What the Papers Say: A message to the President
LA PRENSA, Hoy por Hoy February 28 – Poor Panama, always between the mountain and the abyss! The more we climb towards development, the more we are mired in the Third World.
We live in a time that demands wisdom and skill for the economic boom we are enjoying to to truly reachbthose at the the bottom s o we can build a different country. But President Martinelli is committed to becoming its worst enemy. He is taking us from one shock to another.
Still worse is the inconsistency between what he says and what he does, is leading hjim to a loss of credibility that is both unfortunate and dangerous. Neither PRD nor the unions and journalists are the enemies. Mr President, it is you. The lack of candor in your speech, the greed of officials who came in rich and hope to leave mega-millionaires and are stubbornly ignorant and disrespectful of the democratic way of life, wanting to punish anyone who reveals arbitrary action, welcoming the applause of buffoons, putting down all criticism and independent thinking.
For Panamanians concerned about mining in our country, either because we advocate a healthy and sustainable nation in other activities, or because we know that this country can scarcely guarantee drinking water to its population is not able to monitor mining, much less control the first spill or disaster, the message is straightforward: we do not want mining or at least, not yet.
The gold and copper will be kept there kept as an investment for the country when the day comes that we are we are able to give assurances that Panamanian mining is safe, that its monitoring is technical and transparent, and beneficial to all and not just a few. That day will come
Remember President your campaign promises born of unfulfilled pledges and demagoguery are remembered and will not end up being "postponed indefinitely". Promises that experts knew would not be met.
