Mayor closes quarry after citizen protests

FOR THE SECOND TIME in as many weeks, citizen protests have come out on the winning side. On Thursday July 17 Panama City Mayor José Blandón ordered the suspension of operations at a quarry and landfill located in the community of Cardenas, in Ancón. Earlier a freeze was put on the construction of q 37 story residential tower in Paitialla after residents protested changes in zoning rules, without proper consultation

Blandón announced the suspension during a visit to the site this after speaking to a group of residents who had demanded its closure, claiming hat the operation endangered their health and the environment.
Sandra Tapia, a spokeswoman for the group, also stressed that the operation lacked the appropriate permits.
Blandón was accompanied by Deputy Mayor Raisa Banfield, a noted environmental activist.
A group of residents had blocked the reverted areas, the morning of Thursday, July 17, at the entrance to the quarry and landfill community Cardenas, Ancon.
Tapias said then that residents were already three weeks into the fight and that in the meantime, hospital waste was arriving at the landfill, reports La Prensa
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