Job and water protests bring chaos to Colon streets

Chaos reigned for nearly six hours  in Colón on Tuesday, January 7 as protestors simultaneously closed key thoroughfares to demand drinking water, property titles and jobs

The roads from early morning to noon, preventing  departure and entry to the city

With the burning of tires, banners, and slogans, the city’s  Just Cause movement forced banks and businesses to close and delayed the departure of a German cruise ship. And ground trade to a halt in the Free Zone.

The Association of Users of the Colon Free Zone, recalled that the Colon Free Zone is the main distribution center of the hemisphere providing income of more than $20 billion for the national economy.

Shops of the town and the Colon Free Zone were affected because most of them have not been able to open their doors because their owners and employees were unable to reach their destinations.

The National Police reinforced surveillance on the highway, where an assault was recorded. Two suspects were captured.

Services at medical centers were  affected because the staff were unable to arrive and the Judicial branch closed courts.

The governor of Colon  Iracema de Dale, regretted the closures when the extension of three more months of the emergency plan with 2,000 jobs was already announced.