Government moves to aid Waked workers

PANAMA’S  Minister  of Economy and Finance, Dulcidio De La Guardia and a newly created emergency committee  are holding meetings with US government officials and creditors of the  Waked Group of companies after President Juan Carlos Varela  made moves on Monday, May 9 to protect the interests of workers employed by the beleaguered business giant.

Varela  ordered the creation of a list with the identity of the employees of the Group’s 68 companies  five days after their  inclusion on the Clinton List for their alleged links to international narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

“I have given instructions to Minister of Labor Luis Ernesto Carles to identify how many workers the group has and their names. This is to give them all the support that is necessary,” said the president at an official ceremony at the former Rodman Naval Base.

The government has formed a team, comprised of ministers Dulcidio De La Guardia (Economy), Augusto Arosemena (Housing) and Carles to meet with U.S. officials are representatives from the company.

“The government of Panama and will use all the forces of the state and all the capabilities that allow us to use the laws of the country to protect the jobs that are part of this group. Innocent Panamanians are not going to be harmed by this situation. My responsibility as president is to protect the population,” said Varela.

Varela said that in the next few hours De La Guardia will hold meetings with creditors of the Waked Group and officials of the U.S. government.