Government heavy hitters flout pandemic rules

The government is struggling to deal with the fallout from an event in Atlapa attended by the President and Vice President along with six ministers, which flouted rules established to stop large gatherings.  The event to celebrate the first year of the Panama Solidario program has generated criticism and outrage.

“It is human to get excited,” said  Vice- President José Gabriel Carrizo on Twitter. The communication office of the Presidency says that what happened in Atlapa was not a party and that they have repeatedly brought live music to “entertain” the volunteers.

Videos  distributed  on social networks show that the “celebration” would have violated the Resolution of December 11, 2020, which prohibits any activity that involves crowds in public, commercial and any other places. The resolution adds that in cases of work meetings, only a maximum of 10 people with distancing will be allowed to participate.

One of the party’s videos shows the reggaeton singer Anyuri dancing with Carrizo, to the rhythm of a live show by the typical music singer Osvaldo Ayala.

 The videos also show the ministers of Agricultural Development, Augusto Valderrama, and of Housing and Territorial Planning, Rogelio Paredes, and the governor of the province of Panama, Carla García, among other senior officials.

 In another, Cortizo himself appears walking around the room, while he was surrounded by officials. “It looked like a prickly pear. From time to time, his steps followed the rhythm of the music” reports La Prensa.

Solidarity bags 

According to the updated report from Panama Solidario, in the last year, nearly eight million bags of food were delivered and $259.4 million  allocated to making them.

Atlapa was established as the headquarters of Panama Solidario in March last year. Many of the volunteers who assemble the bags are officials who are not physically attending their offices. The country’s public servants have been paid in full during the pandemic.

This, in contrast to the reductions in working hours, the suspension of contracts, and the layoffs experienced or experienced by private-sector workers. The economy is in a tailspin and, according to data from the Association of Restaurants, Bars and Clubs of Panama, more than 1,800 stores of this type have closed permanently.

At a  press conference last Tuesday, March 23, the Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, was blunt: “We remind you that parties, parking lots, and walks are prohibited.” He asked to celebrate Holy Week “in an orderly manner” and called for “respecting the spaces and bubbles in the home.”

Cortizo spoke along the same lines: “there is no way to play this virus alive.” Regarding a possible rebound in cases, he said that “the best prognosis is for each of us to take care of ourselves because the Government cannot do it alone.”

Eyra Ruiz, the advisor to the  Minister of Health, described what happened in Atlapa as “human overflow”. She He assured that they will investigate.

The criticisms do not stop from different tribunes. The Deputy for Democratic Change, Génesis Arjona, stated in the plenary session of the Assembly that “the country and the Panamanians deserve respect and concrete solutions. “If the government wants Panamanians to be sane and in line, the rulers must lead by example,” he added.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry condemned the event.

Gladys Bernett, a citizen who paid tribute to her father who died from Covid-19 during the special of TVN Héroes por Panamá special, expressed her dissatisfaction. “Zero respect for our families that we are celebrating anniversaries of our deceased relatives …”, she tweeted.

In one year, more than 6,000 people have died in the country from Covid-19 .