Traffic chaos as retirees return to the streets

Panamanian retirees demanding a pension increase of $50 a month were back on the streets Tuesday and threatening to continue their protests for “as long as it takes.”

After contradictory announcements from a government minister, retirees, led by Eladio Fernandez, leader of the Association of Independent Retirees they closed Transístmica for two and a half hours calling on the government to provide a concrete response to their request.

Traffic police diverted traffic, and congestion quickly spread across the city.

Fernandez said the government " is making fun of us … and many of us [retireees] have barely enough to eat."