In recent months, Panama has gone through a deep crisis in which the population’s discomfort has emerged regarding the high cost of living, the perception of corruption and the lack of transparency, among others. Given the facts, some organized groups engaged in a series of pressure actions that led to the curtailment of citizens’ freedoms of transit, which in turn affected the right to education, the right to receive health services, the right to work, entrepreneurship and food, as expressed by the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap), referring to the single dialogue table.
The union affirmed that in the face of this crisis, an incomplete dialogue table was established, where there was not the necessary representativeness to make decisions that would lead to the execution of effective actions that would really attend to and resolve popular demands.
Some of these freedoms were later returned to citizens, but only through a scheme of threats and intimidation, which resulted in misinformation and repression of other freedoms such as freedom of expression, especially on social networks, where ideas contrary to those of those present at this dialogue table were attacked with disrespect, vulgarities and profanity, especially towards those groups, fundamental for national development, that were not convened.
“Over the years, Panamanians have managed to build agreements through participatory and inclusive dialogue, always framed in respect for people and the dignity of the human being, seeking to reach constructive agreements that achieve common well-being. Since without these elements nothing productive can come out of any meeting,” the union said in its Sunday column La Cámara Opina.
Marcela Galindo, president of the Cciap, affirmed that the union has always presented proposals in order to face the weaknesses that we face as a nation, and is willing to continue contributing, as long as the conditions are given for participation on equal terms, where the arguments of the parties are heard within the framework of respect, citizen freedoms are guaranteed and the common objective is to build a social agreement that leads to a Panama of opportunities for all.
