Replies About The Bocas Situation -- It's All Related
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Apparently someone is trying to shut down two of the water taxi operations in order to take them over. Apparently, it's political, because the owner of the Taxi25 is a PRD guy. Anyway, those people who have been affected by the government shutdown have sent their guys to blockade the ferry service, in order to bring pressure on the government to lift the sanctions that have been placed to shut down the water taxi service. I've received the following via email:
- "Don, This is second hand so treat it accordingly. Apparently the water taxi drivers from the companies which the government has shut down for safety reasons are protesting this by blocking the Almirante-Bocas del Toro ferry from unloading. Apparently they have allowed a truck of diesel fuel to unload to drive the generators but that is all. I feel that this is pretty good information as I have heard the same thing from several different sources. I have also been told that they have shut down the airport ... this is one source only. Martinelli must feel he is running a kindergarten. Regards, Dick"
- "Don ... It's true. The ferry is not being allowed to dock and it's been like that for a number of days. (I just got back from the states on Friday, so I don't know how long.) But nothing is getting in. Very soon there will be no diesel, so no power, water, etc. The land taxi's closed off the roads yesterday, but today seems okay. I'm concerned food won't be getting in except by plane and what the smaller boats can bring from the mainland, but perishables won't keep without refrigeration. Yesterday there was talk about the taxi drivers (land) blocking the runway, but the airport is still okay. My daughter is visiting and has to leave in the morning and we're keeping our fingers crossed that there will be flights out of here. Also, when the ferry is again allowed to dock, there will be quite a bottleneck, so who knows when things will be back to normal. I heard that the ferry raised it's passenger fees as soon as the water taxi companies were shut down and the people who come here to work from Almirante and other places on the mainland could not afford (or would not pay) the increase. I've about had it here. My house is up for sale. Susan"
- "There is definitely something going on in Bocas. Yesterday the ferry was prevented from docking by children protesting. Something is up !! Tony"
And Then The Cops Showed Up: At some point there will be riot police on the ground where the ferry docks, to make sure it is allowed to land. I understand there's "someone else" who simply wants to take over the water taxi service in Bocas to make that money, so they are simply using the law and lawyers to shut down the existing operators. In short, business as usual in Panama. I don't suspect this whole situation will last long. The residents of the area are being held hostage, both literally and figuratively, by the warring factions. And I wonder when the residents will figure out the fact that they outnumber both sides by a factor of 25-1? No, the taxis will run and the ferry will dock because WE THE RESIDENTS said so. And all of this, as if Bocas needed yet another black eye right now. Hey, they say bad things come in threes. So maybe the banana riots in Changuinola, Wild Bill, and now this makes three... I hope so.
Copyright 2010 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.






By DON WINNER for
Yesterday, 19 August 2010, there was a "counter march" held on Calle 50, which placed supporters of Ricardo Martinelli's Cambio Democratico political party against another protest march organized by radical union leaders and student groups. Guillermo Puga, the Secretary General of the Confederation of Workers of the Republic of Panama (CTRP), said this morning that this kind of fighting tarnishes peaceful activities. He said "everyone has the right to protest, but how is it possible that they organized another protest march, in the same place and time that we were protesting," Puga said on TVN News, who said their protest had been previously announced.
The Executive branch of government in Panama and the National Assembly have differences of opinion regarding the demands coming from some sectors to repeal Law 30, known as the "Chorizo Law." Trade Minister Roberto Henriquez insisted yesterday the repeal of Bill 30 is not on the government's agenda. Meanwhile, the President of the National Assembly, José Muñoz, said Law 30 "is not written in stone" and that " it may amended in its entirety." Similarly, lawmaker Jose Isabel Blandon from the Panameñista political party said he would present a proposal to extend the suspension of the three contentious articles of Law 30 - Articles 12, 13 and 14 - so that it would cover the entire law, except the part dealing with aviation. Blandon said the bill submitted by the Executive intends to postpone the entry into force of Articles 12, 13 and 14, is "not enough", therefore a "total repeal" is necessary to lay the groundwork for a real and "frank" dialog.
Virgilo Castillo and Antonio Smith, the two banana workers who died during the demonstrations that occurred in the province of Bocas del Toro to demand the repeal of Act 30 of 2010, were buried on Sunday in the cemetery at Finca 6, in the district of Changuinola. The coffins were carried by banana workers to the cemetery, but not before there was a protest outside of the headquarters of the National Police in Changuinola, where people shouted over the deaths of their coworkers. Family and friends of the banana workers paid their last respects to Castillo and Smith. During his visit to the region yesterday, president Ricardo Martinelli said the government would take care of the families of the two workers. The demonstrations left a toll of hundreds of wounded, of which 53 were transferred to the capital city due to the severity of their injuries. (Panama America)
Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli began his tour of Changuinola in the province of Bocas del Toro with "Finca 66" - where he met with some leaders of the Cambio Democratico political party. During the meeting they talked about what happened last week in clashes between police and strikers. He reiterated his apologies, as he listened to their requests to repeal Law 30. During the tour, Martinelli took the opportunity to provide scholarships to the children of the union leaders who were killed in the clashes. It is expected that during the afternoon, the President will make a major announcement regarding the future of the employment status of banana plantation workers. The atmosphere in Changuinola has been quiet, even though some had said there would be protests, before the preparations for the funeral which will be held tomorrow. (TVN Noticias)
"It's not the right time." That is the general perception among banana union workers and indigenous leaders about the visit Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli is making today to Changuinola, in the province of Bocas del Toro. The "Bocatorenos" are still feeing the pain and anger over those who were killed and injured during two weeks of violent clashes between protesters and riot police. "We have to respect those who were killed. We mourn. We are not available to meet with the government now, it's not the right time," said Samuel Quintero, a union leader. Meanwhile, the unions and indigenous leaders confirmed that today there will be a vigil for the deceased and a funeral on Sunday. Yesterday, ministers of state had paved the way for the President to tour medical and social care facilities in that community. (La Estrella)

The Ministry of Education (Meduca) reported this evening that tomorrow, Thursday, classes will be suspended at the National Institute (NI) and they are convening a general meeting with parents. The meeting will be tomorrow at 9:00 am in the auditorium of the school, because they found "objects that only serve for violent activities on campus." Through a press release Meduca said they are suspending classes in order to ensure a climate of peace in the school. Among the objects found in school are masks, hoods, iron rods and fireworks, "suggesting movements that threaten the normal functioning of classes." The management of the school and the authorities from Meduca decided to meet with guardians and parents to make them aware of the intentions of groups who are seeking to use the students from the National Institute to destabilize and promote an atmosphere of hostility and violence. (La Prensa)
The general manager of the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), Solomon Shamah said Wednesday that the government made mistakes that led to the conflict in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro, but "we will make corrections." "Yes we made a serious mistake by not explaining the positive effects of the law. [But] what happened [in Bocas del Toro] was an accumulation of various things," said Shamah. The official said the government is aware of the extent and of the negative impacts from the strike in Changuinola. Thus, he said, they have opened a dialog to negotiate on articles 12, 13 and 14 of Law 30 (9 in 1), which relate to the deduction of union dues and the call to strike. "We have learned our part, but we want some sectors to understand that when they win the country loses," said Shamah during an interview given on Channel 13 Telemetro Reporta, in that - he said - if the general strike had been a success then it would have been a failure for the country. "When union leaders act to paralyze a country, the country fails," he said. Shamah said the country image of Panama at the international level was affected, and he lamented that influences investment. "It costs us years and years" to build the country's image, he added. (La Prensa)
By DON WINNER for
The president, Ricardo Martinelli, spoke this afternoon about the crisis in Bocas del Toro and said in a statement that "the law will not be repealed and it will be interpreted as indicated," referring to the controversial Law 30 which is rejected by the protesters. The President's statement came today, 11 July 2010, after ten days of strikes in the banana plantations of Changuinola in Bocas del Toro, that have resulted in the confirmed deaths of two people during clashes between demonstrators and police. According to Martinelli, the Law "does not affect labor rights and only gives the option to employees, among other things, to decide whether to pay union dues or not."
