Strange
weather
Times are changing. So is the weather. Drivers on the Arraiján-La
Chorrera expressway were surprised to see large numbers of Guayacán
(a beautiful tropical tree that normally blooms in late March and
April) offering their vivid yellow, white and sometimes pink flowers
around Christmas time. Fruit producers are also bewildered: mango
trees, the flower of which should be budding by now, remain bare.
Weather
forecasters attribute the phenomenon to limited dry season this year,
caused by weak trade winds that fail to push rain clouds southward.
The result: high humidity levels (which should be down to 50% during
this time of the year) and abundant precipitation (similar to levels
of the months of May or June.)
Electricity
rate protests.
Ubaldino Real, Minister of the Presidency, recently announced
the government’s decision to freeze for 90 days a substantial
increase in electricity rates, which were to have entered into effect
on January 1.
The rise
would affect both the middle class and the commercial sector, substantially
reducing the effects of the positive economic figures of 2005 (a 6.1%
growth.)
The president
of the Union of Industrialists of Panama (SIP), Gabriel Diez, warned
that if the government does not find a solution to the problem of
the increase of electricity costs, there would be massive dismissals
in some industries and businesses of the country. The industrial leader
assured that the large businesses and Panamanian industries have received
a hard blow from the rate increases of between 25% and 32% that entered
into effect from January 1, 2006.
The Panamanian
Association of Hotels (APATEL), is concerned about the increase It
is estimated that hotels spend nearly US $10-million annually on electricity.
They also complain about what they say is an unfair method by which
the electricity companies charge hotels--a system based not on actual
usage but on the number of rooms in the hotel.
Workers
and teachers of the University of Panama carried out a peaceful protest
against the increases. They pointed out that the increase of the cost
of electricity would affect the most humble Panamanians and reduce
even further their purchasing power.
Public
protests continued in different parts of the city, and series of measures,
were proposed, such as delaying the payment for electricity consumption.
The former
president of the National Council of Private Enterprise (CoNEP), Guillermo
Villarreal, regretted that "in Panama we have been kidnapped
by the electric power companies, since they do what they want with
electricity rates".
The Ombudsman,
Juan Antonio Tejada, presented a resource of habeas data against the
Regulating Entity of Public Utilities (ERSP) over the refusal of this
institution to produce the financial statements of the electricity
companies, which the Ombudsman described as inefficient work by the
ERSP, indicating that the excessive veil of secrecy over the financial
statements of the electricity companies should be raised. He also
criticised the state in failing to act in guardianship of the collective
nights of the peope, since the increase in electricity cost is "indiscriminate
and unwarranted".
New
queen
Solángel Matos Arce, a 21-year-old Afro-Panamanian
belle, was elected queen of Panama’s pre-Lenten Carnivals. She
will be accompanied on the throne by two princesses: Irina Prado and
Zeida Lee, first and second princesses, respectively. It was also
announced that the main Carnival activities (parties, dancing, etc.)
will take place on Avenida Balboa instead of Vía España,
which has been the center of the event for decades. Carnival is a
national event, starting on Friday, February 24 and ending on Ash
Wednesday.
Minimum
wage proposal.
The National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO), reiterated
its proposal presented before the National Commission on the Minimum
Wage, which guarantees an increase over the next 5 years until reaching
a total of US$524 a month. Rafael Chavarría, coordinator of
CONATO indicated that the proposal of the group is the best alternative
for the increase of the minimum wage, since it contemplates an increase
of 20% per annum over the next 5 years.
Prisoner
abuse scandal
Police abuse of prisoners at Panama City’s jail, euphemistically
named La Joya (The Jewel) created a scandal fed by headlines in daily
newspapers.
It was
reported that jailers tried to hide the gravity of the matter by sequestering,
in different building of the jail, seven prisoners who had been beaten
without the director of the center, Simon Gonzalez, being informed,
it was reported by the Ombudsman’s Office.
The President
of the Human Rights Commission of the National Assembly, Rogelio Paredes,
suggested the privatization of all the jails of the country, due to
the constant cases of abuse and violations of human rights, arguing
that the Police Force should not continue to guard the prisons because
it leads to corruption and the inhuman treatment of the inmates.
The director
of the Prison System, José Calderon, insists that the National
Police Force be in absolute control of security at La Joya.
Chiriquí
port comeback
In the next few months the terminal of Port of Armuelles
in Chiriquí, could recover its importance of years ago if the
proposal of the company IF Global of Spain is accepted to modernize
this port that at present is in complete abandonment. The company
presented a proposal to the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) to convert
Port Armuelles into its logistic center to distribute merchandise
in the Central American region.
Surge
in new company registration
A total of 39,976 new companies were registered in Panama
last year, representing an increase of 55% over 2004. This is seen
as evidence of Panama’s increasingly bouyant economy and the
high profile of the country internationally.
Preferential
Treatment
The only interest of the US government in the signing of
a free trade agreement with Panama is so that the businesses of US
president, George Bush and his allies have "preferential treatment"
in the enlargement of the Panama Canal, said the former deputy secretary
of the governing PRD Party, Mitchell Doens. "Nobody has told
the country that a part of the convention that the government of Panama
intends to sign on this commercial matter is that of preferential
treatment".
