Buying coffee, sugar and tea for more than $25,000 is a political move, says Deputy Chandler

As a strategy to obtain more beneficiaries or sponsors during the future elections of 2024, it is how the independent substitute deputy Walkiria Chandler D’Orcy sees the acquisition of 18 thousand 450 dollars in coffee from a hardware store located in the province of Bocas del Toro.

Chandler said that this situation is unacceptable and more so when there are unemployed Panamanians, who cannot bear the high cost of medicines, gasoline and the basic basket, for such an “unnecessary” purchase to be made.

“It seems to me that different lines of purchase are simply being included that could benefit some people in particular in the face of tomorrow, having more benefactors or more sponsors,” he said, assuring that this is an old-fashioned modality, “but it is something that already has to be cut”, because in his opinion public positions are to serve the country and not to serve themselves.

The tender uploaded to the Panamá Compra portal included the acquisition of $2,600 in cinnamon, ~1,800 in assorted teas and $2,345 in brown sugar. This purchase of cafeteria supplies totals $25,195 dollars.

According to what the company’s legal representative told TVN Noticias, although their main function is the sale of construction materials, their operating permit allows them to sell dry products.