Public protest called against new Seafood market

A citizen’s organization has called for a public protest on  Thursday, February 24 on the Cinta Costera in opposision  to  Mayor  José Luis Fábrega’s plan to build a new Seafood Market.

The Urban Citizen Network of Panama (Redcupa)  describes the opening of bids for the $43 million project as a new disappointment.

Redcupa – an organization made up of several communities in the district of Panama – stated that there are several reasons for rejecting the project, whose funds will come from the decentralization budget, despite the fact that the capital’s municipality will receive $30 million less than what was budgeted, due to a drop in Income Tax collection.

The organization pointed out that using the decentralization funds, which correspond to the entire district of Panama —a population of 1.25 million—, without a broad consultation in which all the districts participate, is a mistake.

It indicated that justifying a project through a citizen consultation limited to the citizens of the township of Calidonia —of 22,000 inhabitants or 1.8% of the total population of the city— is nonsense that demonstrates the little respect that is shown to the mechanism. of collective participation.

The architect and president of Redcupa, Xochilth Troncoso, indicated that for the organization the approval of $40 million by the vote of 22 firms that attended the consultation, that is, 0.1% of the population of Calidonia, regardless of whether they were municipal employees or there were repeated signatures, it is disrespectful.

For Troncoso, the mayor’s administration cannot be disconnected from reality by promoting a project that does not represent a priority or a need for the city.

Given these reasons, the Redcupa calls for the February 24 protest at the Mirador del Pacífico, in the coastal strip

Redcupa invites Mayor Fábrega to join in working, together with other government authorities, to solve specific and overwhelming problems that afflict the populations in the townships of the district of Panama, such as the collection of waste and organic waste from efficiently and effectively, lack of lighting in public spaces, as well as lack of sidewalks, dumpsters, among others.

The Beach Project
The plan to build a new market came about after strong public rejection of Mayor Fábrega’s flagship project: the recovery of public spaces and beaches in Calidonia and Bella Vista, valued at $120 million.

In the plan that Fábrega presented in his election campaign, there is no mention of the market as a key project. 

Fábrega had no obstacles in approving his initiative in the Council. Of the 26 representatives, 24 voted in favor of the controversial market and has been oblivious to criticism against the market that he intends to build on the coastal strip and which would occupy some 8,000 square meters that today are public recreation areas. He assured that time will prove his management right