Throw Money on the Streets to Move the Economy: Martinelli Says You Must

Former President Ricardo Martinelli expressed his concern over the lack of jobs and “chen chen” (money) on the country’s streets through social media. However, he congratulated President José Raúl Mulino for the efforts his government has made to attract foreign investment.  Martinelli emphasized that President Mulino has made sound decisions by traveling to countries such as Japan, Brazil, and the United States in search of investment opportunities. However, he warned that there is still work to be done internally. 

“The economy can’t be stopped. For example, payments to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) are practically suspended….we have to throw money out onto the streets,” the former president said.  Likewise, the president of the Realizando Metas party expressed satisfaction with the reactivation of the construction industry after a year of stagnation. He praised the streamlining of health permits for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and expressed his hope that these facilities would also be extended to large companies. 

Martinelli emphasized that the government represents a significant percentage of the country’s economic activity, so public works and payments cannot be halted, as this directly impacts employment.   He reiterated the call for the government and all sectors to make greater efforts to ensure “chen chen” and jobs for all Panamanians.