In City of Panamaunion construction workers suntracsthe largest in the country, demonstrated on various streets and avenues, some of which were partially blocked from vehicular traffic with barricades.
“Here we are in another day of struggle of the many that we are willing to continue doing if the inept government of Cortizo does not listen to this people,” said Gregorio Gurrel, of Suntracs, according to a video published this Friday by this union.
On the Pan-American highway, which connects Panama with Central Americaand a vital route for the transport, trade and distribution of merchandise to Panama City, truck blockades also continued, leaving thousands of people stranded.
The worst crisis in decades
Panama is experiencing one of the greatest social crises since the fall of the military dictatorship of General Manuel Antonio Noriega after the US invasion.
The discontent occurs in a scenario of 4.2% year-on-year inflation registered in May, an unemployment rate of around 10% and an increase in fuel prices of 47% since the beginning of the year.
The situation has caused shortage of fuel in some areas of the country, while most of the stalls for sale to the public in the main food market in Panama City have been forced to close due to lack of products.
Unions reject government plan
In an attempt to calm things down, Cortizo (a Social Democrat) announced the reduction and freezing of the price of fuel, which went from 5.17 dollars a gallon of gasoline (3.78 liters) to 3.95 from this Friday, and a dozen foods.
However, the unions reject these measures and on Thursday they refused to go to a dialogue installed by the government with the mediation of the Catholic Church.
“This generation had not experienced a crisis of the magnitude of the one that overwhelms our country today,” said the former Panamanian president, Martin Torrijos (2004-2009).
“The social outburst we are experiencing is not the product of an isolated event or temporary increases in fuel and food. It is the accumulation over time of unattended demands and an evident deterioration in the quality of life of Panamanians,” he added.
Source: Ambito
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