In City of Panamathe demonstrators left the downtown Porras Parkwhere they camped, and went to the National Assembly of Deputiesheavily guarded.
Many carried Panamanian flags and carried banners with messages such as “corruption embezzled my nation”, “we want honest rulers” or “where is the money”, amid chants to the rhythm of pots and pans and musical instruments.
“The cost of living is what has the people in the street,” said Sergio Gallegos, an indigenous protester from the region Ngäbe-Buglé.
In recent days, criticism has also increased over the high salaries of authorities and the expenses of parliamentarians.
In La Chorrera, a town adjacent to the Panamanian capital, demonstrators protested at the Inter-American roada central route that connects Panama with the rest of Central America.
Numerous protests were also reported in the central provinces of Coclé and Los Santos, and in the western provinces of Veraguas and Chiriquí, which border Costa Rica. In these last two, traffic was interrupted in several sections of the Inter-American highway.
The government calls for “social peace”
The Minister of Security, Juan Pino, yesterday made a “call for sanity” so that “the social peace” about “any difference”.
The protests took place despite the fact that Cortizo announced a reduction in fuel prices on Monday night.
The president reported that the price of a gallon (3.78 liters) of diesel will cost all users 3.95 dollars as of Friday, compared to the current 5.17 dollars.
In addition, the Panamanian Government said that will freeze the price of a dozen products of the basic basket and that it will take a series of measures to reduce the expenses of civil servants and cut the number of public workers by 10%.
However, the unions demand that the price per gallon drop to 3 dollars and that there be a general reduction in the prices of food, hygiene products and medicines.
The demonstrations have aroused the fear of the Government and businessmen of a drop in trade and economic productivity, as well as effects on tourism.
Source: Ambito
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