atalaya sector, where the protesters kept the four sections of the highway closed. Some responded by throwing blunt objects at the police. A number of people were arrested. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/police-clash-with-santiago-protestors-and-clear-highway-closed-for-8-days-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Admin_03 Posted July 20, 2022 Administrators Share Posted July 20, 2022 Quote Corredor Sur closed as Suntracs returns to the streets Posted 19/07/2022 The National Highway Company (ENA) announced Tuesday the closure of Corredor Sur “for reasons of user safety” and that the presence of National Police agents will continue. The announcement follows the return to the streets of members of the Single Union of Construction and Similar Workers (Suntracs) to protest government failures and corruption as they close roads in the capital city and in West Panama. Suntracs is part of the United People's Alliance that will negotiate Tuesday, along with other organizations, with the Government on various national issues such as the cost of living, corruption, and drug prices. Closures were reported on Calle 50, Punta Pacifica, the Balboa sector, the Corredor Sur, the Centenario road in Merca Panamá, and Justa Arosemena avenue, among other areas. Closures are also reported in the East Panama sector and the Mi Bus moved to change the route of some buses. closures are recorded in other parts of West Panama such as Loma Cobá and in the district of Arraiján. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/corredor-sur-closed-as-suntracs-returns-to-the-streets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 21, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 21, 2022 Quote Humanitarian convoy heading to capital faces hiccups Posted 20/07/2022 Producers from Chiriqui left at on Wednesday, July 20, in a 100-truck caravan, with nearly 50,000 quintals of different merchandise to supply the national market. However, at about 7:50 am this caravan was stranded in the Horconcitos sector, where a closure by indigenous groups has been recorded for days. Talks were held, with the aim of allowing the transit of trucks with food. An agreement was reached and at noon the road was reopened. Spokesmen for the indigenous people announced that this point of the Inter-American highway would be open until 3:00 pm today, but other blockades remain in Chiriqui East. After 1:00 pm it was reported that the caravan had already passed through the San Félix area. However, as of 5:00 pm, they had not yet left Chiriquí, due to the constant closures on the Interamerican highway. "It is a sin to let food go to waste and that it is being lost in the field," said producer Augusto Jiménez. Jiménez acknowledged that the transfer will not be easy, however, he asked the different groups of protesters for support so that they can reach their destinations. He said that the vegetables are fresh and of good quality "and we cannot afford to lose them." However, at about 7:50 am this caravan was stranded in the Horconcitos sector, where a closure by indigenous groups has been recorded for days. In the course of the morning, talks were held with the aim of allowing the transit of trucks with food. An agreement was reached and at noon the road in Horconcitos was reopened. Spokesmen for the indigenous people announced that this point of the Inter-American highway would be open until 3:00 pm but other blockades remain along the Chiriqui-east. After 1:00 pm it was reported that the caravan had already passed through the San Félix area. However, as of 5:00 pm, they had not yet left Chiriquí, due to closures on the Interamerican highway. "It is a sin to let food go to waste and that it is being lost in the field," said producer Augusto Jiménez. Jaime Caballero, leader of the Single Union of Construction and Related Workers in Chiriquí, reported that the transfer of these trucks was coordinated at the different closure points, to allow the passage of the humanitarian caravan. Caballero said that, despite the previous coordination, everything was complicated after the events that occurred yesterday, Tuesday, in Santiago, where there were clashes between protesters and riot police. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/humanitarian-convoy-heading-to-capital-faces-hiccups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 21, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 21, 2022 Quote Business chamber wants Cortizo to participate in dialogues Posted 20/07/2022 Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (Cciap), has called for the participation of President Cortizo in the ongoing dialogues and has urged the Cortizo administration to improve its communication mechanisms. At a Wednesday, July 14 press conference the Chamber’s President Maria Galindo De Obarrio also asked that the rector of the Autonomous University of Chiriquí, Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas, resign from her position. Medianero de Bonagas has been questioned about the supposed appointments of relatives in Unachi and about the modification to the law, which regulates the entity, to be re-elected in her position as rector. For more than a week, student groups have protested on the Interamerican highway in David against the administration of Medianero de Bonagas. The leader also called on the Comptroller General, Gerardo Solís, to exercise his supervisory role over the three powers of the Panamanian State. Another point that the president the touched on is that they have encrypted losses above $533 million related to wholesale and retail businesses in the country. She recalled that on Tuesday, July 19, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Panama revealed that in 10 days, due to the demonstrations and road blockades, the production chain has lost almost $500 million. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/business-chamber-wants-cortizo-to-participate-in-dialogues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 21, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 21, 2022 Quote Lawmaker calls on Cortizo to come out of hiding Posted 20/07/2022 Independent deputy Juan Diego Vásquez has called on President Cortizo to come out of hiding during the current crisis. Vásquez stated that the anti-corruption claims of the organizations at the dialogue table are present in the 10 anti-corruption projects that have been presented in the Assembly and that except for the conflict-of-interest bill that was vetoed by the President, they remain shelved. He considers that it is not just sitting down to talk, but acting in accordance with what the citizens expect, because, although the cost of gasoline was the spark that ignited the situation, the mismanagement of administering the State and corruption are also part of the popular claims. Vásquez pointed out that at this moment it is important for the President to say something, even if it is something that not everyone likes, but it is worrying not to see it, so he called for him to take charge of the situation and not play chess because the political trace of the Revolutionary Democratic Party is negative. “I believe that the President should be concerned about the responsibility that a percentage of the population entrusted to him and that the rest should respect that he leads, but he should lead with nobility,” Vásquez said, noting that the day Cortizo calls to a press conference to present the 10 anti-corruption projects and that is going to cut the unjustified expenses of the State he will be at his side supporting him. "He is in hiding, he sends members of his government who, do not have the capacity to negotiate and do not have the authority to sell trust, a role that he himself should play" Serve and Protect Regarding the confrontations in Veraguas, Vásquez called on the National Police to remember that their role is to safeguard rights, which includes safeguarding all people, for the groups to return to dialogue to continue with fair claims, and not let violence be the means to achieve these demands. He called on the deputies to understand what is happening in the country, and take a sharp turn , leaving the political calculations and wishes for re-election for other times, then work for the institutional framework. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/lawmaker-calls-on-cortizo-to-come-out-of-hiding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 21, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 21, 2022 Quote Protesters retake control of highway after clashes with riot police in Veraguas Posted 20/07/2022 After two hours of forceful confrontations with protestors in which injuries were sustained on both sides National Police Riot Control units withdrew from a bridge in Santiago, Veraguas.which they had earlier cleared. A police statement said: We reject the criminal acts of aggression and violence against seven (7) units of the National Police, which were injured by the actions of these destabilizing groups, as well as the misappropriation and damage caused to the vehicle resources of this institution that are used to guarantee the safety of that population .” Images that circulated on social networks show a group of people destroying and burning a National Police vehicle, in addition to the arrest of two Crowd Control units. The Ministry of Security stressed that they will take legal action for "attempted homicide, personal injury, deprivation of liberty and damage to public property." The entity justified the police action in the Santiago district on Tuesday afternoon and affirmed that everything was a plan to guarantee the passage of more than 500 vehicles with food, medical supplies and fuel that remained stranded for more than 10 days without reaching their destination. The National Police that confronted the protesters, the vast majority of them indigenous, asserted that they did so under the protection of article 38 of the Political Constitution of Panama. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/protesters-retake-control-of-highway-after-clashes-with-riot-police-in-veraguas-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 21, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 21, 2022 Quote OPINION: Panama’s No-show president Posted 20/07/2022 The absence of the President of the Republic in the negotiations with the groups that bring together organizations and society in general in these days of protests is notorious. His absence is visible and even scandalous since it gives the false impression that this matter does not matter to him. The lack of information is also notorious: How long will the fuel subsidy last? Where does the money come from? Will the government adopt real containment measures? No one has explained it. If it is with debt that will be paid, the victory is pyrrhic, because we will end up paying the subsidy yes or yes. It is evident that the leadership of the negotiations is led by Vice President Gaby Carrizo, who lacks experience and the most basic thing: credibility. That is why the tables fail, even when agreements are reached. It is important for the government to send messages to regain its credibility. For example, adopting symbolic measures, such as taking away those $9 million to increase salaries at Unachi or eliminating the phantom forms of the Assembly. They don't have a huge economic impact, but they send a message loud and clear. That is what is expected of negotiators, and not political trinkets in the worst taste, such as taking personal advantage of this crisis. - LA PRENSA, Jul.20. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/opinion-panamas-no-show-president-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 22, 2022 Quote The embarrassing absence of Panama mayor during crisis Posted 21/07/2022 Civil society organizations have described as "embarrassing" the absence of the mayor of the district of Panama, José Luis Fábrega, at a time when the country is facing one of its greatest social crises in recent years. "It is embarrassing, given the situation of social crisis, that the mayor is on vacation, absent from his duties as a high-ranking local government official," said Xochilt Troncoso, president of Urban Citizen Network. The statement comes after La Prensa published images of Fábrega in a store of the Zara clothing chain, on Calle de Serrano, one of the most expensive and exclusive streets of Madrid, in Spain. Minutes after La Prensa released the information, the Mayor's Office of Panama confirmed that, in effect, the official traveled to Spain, for a medical appointment at the Olympia Medical Center, "to seek a second medical opinion and thus determine if he has to have surgery again." In December 2019, Fábrega underwent a bariatric operation, "and his health condition, after the operation, has forced him to seek a second medical evaluation," said the Mayor's Office. However, Troncoso stressed that it is "reprehensible" that he is traveling at a time when the highest-ranking representative of the local government of the district is expected to be in the country contributing and seeking solutions to the current situation. This [medical appointment] seems more like an easy way out of the reaction to being caught shopping while in Panama City there are serious problems and social unrest,” he said. The journalist Álvaro Alvarado announced on Twitter, Wednesday, that on Monday, July 18, he called the Mayor's Office of Communication because he had information that the mayor was leaving the country and they told him that "it was the brother, It looks a lot like him." According to the Mayor's Office, the appointment at the Olympia Medical Center is today, Thursday, July 21, and the mayor plans to return to Panama "during the weekend." https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/the-embarrassing-absence-of-panama-mayor-during-crisis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 22, 2022 Quote President claims roads reopening as dialogue starts Posted 21/07/2022 President Laurentino Cortizo called on Thursday, July 21, from the city of Penonomé, for the reopening of the roads that have been blocked for more than two weeks due to citizen protests Cortizo said that he was receiving information that the roads were being reopened and emphasized that the incorporation of the Executive Branch team to the dialogue is progress. The president said that for freezing the price of fuel at $3.25 there will have to be a budgetary sacrifice and emphasized that these resources will not stay in the country because they will be paid to the oil companies. "That resource goes to another country... we have to pay for it and that comes out of the budget and we have to pay around $144 million ," he said. For this reason, Cortizo instructed the Minister of Commerce and Industry, to present in the next Cabinet Council the repeal of Laws No. 122 and No. 314 of the tourism sector. On July 18, the Panamanian Hotel Association (Apatel) requested the Executive Branch to repeal Law No. 3i4 on tax incentives "due to lack of consultation and failure to meet the real needs facing the tourism sector in Panama." Apatel also requested the repeal of Law No. 122, which allows companies or natural persons that acquire bonds, shares or other financial instruments issued by tourism companies with projects outside the district of Panama to receive a tax credit of the tax on the 100% income for the sums invested. The Executive team is made up of several ministers, including Health, Luis Francisco Sucre; the Minister of Labor, Doris Zapata, and the Deputy Minister of Internal Trade, Omar Montilla. Also in the delegation is the director of the Social Security Fund, Enrique Lau Cortés, and the advisory ministers Eyra Ruiz and José Alejandro Rojas. The Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa, participates as a facilitator Cortizo clarified that the interlocutor of his administration at the dialogue table is the Vice President, José Gabriel Carrizo. Present at the dialogue table are the Association of Teachers delegates from the Ngäbe-Buglé region and the United People for Life Alliance and the National Alliance for the Rights of the Organized People. Talks began at 3.52 pm. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/president-claims-roads-reopening-as-dialogue-starts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 22, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 22, 2022 Quote Suspect in armed hold-up of humanitarian caravan turns himself in Posted 21/07/2022 The humanitarian caravan with food products that scheduled to arrive in Panama City on the night of Wednesday, July 20, could not fulfill its mission, due to the action of a group of "armed" people who stopped the transit of the vehicles, in Viguí, between the provinces of Chiriquí and Veraguas. One of the allegedly involved is Manuel Murillo, candidate of the Alianza País Party, who turned himself in –shortly before noon on Thursday, July 21– at the headquarters of the Attorney General's Office. Murillo appeared at the Attorney General's Office, with his lawyer. From there he was taken (handcuffed) to the transitory cell of the National Police, in Ancón. Murillo will then have to be transferred to Chiriquí, where the Primary Care Section of the Regional Prosecutor's Office initiated an ex officio investigation Previously, the Primary Care Section of the Chiriquí Prosecutor's Office had ordered the arrest of two people allegedly involved in the events that occurred on the night of July 20, to the detriment of the truck drivers who were transporting products to the capital. The other suspect is Jiménez Oliva who in the last general elections, was a candidate for free candidacy and now aspires to be a candidate with the Cambio Democrático (CD) party. However, the deputy of that party Ana Giselle Rosas distanced herself from her co-party. Rosas commented that Jiménez Oliva recently registered for that party, specifically on May 4, 2022. "As a deputy from eastern Chirica, I can confirm that Alexis Jiménez Oliva is infiltrated there, he is an external agent," the deputy told La Prensa. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/suspect-in-armed-hold-up-of-humanitarian-caravan-turns-himself-in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 23, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 23, 2022 Quote Government expands price controls Ngäbe-Buglé offer goodwill lunch Posted 22/07/2022 Representatives of the Ngäbe-Buglé region offered lunch "as a gesture of goodwill" to the ministers and deputy ministers sitting for the second day at the single dialogue table, in Penonomé on Friday, July 18. They served rice with canned tuna which they said was the menu that their families eat in the east of Chiriqui, products that are currently included in the price control list. Earlier representatives of the Executive presented a counter-proposal to the one offered by social organizations, calling for a 30% reduction in the cost of the basic food basket. The Government proposed to include another 17 in the list of products that have regulated prices. Carlos Rognoni, Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development, said that these 17 products will join the 18 that currently have price caps. In total, there would be 35 products that will have price regulation. The new products would be toothpaste, toilet paper, bath soap, sanitary towels, women's and men's deodorants, Clorox, fish preparations, vegetable oil, soybean oil, wheat flour, bread and bakery products, cream of corn, corn flakes, IMA brand coffee, and IMA brand sugar. The other proposal presented by the groups, calling for the creation of a price regulation office got the thumbs down from the Vice Minister of Labor, Roger Tejada. He said that the Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (Acodeco) will ensure compliance with the regulation of the aforementioned products. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/government-expands-price-controls-ngabe-bugle-offer-goodwill-lunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 23, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 23, 2022 Quote Produce market working 24 hours as supplies arrive Posted 22/07/2022 Merca Panama work will work a 24-hour schedule until Saturday, July 23, with the aim of supplying businesses and the general public following shortages in Panama City due to the blockades on the Inter-American highway. Kevin Vigil, the administrator of Merca Panama, said on Friday morning, that the 24-hour schedule began to take effect Thursday, July 21. Vigil added that the schedule for Sunday, July 24, is subject to an analysis of the behavior of the closures of the Inter-American highway, at points in the east of Chirica and in the district of Santiago, Veraguas. He said that to date some 150 vehicles have managed to enter the facilities and in the convoy on the night of this July 21, 55 vehicles from Tierras Altas and Río Sereno entered the distribution center. Regarding prices, the administrator clarified that he is waiting for the normalization of traffic on the roads so that they stabilize. In addition, he recalled that in Merca Panama there are officials from the Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition (Acadeco) who carry out their verifications daily. "We do not handle exorbitant prices," Vigil insisted. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/produce-market-working-24-hours-as-supplies-arrive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 23, 2022 Author Moderators Share Posted July 23, 2022 Quote Humanitarian caravan hold-up suspect surrenders Posted 22/07/2022 Less than 24 hours after police issued an arrest warrant and a $5000 reward for news of his whereabouts, Alexis Jiménez Oliva turned himself in shortly before noon on Friday, July 22, at the headquarters of the Attorney General's Office, in Panama City describing himself to media as “a politically persecuted person.” Oliva, who also identified himself as a social leader, was allegedly involved in blocking the passage of a humanitarian caravan transporting agricultural products from Chiriquí to the capital. The events took place on July 20, in the area near Viguí, between the provinces of Chiriquí and Veraguas. “I told the convoy to turn around and go through Gualaca... there is a video,” Jiménez Oliva said today. Yesterday, the Primary Care Section of the Public Ministry in Chiriquí issued an arrest warrant against him. The same measure applied to Manuel Murillo, who turned himself in on Thursday. Both are being investigated for the alleged commission of crime against the public administration. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/humanitarian-caravan-hold-up-suspect-surrenders-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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