President setting a dangerous precedent
What the papers say
La Prensa, July 20
Promises made by the Chief Executive on his recent visit to Bocas del Toro should be examined carefully, because the consequences may set an unwelcome precedent. The president promised, for example, to revise upward the minimum wage for banana workers, something he has not discussed with the company. In addition, he announced that special pensions may also be granted to workers who lost their sight during clashes with police.
This is serious, as this is an unscheduled burden for the Social Security Fund. In any case, the question is ,what can compensate those who their sight in the fray? And finally, the Government undertook to pay the salaries of workersfor the days of the strike. This would be another bad precedent, because if it done with the banana workers it will be required for other strikers.
Clearly, then, behind every promise of Ricardo Martinelli is a good deal of patronage and demagoguery.