Alliance break up leads to firings from government positions

Firings of  government managerial staff who are members of the Panamenista party are spreading across the board following the break up of the alliance with President Martinelli’s CD party.

Panamenista deputy Alcibiades Vasquez, lamented on TVN News the dismissals that have followed   the break up on  August 30.

According to Vasquez, the  CD said it would not take any action against the Panamenistas who held positions in government, but in fact dismissals continue. "We regret that the government has  begun to dismiss managers and below.  This really gives us much to think about.”

On Monday, Liriola Pitti, director of the Administrative Unit of Reverted Property of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, presented his irrevocable resignation to the office.

In addition, the Director of Posts and Telegraphs, Jisslena Vidales said she was asked to resign on Monday and the assistant manager of the Colon Free Zone, Manuel Grimaldo, was also removed.

Other replacements include the Director of INAC, Panama’s cultural institute, and reports are circulating of doctors in the Social Security system losing their jobs.

In this regard, Vasquez said  that the best recommendation of these officials is the efficient work carried out during the 26 months they were in government.

Referring to  Damaso Garcia’s jump to  the CD, which was finalized Tuesday, the deputy said he was amazed at his decision, especially when  Panamenistas supported him  publicly when he was suspended from his job as  the Mayor of Colon, while under investigation in May last year.