Farewell to Panama’s Good Citizens
THE ERA of bien cuidadós, is coming to an end. Panama’s “Good Citizens” who operate in swarms or pop up out of nowhere to guide motorists to a parking space on city streets, with a rarely fulfilled promise of looking after the vehicle, are seen by many as modern day pirates charging prices from $1-$10 but with an average of $5.
The initiative led by City Mayor Jose Isabel Blandon, will start in Casco Viejo where a driver can be importuned multiple times as he enters the old city and drives around one block, If he gives in to the arm waving blandishments the motorist will be flagged into a space that might be in a “no estacionemente” (no parking) area. If he finds a space without assistance a pirate will appear from nowhere to demand a fee, which varies according to time of day, weather conditions or qualification for “gringo” prices”. Is paid. The good citizen then disappears in search of his next target. Mayor Blandon, said Friday, October 2 that the deadline for the disappearance of the entrepreneurs, who many see as a blight on the world heritage site in Casco Viejo will be March 1, 2016, as part of mayoralty driven strategy of training them for more productive activities.
At a meeting between Blandon and some of the Casco marauders in September, the mayor said that those who violate the measure, will be fined.
The street cleansing will begin in the Old City and will spread to other sectors of the capital.
The main objective is to train and give them the opportunity to relocate to other jobs as long as they comply with the training to be offered for free says the mayor.
Parque Porras, Calidonia, Calle Uruguay, Via Argentina, Via Veneto and Via Espana , are some of the prime locations, where the “good citizens” charge a fee from $1 to $10 for vehicle “care”.
Mi Diario calculated the potential tax free night time earnings of a bien cuidado in a prime location:
20 Cars x $5 = $100 (per night)
$100 x 3 days a week = $ 300 per week = $1200 a month, while those over 60 continue to draw $100 a month from the 100-60 program to help the indigent.
