Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro Warn of the Impact of Strikes and Road Closures Discussed March 21st
Business people, farmers, and economists from Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro expressed their concern over calls for strikes and possible road closures that could affect the region’s economic stability. The unions warn that a situation similar to that of October and November 2023 would have serious consequences for production, trade, and tourism, key sectors for the development of the country’s western region. Representatives from various sectors called on authorities to guarantee free movement and avoid disruptions that harm workers and business owners.
Felipe Rodríguez, president of the Competitiveness Center of the Western Region of Panama (CECOM-RO), emphasized that “the country has faced very difficult situations in recent years, and the closure of communication routes has greatly affected the economy, especially in provinces far from the capital. Returning to a similar situation would be disastrous.” For his part, Augusto Jiménez, a producer from Tierras Altas, warned that the 2023 protests severely impacted farmers, many of whom lost their crops due to the halted trade and distribution logistics. “What we experienced last November seriously affected us. We cannot allow it to happen again. It is urgent that the authorities guarantee the right to free movement,” he said.
From the tourism sector, Juan Pablo de Caro, president of the Bocas del Toro Chamber of Tourism, emphasized that “it’s already difficult to find employment in the sector, and a situation like this only exacerbates the problem. Tourism requires stability and tranquility; protests with road closures directly affect the image of the destination.” The unions call on authorities to implement measures that guarantee the right to protest without harming others. They insist that it is crucial to find a balance between protests and the country’s economic development. Also note that Trump has warned that if the Panama Canal is affected as a result of the strike, his plan is to bring in the army to quell the protest. Whether he can or not, we don’t want to give him any opportunity to bring in the armed forces.
Economy and Finance Minister Julio Moltó believes that leftist groups have taken over the unions and are “pushing” them into an unnecessary strike. His statements follow a call for a strike by teachers’ unions and trade union movements, rejecting the approval of Bill 163, which reforms the Social Security Fund (CSS). According to Moltó, those called to strike are not teachers or workers, but rather some left-wing unions. He stated that there is no reason for this strike, since the retirement age will not be increased, but rather a six-year annual evaluation system was proposed. The professionals will analyze this issue. The minister stated that no one will be paid less, so he considers this call for a strike to be politically motivated. Just so that you are aware, their plan is to shut down the country starting Friday, March 21. They would hope that most services will be discontinued, including construction, schools, medical services, some security-related jobs, ports, and port services.
Julio Moltó maintained that in the five months that Bill 163 was in the National Assembly, they had not protested or blocked streets, but now a small group is going to call for a demonstration. He mentioned that none of the conditions they were alleging at the time exist in the law. “The law was passed during a democracy. The government proposed a law that was sustainable over time and that guarantees pensions for all workers,” he explained to news reporters. Moltó acknowledged that this law isn’t perfect, but it will alleviate and guarantee pensions. Therefore, the government considers it the best law that could have been passed at the time and place. According to Moltó, every day the country’s streets are closed; Panama loses $90 million, not including the logistics sector and ports. “The population cannot be affected by the interests of a few,” said the minister.
