Panama security costs outstrip region but crime rising

In spite of a massive increase in expenditure on  security equipment crime in Panama there are few signs of a reduction in crime. 

Despite the triumphal attitude of  Police Chief Gustavo Perez, says La Prensa, the statistics show rising crime.
In June, 61 homicides and  307 wounded by firearms were reported along with 338 robberies and 560 thefts.
Before a news blackout ordered by Security  Minister Jose Raul Mulino, it was  reported that crime was increasing in areas such as Arraiján.In the first half of the year there were 339 homicides In January, 51, February 65, March 55, April 54, May 53 and June 61.
Two years after the arrival to power of President Ricardo Martinelli, the purchase of weapons, ammunition and sophisticated equipment by the National Police (PN) is not perceived as part of a strategy to combat crime, but as a "back to militarization. " says the president of the Ecumenical Committee of Panama, Pablo Morales, who believes that police, with "their  great arms, is reminiscent of the defunct Defense Forces and National Guard who rose to take power by force and then turned against the people”
Morales described as wrong the government's strategy that favors the purchase of weapons to deal with crime, rather than prevention.
 This view is rejected by the Deputy Minister of Security, Alejandro Garuz, who said: "It is true that guns are used to repress the people, but we nhave to upgrade the weapons."
A report by the American Institute of Fiscal Studies and Economic Study Commission for Latin America (ECLA), Panama is the country with the largest purchase of equipment for security.
 In 2010 Panama spent $455.2 million, against  $290.3 million in Guatemala,  $ 286.2 million in Costa Rica, $ 282.1 million in El Salvador, $184.2 million in Honduras and  $72.1 million in Nicaragua.
In addition to arming the public authorities, many  Panamanians have decided to take matters into their own hands.
Director of Public Security Affairs of the PN, Carlos Prosperi, said that 30 applications are received each week for dealers to  take arms to the national repository, for ballistic tests before delivering them to buyers.
Prosperi said that while there has been massive buying of guns for hunting and security agencies, the main reasons for carrying arms by ordinary citizens is to  protect themselves and their businesses.