Pensioners get $30 raise

ELECTION campaigns can be good times for some people as goodies are handed out, or promised, by competing politicians, with the advantage going to those currently holding the state reins.

President Ricardo Martinelli announced Tuesday. February 4 that the minimum social security pension will be increased by $30 per month, to $275.

This however falls short of the increase promised by PRD presidential candidate Juan Carlos Navarro who wants to make the pension equal to the minimum wage, which also got a new year bump up.
In announcing the increase, Martinelli took the opportunity to criticize the Navarro proposal:"If that was done, there would be no money left in 2018 to pay pensions to any Panamanian. That is irresponsible," he said,
He called the $30 increase "responsible," reports La Prensa