Martinelli gives push to traffic jam committee

Two months after the creation of an interagency commission to address the problem of Panama’s traffic congestion, there is no consensus on solutions.

Now, says La Prensa  President Ricardo Martinelli has stepped in asking the lead agencies to come up with plans for the re-vamping  of working hours for government and private enterprise to improve traffic flow.

"I  have asked  the director of the Transit [José Pablo Mora] and the Minister of MOP [Federico José Suárez] to carry out a study to change the times of arrival and departure of officials, and employees of private enterprise,  and to guide the public to seek alternate routes so we can to continue the work we are doing to build better connections in the city of Panama," Martinelli said.

He said  the jams will continue, because there is now a "city sausage", but  he expected Panama to have better road management in 2014

Martinelli also asked the MOP and the ATTT to join private enterprise and the Chamber of Commerce, among others, in seeking solutions to reduce the jams.

Meanwhile, the director of the ATTT, Juan Pablo Mora argued that the president's words are an indication that it is time to take action to alleviate the chaos, but recalled that there is already a committee studying the issue.

He noted that there are many proposals, but it is better reach a consensus and not to impose measures.

Minister of Public Works, Federico Suarez, made no comment.

Spokesmen for the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama said that the agency made this week a series of consultations with its member companies to define the final measures.

They reiterated that from the date of announcing the measures, the Government will be  asked  for three months to comply with the agreements.