Transcendental issues for the present and future of Panama such as health, education, security, economy and social security will be debated during the Bicentennial Pact, to be convened today by President Laurentino Cortizo.
Businessmen, workers, civil society, political parties, unions and associations are part of this national dialogue, which will take place amid doubts, questions, mistrust and uncertainty, due to the economic crisis generated by Covid-19.
Therefore, among the concerns of the various sectors stand out the need to reactivate the national economy and the search for mechanisms to deal with the debt, which according to official figures has grown by more than seven billion dollars so far this year.
Added to these is unemployment, exceeding 20 percent and with no prospect of a short-term solution due to the situation caused by the pandemic, which led to the cessation of 240 thousand labor contracts, of which only 90 thousand have been reactivated to this date.
Faced with this complex panorama, politicians from the various parties described as ‘correct’ Cortizo’s decision to call for this dialogue, which should be characterized by quick decision-making and the urgent application of the measures that emanate from the meeting, according to local press reports.
According to La Estrella de Panamá newspaper, the Bicentennial Pact is a process of citizen participation that seeks to agree on proposals for solutions to the main problems that afflict the nation one year from the celebration of 200 years of independence from Spain.
The president insisted recently that this will be a different dialogue from others, because it will grant a period of two months for interested citizens to offer their contributions and proposals in a concrete and viable way.
Fuente: PL.
