Residents flooded, blame game begins

AS PANAMA’S power and drought crisis is replaced by flooding in various parts of the country, the blame game for problems in Juan Diaz is underway.

The coordinator of the planning commission of the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects (SPIA), Geronimo Espitia, blamed the government for the flood of El Nance in the village of Juan Diaz.
The expert statements occur because of construction of landfills in the area.
Espitia warned that it is fruitless to channel tributaries like the Gallinaza., because the fillers that are in the mouth of the creek will ensure that the water will return.
Darian Garibaldi a spokeswoman for the residents of El Nance, agreed with the SPIA and emphasized that Panama is providing permits for landfills and projects in the area of the municipality
Meanwhile, environmentalist Rosabel Miró, director of the Panama Audubon Society, said the buildings are occupying areas of wetlands, that provide natural relief tributaries.
Panama City’s Director of Works and Buildings, Juan Manuel Vasquez, said the cause of the flood was a work in progress by  a contractor of the Ministry of Public Works in the Gallinaza.
This led to a controversy between the Minister of Public Works, James Ford, and Panama Mayor Roxana Mendez.
They accused each other of involvement in morning. But in the afternoon, Ford and Mendez met and agreed to facilitate the channeling of the Gallinaza.
Meanwhile residents are bailing out.