OFF THE CUFF: Panama Spring” running late
COSTA RICAN citizens are not as accepting of the status quo, as Panama, and are crying “enough is enough” creating what commentators are calling a “political spring.” Can Panama afford to linger?
Central AmericanData reports that citizens are demanding the abolition of the state fuel distributor, which has a monopoly on the management and sale of all petroleum products.
An editorial says “Citizen demonstrations – unique because they are not specifically directed against the current government but against a state run company – are occurring at a time when news stories in Costa Rica are full of information about the privileges enjoyed by some sectors of the state bureaucracy, who earn the equivalent to twice and three times what is earned for the same roles in the private sector.
“The march was organized through social networks, and hundreds of people gathered under the slogan “No More Recope,” referring to the Costa Rican Oil Refinery, a state run company that has a monopoly on petroleum products.
“The demonstration was held on a Sunday, as, being mostly private sector workers, the protesters were not able to be absent from their duties on weekdays as occurs when state officials demonstrate -missing their work without being penalized in their wages- against any measure that might cut the privileges they enjoy.
“The protest reflects not only the high cost of fuel in Costa Rica -the highest price in the region – but also the privileged wages of employees at Recope, a cost which is transferred to the consumer as per officially calculation formulas used to determine the price of these fuels.
For years Recope has not refined oil but finished products, despite keeping up to date the cost structure of labor for refining products.”
When will Panamainians rise against corrupt judicial appointees or Deputies, who have citizen funded stand-ins for when they decide not to go to “the office” and who are now calling for tax payer funded increased pay and perks for the stand-ins or against a ?
