Protests, Road blocks, Social unrest, & Talks

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Suntracs sends 30-minute signal

Posted 10/08/2022

Members of the Constuction and Allied Workers Union (Suntracs) closed major highways and streets for 30 minutes from 7.30 am on Wednesday, August 10. Among those affected were the Arraiján-La Chorrera highway, the South corridor and the Ricardo J. Alfaro road and streets in the sectors of Coco del Mar and Punta Pacifica. Other road closures were in San Isidro, Bella Vista and in the Panama Pacifico sector, Aguadulce, Santiago and Cocle. The blockades were announced Monday by the leadership of Suntracs to denounce that the agreements of the single dialogue table, in Penonomé, were not being fulfilled.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/suntracs-sends-30-minute-signal

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“Bread today” decrees will  deepen Panama problems – business chamber

Marcela Galindo, President of Cciap.

Posted 14/08/2022

Controlling food prices or forcing discounts on medicines will not only increase citizen discomfort in the short term because it is unsustainable, but it will deepen the needs of the country causing the closure of more businesses and increasing unemployment said Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (Cciap), on Sunday.

 It refers to an executive decree, which sets the maximum gross marketing margin for some imported products that make up the basic food basket, and another, which creates the "Panama Products" program, whose objective is to make available national products, at a discount price by the Institute of Agricultural Marketing. Both decrees are from July 26.

More recently, executive decree 17 of August 10, set 30% discounts on the price of 170 medicines.  was published in the Official Gazette

For the Chamber, these measures show a Government "unaware" of the roots of the deep problems of Panamanians, "with no major plans than transferring solutions to long-standing critical issues to the private sector, which have worsened due to their lack of will to attend to them in a timely manner”.

"Taking populist measures, lacking in support and with no possibility of sustaining over time, is bread for today that will generate worse conditions for tomorrow," said the group arguing that short-term relief should be better thought out so that plans can be established that address the root of the problem; without neglecting the great need of the population: access to educational programs, professional training or quality public services.

The Chamber union also stated that "when 8 out of 10 people in search of medicines are patients of the Social Security Fund who have paid their fees, ignoring the chronic problem of shortages in this institution is simply an act of irresponsibility."

The Cciap expressed its willingness to contribute to the solution. "However, this does not only happen through the participation of a single sector, it is about the sum of all in order to find more effective and sustainable measures over time."

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/bread-today-decrees-will-deepen-panama-problems-business-chamber

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Catholic Church will not lead corruption dialogue table

Posted 17/08/2022

The Catholic Church will not be a facilitator in the second phase of the "Single Dialogue Table for Panama", said the Vice Minister of Labor and Labor Development, Roger Tejada on Telemetro Reporta on Wednesday.

"In phase two, all the actors enter, that is, those from the business sector in an expanded table that the Catholic Church, through Monsignor Ulloa, has indicated and the leadership of the facilitation team of this table, which will not continue. Phase 2 will deal with corruption issues

Some names have been discussed,  Tejada said: such as “the United Nations Development Program-UNDP, La Concertación Nacional, which brings together 23 actors, where the technical secretary is Mr. Bruno Garisto, who is a conciliator, part of the Council of Rectors of private universities. Also the State Pact for Justice, and civic organizations, among others, have to be analyzed by  President  Laurentino Cortizo the Executive, and Vice President José Gabriel Carrizo.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/catholic-church-will-not-lead-corruption-dialogue-table

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The enslaving  yoke of corruption

Posted 18/08/2022

The issue of corruption at the single dialogue table is one of the most urgent and also one of the most difficult, but with the seriousness that not even those groups have been invited who, being aware that this issue is the root of the majority of the ills that the country suffers, have presented legislative initiatives to create options to deal with this problem. The absence of organized civil society when corruption is discussed is incomprehensible. Once again, the participants at the dialogue table seem determined to be the only ones who have the absolute truth or the only ones who can discuss these issues. Corruption has reached the heart of society and seems to be taking root, so its analysis should not be exclusive to one, two or three groups, when the entire social group and every fiber of society is affected. The participants at the table in Penonomé must be flexible to allow other sectors – made up of Panamanians with good intentions, like presumably all those who are sitting there – to participate in order to analyze in depth and reach consensus that will allow our country to free itself from the enslaving yoke of corruption. LA PRENSA. Aug. 18.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/opinion/the-enslaving-yoke-of-corruption

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Corruption and Transparency talks fizzle out with no agreement

Posted 20/08/2022

 The  eleventh round of talks on “corruption and transparency”  between social organizations and the Executive  present at the single dialogue table in Penonomé ended late Friday night with no agreement

Since Saturday, August 13, when the social organizations raised 32 points to be discussed in matters of corruption and transparency, the single table seeks to move on to a second phase. However, due to recesses and the interposition of other issues, the debate has been delayed.

Lack of justice 
In terms of corruption, there has been talk,  of international indices where Panama scores below the regional average. Leaders of social groups denounced a lack of justice in cases of high-profile corruption, nepotism, high salaries, millionaire consulting expenses, the payment of allowances to officials who are on different boards of directors at the state level, vehicle rental, and tax evasion.

However, during the course of the discussion, the Executive, in most cases, said that the rule did not allow them to address some of the issues or that the requests by the organizations were "unfeasible."

“What is being considered here is to maintain the status quo of the corruption that affects the Panamanian people,” Saúl Méndez, leader of the Construction and Allied Workers  Union (Suntracs) said at one point. He recalled at least three corruption scandals: one from the 1980s with a housing project at the CSS, when it was managed by Abraham Saied, and the recent cases of Blue Apple and Odebrecht. All have in common that there are officials and businessmen involved without justice being done.

Doris Zapata, Minister of Labor and Labor Development and technical coordinator of the dialogue on behalf of the Executive said that she agrees that corruption should be a state issue, but that there are limitations to making decisions at the table.

The discussion continued with the possibility of forming a "contact" subcommittee, in a last-ditch effort to reach an agreement.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/corruption-and-transparency-talks-fizzle-out-with-no-agreement

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IMA boss abandons dialogue table amid confrontations

Carlos Motta (blue shirt)

Posted 21/08/2022

The director of the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA), Carlos Motta, left the dialogue table for Panama on Sunday, August after an exchange of words with leaders of social movements when the issue of the basic food basket was addressed.

The meeting began at 12:25 pm and the civil organizations began to question the representatives of the Executive about the prices of the 72 products that were regulated by decrees.

The leaders affirmed that the authorization of the fairs of the Agricultural Marketing Institute is not enough, since the products that are regulated are not being sold at the price that is frozen in the country's stores.

They were also questioning why Panamanian products were not in supermarkets. The questions on this point did not stop and Motta stated at the table that the entity was not capable of putting all these products in stores.

“Our team is working to see how we can acquire the 36 products that we have to sell it, but to tell you that in supermarkets and stores nationwide, that... [shaking his head in the negative]. I speak for myself as Carlos Motta as director of the IMA, I am not speaking as a national government,” Motta responded to a question from Armando Espinosa of the National Alliance of Organized People (Anadepo).

there was an exchange of words between Motta and the leaders of the groups, while the facilitator of the Church, Elsy Lezcano, unsuccessfully tried to bring order. Then Motta got up and left the room.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/ima-boss-abandons-dialogue-table-amid-confrontations-1

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Indigenous leaders leave discussion table and give Government an ultimatum

Posted 22/08/2022

Indigenous leaders, who make up one of the three alliances discussing measures with the Executive to alleviate the high cost of living, walked away up from the table in Penonomé and gave the Government an ultimatum of 72 hours to comply with the basic basket agreements.

This happened after the director of the Agricultural Marketing Institute, Carlos Motta, left the table after heated questioning when he said that complying with 100% of the agreements is difficult.

The Church tried to lower tensions and it requested a recess.

Corruption, one of the flagship issues of the protests and street closures that paralyzed the country in July, was left behind in the Penonomé dialogue between the Executive and the three social organizations that spoke for the movement.

In the early hours of Sunday, August 21 (2:09 am), representatives of the Executive and the United People for Life Alliance, the National Alliance for the Rights of the Organized People, and Bastion of the Eastern Chirican Ngäbe Buglé Comarca and Campesinos agreed -after of 5 days of debate - the creation of a national citizen commission to fight corruption.

It was the last item on an agenda of seven topics, which included the basic basket, fuel, energy, education, medicines, and whose discussion began on July 21.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/indigenous-leaders-leave-discussion-table-and-give-government-an-ultimatum-1

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150 associations react to return to the streets threats

Posted 23/08/2022

The National Alliance for Panama, consisting of over 150 associations,  called for a role in, the ongoing dialogue in Penonomé, to recover trust, peace, personal security and respect for private property.

At a Tuesday press conference, their spokesmen stated that "the method that is currently being followed "does not represent the majority of the country", referring to the dialogue table, where social groups and representatives of the Executive participate.

Instead, "in the Great National Alliance for Panama, we propose to effectively integrate all sectors in all regions"

The president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Panama, Alicia Jiménez, called for the establishment of a "large inclusive and participatory national table."

To this end, Jiménez announced that they have organized into 10 commissions, such as fishing and aquaculture, trade and exporters, industry and manufacturing, health services, and pharmacy, among others

 Jiménez said that the Great National Alliance for Panama rejects any pressure action that affects free transit. "Threats cannot be established in a dialogue where solutions are sought," he asserted. This, after indigenous leaders who participate in the talks with the Executive, warned of the possibility of resuming forceful actions in the streets, in case the agreements reached with the Government are not complied with.

 Carlos Pittí stressed that the movement wants to develop a new social pact where all Panamanians are represented.

Pittí said that they would be willing to be part of the dialogue, but t it is done with "responsibility"." He said that to be part of the  table it is necessary to review the agreements that have been made there and where "more burden has been placed on the country's productive sector."

The president of the Association of Restaurants and Related, Domingo de Obaldía, said that the Single Table " was born deformed", while regretting that after the first decisions were made there, the Executive called the private sector to a meeting. “How can we solve the problem that has already appeared in a Gazette ?” he said.

Spokesmen said that the organizations have come together to “collectively” address the important challenges facing the country. "The purpose is to redirect the country towards a fair, prosperous, supportive, inclusive, and peaceful society and to face the what’s in it for me? challenge."

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/150-associations-react-to-return-to-the-streets-threats

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Staving off return to streets as new alliance demands representation

Posted 24/08/2022

The dialogue between the three groups of the country's social sectors and the Executive  will resume on Wednesday evening  August 24, in Penonomé at a time when 150 other associations  are calling for setting up a "national table."

On  Tuesday, in Santiago, Veraguas, leaders of  The Great National Alliance for Panama said that "the method that is currently being followed"  at the table meeting in Penonomé "does not represent the majority of the country."

If the "national table" is constituted, they would review the agreements already reached that   "more burden on the country's productive sector."

Armando Espinosa, of the National Alliance for the Rights of Organized People (one of the three groups meeting

 in Penonomé), said: "We cannot sit down and talk with someone who is unaware of the agreements of the Government itself."

After the first phase of the dialogue between the Executive and the representatives of the three groups that led the protests last July, the Grand Alliance proposal emerged: for a "national, inclusive and participatory table."

In a press conference from Santiago, where the social chaos began that put the Cortizo  government on edge, this group reiterated that "the method that is currently being followed does not represent the majority of the country and is away from a realistic and achievable goal.”

The Alliance rejected "any action of pressure that again affects the right to free transit."

"Threats cannot be established in a dialogue where solutions are sought," said Alicia Jiménez, president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Republic of Panama after indigenous leaders walked away from the talks in Coclé  and warned of the possibility of resuming forceful actions in the streets, in case the agreed agreements are not complied with.

In the single dialogue table, the measures adopted by the Government to calm social tension have been based mainly on price controls and marketing margins, subsidies and greater intervention in the marketing chain.

On Sunday, August 21, the leaders of the Bastion of Struggle of the Oriente Chiricano, Comarca Ngäbe Buglé, left the table, alleging non-compliance with the agreements by the Government.

ACADECO sanctions
However, the Executive denies this and assures that the group walked out after the administrator of the Authority for Consumers (ACADECO),  presented a report on sanctions to merchants for violation of the price regulation required in "negotiations for social peace."

Armando Espinosa, of the National Alliance for the Rights of the Organized People (Anadepo), said that it is not possible to advance to a second phase if the issue of the basic basket and the crisis of the Social Security Fund is not closed.

Regarding the Alliance for Panama, he said that they have never said that other sectors cannot be incorporated and recalled that the first part of the dialogue "had to be exhausted with the popular sectors" represented in the three groups already at the table.

"The alleged Alliance for Panama is made up of business sectors, which said they were unaware of the agreements that the Government made with the alliances.”

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/staving-off-return-to-streets-as-new-alliance-demands-representation

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After 36 days no agreement on second phase of talks

Posted 26/08/2022

After 36 days of talks in the Penonomé between social groups and the Executive which resumed on Thursday evening  no agreement has been reached on how to move to the second phase to include other players who are demanding seats at the table.

The dialogue took place Wednesday, without the presence of the Eastern Bastion of Chiricano, who left the table Sunday, alleging breaches in the agreements on the basic food basket.

On Thursday, they returned to the negotiations, with new proposals on point 1 of the agenda that was discussed a month ago, related to the basic basket.  

Meanwhile,  representatives of the 150 organizations grouped together in the so-called Great Alliance for Panama, hope to be called for the constitution of a "national table", as they argue that the Penonomé dialogue "does not represent the majority of the country".

On Saturday, August 13, the Catholic Church team stressed the need for the dialogue to enter a second phase and  announced that its role as "facilitator" would now be that of "observer". ”.

On Wednesday, August 24, the Church, still in its role as facilitator, insisted that phase one of the "dialogue for Panama" be closed, in  to begin establishing the methodology of integrating  other players.

“This cannot go on forever,” said Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa, upon resuming the sessions on Wednesday

"We are not going to stay here until September, October or November," said Ulloa, who reproached that, since the dialogue table was installed on July 21, "each of us takes our minute of glory and we want to expose many things that do not go to the point of what we have to do... But people expect very concrete things to find solutions to the reality that the people are experiencing”.

But, to date, the table continues to turn on issues that have already been addressed. Some say that the Government has failed to comply with agreements. The Executive's spokesmen assure that they are fulfilling the demands of the table and, in some cases, have recognized their failures.

Every time the Catholic Church makes a call to the table to make the proposals concrete and indicates that it is necessary to go to the second phase, the social groups shudder reports La Prensa and on some occasions, announce possible actions on the streets.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/after-36-days-no-agreement-on-second-phase-of-talks

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Panama business chamber ready to join talks on equal terms.

Posted 11/09/2022

Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (Cciap)  on Sunday reiterated its willingness to discuss national problems but advocated participation on equal terms.

The chamber said that it has always presented proposals in the face of the weaknesses faced as a nation.

“It is willing to continue contributing, as long as the conditions are met for participation on equal terms, where the arguments of the parties are heard within the framework of respect, citizen freedoms are guaranteed and the common objective is to build a social agreement that leads to a Panama of opportunities for all”.

The position of the Chamber comes at a time when the unique dialogue for Panama, in which several measures have been approved, including economic ones, is in recess pending a pronouncement by the Catholic Church on the second phase, which would include new actors.

This unique table began its sessions in mid-July with the participation of three alliances of social groups, the government, and with the church as facilitators. The table was convened by the Executive after protests, road closures, and paralysis of school classes.

"In reaction to the situation, an incomplete dialogue table was established, where there was not the necessary representativeness to make decisions that would lead to the execution of effective actions that would really attend to and resolve popular demands," said the Cciap.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/business/panama-business-chamber-ready-to-join-talks-on-equal-terms

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Rocky path ahead as negotiations for social peace enter second phase

Countrywide protests led to dialogue table.

Posted 18/09/2022

The dialogue installed on July 21 with popular groups to solve the social crisis unleashed in the country by the cost of living, concluded its first phase to begin a second stage with the participation of the business sector, the National Government reported Saturday.

In bulletin number 51, President Cortizo officially announced the closure of the first cycle of the dialogue and said that the social groups that participated in the phase will be in the second, as well as representatives of the business sector, the Government and other associations linked to the thematic axes.

It was agreed that in the new period, in addition to following up on the disagreements of the first phase, the issues of food security and sovereignty would be discussed; human rights; environment and native peoples; housing and habitat (public infrastructure); education, youth and social development; health and social security; labor, transport, and logistics.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/rocky-path-ahead-as-negotiations-for-social-peace-enter-second-phase

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Activists set deadline to restart dialogue or “other actions”

Posted 13/10/2022

PENONOMÉ, COCLÉ Members of the social alliances who hoped to start phase 2 of the Single Table of Dialogue for Panama at the facilities of the Cristo Rey seminary in Penonomé on October 13 waited in vain.

According to the activists, the members of the Executive did not arrive to continue with the talks, perhaps due to a statement sent by the Catholic Church on Wednesday, postponing the meeting until  October 28.

Jorge Guzmán, a spokesman for the Alianza Pueblos Unidos por la Vida, said that the church's pronouncement to resume talks a few hours away is not consistent, and did not conform to what was agreed upon.

The alliances gave the Executive a deadline until October 28, so that they return to the plenary to start the second phase of the dialogue, and choose the new facilitator and the participants will be.

Fresh actions
They added that if they do not have answers, they will be taking different types of actions.

This dialogue table arises as a result of the protests carried out by social groups, teachers, and small producers from the interior of the country in the month of June, demanding a reduction in the cost of fuel, the basic basket, and medicines generating a social, political and economic crisis.

The intensification of the protests and economic losses led, after more than 15 days, to the Government announcing the freezing of fuel prices at $3.25, which calmed the situation. However, the closure measures continued in Chiriquí. and Veraguas.

After this, with the intervention of the Catholic Church, it was possible to establish the dialogue table in Penonomé, where after several days of conversation and reaching some agreements such as the installation of the fairs of the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA) for the acquisition of cheaper foodstuffs ended the closure of the Inter-American Highway.

It is expected that in this second phase structural issues such as the crisis in the Social Security Fund and corruption, will be addressed.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/activists-set-deadline-to-restart-dialogue-or-other-actions

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Second round of ‘Dialogue for Panama’ postponed

Posted 27/10/2022

The facilitator team of the Catholic Church of the Dialogue Table for Panama has postponed the start of the second round of talks scheduled to start on October 28, at the Cristo Sembrador Center, in the city of Penonomé.

They reported that until the fundamental aspect of the "Mediator's acceptance" is defined to carry out the process of the second phase, the meeting is postponed and all parties will be informed of the date and place of the opening of the second phase.

The facilitating team urges to continue working and strengthening the working groups established to materialize the agreements reached in the first phase.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/second-round-of-dialogue-for-panama-postponed

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Marchers protest violence against women

Posted 25/11/2022

Chiriquí and Colón joined the marches on Friday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The two provinces together with Panama, lead the cases of femicide in the country.

In Chiriquí, where as of October 31, 4 femicides had been recorded, civil society together with students, teachers, and parents took to the streets to demand justice for these women.

The walk took place in Volcán, a corregimiento where two femicides have been registered so far this year, one of them being the murder of a minor under 17 years of age in recent days. People called for a stop to and an increase in sentences in these cases and took the opportunity to request a curfew to reduce violent acts in the community.

"We are asking for justice for the death of the student Maribel and the violence that exists in Tierras Altas, we want to stop this now and we need the help of the authorities," said Diana Sánchez, from the parents' club.

Meanwhile, Vielsie Hils, from the Volcano International Soroptimist Club, also joined the voices calling for punishment for those guilty of these crimes.

In Colón, where to date 4 femicides have been registered, the women marched calling for the reduction of acts of violence, throughout the country.

Eliza González, from the National Institute for Women (Inamu), stated that Colón does not escape the reality that hits women, emphasizing the deaths that have occurred in the province during the year

The Municipality of San Miguelito and the National Institute for Women held a walk that began on the premises of the General San Antonio Basic Educational Center and ended at the Los Andes shopping center. 

Carrying purple balloons and holding banners that said "no more violence, no more blood, we want peace" they walked the streets of this district to raise awareness among the citizens.  

In the district of La Chorrera, province of Panama Oeste, a group of people also came out to march to call for an end to violence against women. 

A human chain was also carried out at the National Police headquarters in Ancón. 

The Minister of Social Development, María Inés Castillo, said that there is no doubt that the best prevention strategy is to sanction any manifestation of violence against women, no matter how insignificant or naturalized it may seem.  

The Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa expressed "it is not enough that we raise our voices to defend the human rights of women, it is urgent and necessary that, in all stages of life, including educational centers, at work, in the churches and homes, let's prevent and work on respect for women". 

  Inamu has received 9,000 complaints of violence against women

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/marchers-protest-violence-against-women

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Government  meets indigenous people threatening to close highways

 

Posted 12/02/2023

A government delegation headed by Rafael Sabonge, Minister of Public Works, and Roger Tejada, Minister of Government went on the weekend to the Ngäbe Buglé Comarca to talk with a group of indigenous people who have threatened to close various points along the Inter-American Highway due to failure to comply with the agreements that emerged from the dialogue table.

They met with community leaders, including Toribio García.

According to Tejada, next Tuesday they will hold a public act for the bidding for the road project to the community of Sardina.

"We have reached an agreement so that there is no closure on Monday," said the minister.

The delegation toured the streets of Cerro Viejo-Buenos Aires, in the Ngäbe Buglé Comarca, among other communities.

Earlier, the Great National Alliance for Panama) expressed its concern at the recent threats of strikes and street closures.

"The current economic situation at the national level is recovering, especially in the interior areas that are reactivated by the mobilizations that will be positively impacted at an economic level by the Carnival celebrations and other regional celebrations," said this civic organization made up of unions, associations, and organizations from all over the country.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/government-meets-indigenous-people-threatening-to-close-highways

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Indigenous protestors close Inter-American Highway

Posted 13/02/2023

A group of indigenous people closed the Inter-American Highway on Monday, February 23 in the province of Chiriquí, demanding that the agreements proposed at the Dialogue Table be fulfilled, a situation that up to now, according to them, has not occurred. They also demand the repair of the streets and protest the high cost of food. The closure came, the day after a government group appeared in the interior of the country to mediate the situation and resolve it.

The delegation made up of the Minister of Public Works, Rafael Sabonge, and the Minister of Government, Roger Tejada, met with community leaders in Viguí. After the meeting, Tejada stated that there would be no street closures this Monday.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/indigenous-protestors-close-inter-american-highway

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Traffic chaos as protesting patients close highways

Posted 28/03/2023

For the second consecutive day, on March 28  Panama city experienced chaos after the total closure of the Transistmica, which caused the congestion of alternate streets and avenues. This time it was the kidney failure patients who closed the Transistmica in front of the Social Security Fund Complex in the early hours of the morning in protest of the controversial tender for the construction of six new hemodialysis units. Patients claim that the proposal submitted by the sole bidder does not meet their real needs.

Both roads towards Ricardo J. Alfaro (Tumba Muerto) and those heading towards Calidonia, Frangipani, and the city center were closed. Drivers are asked to avoid the sector or take alternate routes.

The only bidder for the public act was the Renal Consortium, which presented a proposal of $168.8 million for the hemodialysis service and supply of kits, as well as for the construction of six hemodialysis units. The reference price established by the CSS was $180.8 million.

Although the tender has not yet been awarded, the patients demand that it be declared void since the process has not been carried out in the most transparent way and they consider that the proposal does not meet the necessary requirements so that they can receive their treatments in optimal conditions.

In recent months, the situation in the hemodialysis unit of the Social Security Fund complex has worsened, largely due to the poor condition of the infrastructure that has collapsed due to the number of people who arrive daily to receive care. In addition, the company in charge of maintaining the machines to carry out kidney failure treatments suspended the service due to a lack of payments.

 In Coclé, patients with chronic renal failure closed the street in front of the Rafael Estévez Hospital in Aguadulce as a measure of pressure to demand that the Social Security Fund stop the bidding process and the immediate purchase of supplies for hemodialysis treatments.

Samuel Reyes, vice president of hemodialysis patients in Coclé, pointed out that there are currently no supplies or cleaning materials at the Rafael Estévez hospital.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/traffic-chaos-as-protesting-patients-close-highways

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Traffic chaos  for second day running on most-used highway

Posted 02/04/2023

For the second day in a row, on Sunday vehicular chaos once again hit drivers who use the Arraiján - La Chorrera highway to travel to the capital city, after residents of the neighborhoods Arboledas, Quintas del Pacífico, Mar Azul, Villa Nazaret, Brisa Mar, Puerto Caimito and Progreso de La Chorrera sectors ll completely close the road from the early hours of Sunday, April 2, in demand for the sectorization of the drinking water service announced by the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan) during the week.

Saturday it was working on the Pan-American highway at the height of Loma Cová that caused a huge roadblock that lasted approximately four hours and Sunday, for the second day in a row, free transit on the most used highway in the country was once again affected.

Some drivers confessed to TVN to being on the verge of collapse due to the constant street closures reported daily in West Panama.

On this occasion, those affected claim to have had no drinking water service for seven days.

The Traffic Police diverted traffic to the Pan-American highway.

In addition to the lack of water, residents are also annoyed by the constant blackouts and voltage reduction that they suffer with the electric power service on a daily basis, without anyone giving real answers and solutions to the problem.

The director of Idaan de La Chorrera, Marta Albarracín, attended the protest site, saying that the sectorization could not be eliminated until the work being carried out to improve the supply of drinking water in the area is completed. She said that with the sectorization they have been able to determine that there are closed valves within some Arboleda's clusters, which is being corrected.

She said that this is a test stage, and it will continue until April 9 because it will give good results.

On Friday, residents of the neighborhoods that make up sector 2 of the Idaan sectorization, closed the highway at the entrance to Arboledas in the afternoon, generating a huge traffic jam.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/traffic-chaos-for-second-day-running-on-most-used-highway

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Chorrera residents continue highway protests as Easter exodus begins

Posted 06/04/2023

As thousands of city dwellers prepared to hit the road to the interior on Thursday, April 6  residents of the Arboledas urbanization in the district of La Chorrera, Panama Oeste, came out to protest, arguing that they do not have water and that the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan) has failed to comply the agreements reached in recent meetings.

During the week, residents have been involved in blocking this important road, causing huge traffic jams, which has harmed the free movement of thousands of people who were stranded on the highway.

The protest occurs at a time when traffic is already heavy due to the displacement of thousands of people to the interior of the country, due to Holy Week.

According to  Iván Cano, Idaan's Director of Operations, new interconnections will improve continuity in the area where the 19 neighborhoods whose residents participated in these protests are located.

"We are working throughout the aqueduct to see how we distribute the volume of the supply that we have available in an equitable manner”, he added.

The works began, Wednesday, said the official, and an attempt was made to redistribute the flows a little so that the sector that is supplied not only from this part of the network but also others that are nearby could also benefit -- but it may be too late to help road travelers.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/chorrera-residents-continue-highway-protests-as-easter-exodus-begins

[Moderator_03]

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Business chamber slams  handling of water crisis

Posted 09/04/2023

Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (Cciap) has called on the government to take urgent action to address the water problems that have sparked citizen protests and highway closures in Panama West in recent weeks.                                                                                                                            The chamber points out that the protests in West Panama last week and the historical demands of various communities in different parts of the country due to lack of water in their homes, led them to raise, once again, the call to the authorities on the urgency of comprehensively address the most pressing needs of citizens.

They point out that road closures, while causing discomfort to many, also negatively affect the country's economy.

"It is inexcusable that in the 21st century, there are areas of the country, including urban communities, that do not have access to water on a regular basis; Panama being a country with so much water resources, exuberant vegetation and in which it rains most of the year.

"According to experts in the matter, the lack of water can be classified as the result of weak governance in the area of drinking water and sanitation, where the different actors: Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (Idaan), Ministry of Health (Minsa ) and the Public Services Authority (ASEP) have not been able to fully perform their roles, with Idaan being the institution that continues to exercise the roles of planner, rector, and service provider, assuming the role of judge and party in a system that for many, it provides inefficient services, and where the governments on duty have focused on proposing bills that contradict the functions of the actors”,

Political interference
Cciap indicates that these inefficiencies are added to the fact that the interference of politics has not allowed the Idaan to function properly.

 It recalled that its document “Country Agenda 2019 - 2024," posed to the presidential candidates the challenge of having a public company with true political, administrative autonomy and financial, and legal structure, that facilitates the development of the investment plan and an adequate operation for the management, distribution, and supply of drinking water.

This recommendation translates into a radical transformation of the Idaan that manages to timely resolve the growing demand for water of our population, and a strengthening of policies and regulations of the ASEP in its supervisory functions, and of the Minsa in terms of sanitation and hygiene of the waters; so that everyone can make coordinated decisions regarding public services.

“The current government administration is in time to take steps to solve the drinking water problem. In the same way, we commit future administrations to prioritize the issue, although we are aware that the abandonment of so many years requires a solution that will take time.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/business-chamber-slams-handling-of-water-crisis

[Moderator_03]

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Pensioners and dialysis patients block streets and Assembly

Posted 18/04/2023

A group of retirees and pensioners closed the access road to the National Assembly on Tuesday, April 18 to demand pension increases from the General State Budget and not from the Social Security fund and warn that they will continue to protest in the streets if they continue to be ignored by the authorities or until justice is done. They accuse the authorities of the loss of quality of life, in addition, that they require the supply of medicines, as well as covering other basic needs.

They say that if salaries are adjusted every two years, it should be fair that pensions and retirements receive adjustments, especially that in Law 51 of December 27, 2025, of the Organic Law of the CSS, article 192 considers that $10 every five years is to provide quality of life for the more than 200,000 who receive derisory pensions.

 Meanwhile dialysis patients blocked the Transístmica road in front of the Doctor Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital Complex for the second day forcing drivers to find alternative routes.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/pensioners-and-dialysis-patients-block-streets-and-assembly

[Moderator_03]

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29 dump truck drivers arrested after closing Cinta Costera

Posted 01/06/2023

Some 29 dump truck drivers were detained during road closures on the Cinta Costera in Panama City on Thursday, June 1.

The drivers were placed under the orders of the Justice of the Peace; while their vehicles were towed with a crane to clear the tracks and taken to various yards.

The National Police inform that in the face of the closure of streets, roads, avenues, and accesses to the different sectors of the capital city, the police units remain alert at various points to protect the comprehensive security of all users and guarantee free transit.

Thousands of people, including workers and students, were trapped for several hours on the Centenario highway after dump trucks closed the streets and the accesses to the North and South corridors in protest of overdue payments. The closure caused a domino effect that affected several alternative routes that were overwhelmed and collapsed. Several students who were going to their universities found it necessary to start their way on foot since the dense traffic was paralyzed.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/29-dump-truck-drivers-arrested-after-closing-cinta-costera

[Moderator_03]

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Police remove firefighter trucks blocking Colon streets

Posted 01/06/2023

Crowd Control units of the National Police removed vehicles and tanker trucks used by firefighters on Thursday, June 1 to block roads in Cuatro Altos in the province of Colón, to protest for the lack of agreement with the government for salary increases. The demonstration lasted for more than an hour and caused all the accesses to and from the province to remain incommunicado until the National Police removed firefighters' vehicles with a crane.

The delay in the signing of the agreement to formalize the so-called "promotions for justice" in the Panama Fire Department keeps the red shirts upset, who since last week have carried out various measures of pressure in rejection of what they consider an "expansion of the process" by the authorities to comply with the salary adjustments that they had already been promised.

Despite the fact that in recent days members of the union, representatives of the Ministry of Government and high-ranking officers of the Fire Department met and managed to reach positions, the red shirts at the last minute decided not to lift the protest measures and the demonstrations have continued throughout the country, especially in the province of Chiriquí where the closure of the Inter-American Highway has generated economic losses to the industry and the production sector.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/police-remove-firefighter-trucks-blocking-colon-streets

[Moderator_03]

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Fire Service paramedics continue highway blockage

Posted 03/06/2023

The paramedics of the Fire Department concentrated on the Inter-American highway in Paso Canoas, have stated that they will maintain the protest actions with the closure of the road on the bridge over the Chiriquí Viejo river.

They said that they will not give free transit for heavy load drivers seeking to cross the Panamanian border with Costa Rica and who are destined for different Central American countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, or Nicaragua.

The drivers have stated that they are already hard hit financially affected and they are waiting for the road to open so that they can continue transporting heavy goods.

They also indicated that their per diems are already running out and the cost of food is very high, which affects their economy on a large scale.

The Search and Rescue Prehospital Medical Care Service (Samer) of the Fire Department, reiterated that they expect a specific response from the institution's general management.

They request that Law 354 of January 31, 2023, which regulates the profession of technicians and graduates in pre-hospital medical emergencies, be complied with, they demand that what is stipulated in the law be complied with to maintain a stable salary and their rights.

https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/fire-service-paramedics-continue-highway-blockage