Panamas litter pigs get tongue lashing from Mayor Bosco

In other jurisdictions there are litterbugs, even litter louts. But in Panama we have litter pigs and the “pigs” who litter the streets, streams and rivers of the city are going to be hit hard.

Municipal police, inspectors, and  members of the Civil Protection agency (Sinaproc) will spearhead a move to haul offenders in front of  local magistrates where they will face fines ranging from $10 to $5000. Repeat offenders could be hit with a $10,000 fine.

Those unable or unwilling to pay will have to provide community service, starting with a minimum of eight hours, or head to jail.

The news, and the new nomenclature comes from Panama’s mayor, Bosco Vallarino who, after multiple missteps, has managed to stay out of the public eye for several months. But this time, feeling on firmer footing with a plan that he feels sure will get public endorsement he dodged around his  unpaid advisor and front man, legislator Jose, Isabel Blandon and returned to the airways to trumpet: "They will be punished, the pigs."

He was speaking on Friday June 10 on TVN. Skeptics were quick to point out that the litter is often thrown from windows of diablos rojos or cars, including luxury brands and that smokers have never seen a sidewalk that won't serve as an ash tray and Panama has laws enough that are never enforced.