The return of road closures in Panama due to social demands

The main artery connecting the capital with the western province, supplier of most agricultural products, was closed at noon Monday at the intersection of Horconcito and Boca del Monte.

Among other demands, residents of the Besikou district, in the area of ​​origin, asked the authorities to repair roads to schools and production areas.

In statements to the TVN news channel, the official at the Ministry of Public Works, Zacharias Alvarez, indicated that various works are being carried out, and he justified this by closing, and the necessary mechanism did not arrive.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Education, Ariel Rodriguez, spoke to the demonstrators to clear the way, but without the expected results.

On July 1, at the beginning of the fifth period of the regular sessions of the National Assembly (Parliament), members of the Pueblo Unido Por la Vida coalition gathered outside the legislature and warned that since the government did not respond to the needs of the majority it would take to the streets again.

The Secretary General of the Convergence of the Union, Eduardo Gil, one of the coordinators of that group, pointed out that after a year of crisis unleashed by the rise in food, fuel, medicine and electricity prices, the measures of the executive authority were palliative and insufficient, and the needs of the population are increasing.

For her part, the independent presidential candidate, Maribel Gordon, who represents progressive forces towards the 2024 general elections, said that Panama is still sixth in the world and second in Latin America with an unfair distribution of its wealth, and this is not what the governments of today and their neoliberal model have solved.

The economist urged struggle and success in all fields, including the electoral race in which she managed, with the support of community corporations and ordinary people, to climb to second place among the free-to-file presidential candidates as they move towards more.

“In the face of the checkbook and political favoritism, dignity,” he noted.

ode/ga