Monday
Monday 14th October 2024.
October 13, 2024
At the end of the debate on proposals to solve the crisis of the Social Security Fund, both in the Disability, Old Age and Death program and in health care, the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap), said in the text of the Chamber Opines that now the responsibility falls on the authorities.
The business association urged that each of the eleven proposals received be evaluated seriously and rigorously, and that neither should one fall into impositions nor be carried away by populist ideas.
“The Government must evaluate each of these proposals with rigor, seriousness and, above all, with the focus on seeking the best for the country. This is not the time for superficial decisions or for imposing wills by force or for falling into populist speeches. The situation of the CSS is critical, and the decisions taken today will define the quality of life of future generations of Panamanians,” urged the Cciap.
They stressed that each group, from unions to the private sector, has done a responsible job in supporting their proposals.
“They have offered solutions, some bolder than others, but all aimed at the same goal: ensuring the sustainability of the CSS and improving the services it offers. It is a demonstration of civic commitment that deserves recognition, but it also demands a serious and responsible process of analysis by the Government,” they acknowledged.
The business association, headed by Juan Alberto Arias, indicated that it is essential that the Government communicate effectively how the evaluation of these proposals will be carried out and what path to follow will be in order to generate confidence.
“The CSS is, in essence, a social pact, and as such, its future will depend on the participation of everyone: government, unions and trade associations, the private sector, and the general public. It is a moment of collective responsibility, where we must put Panama above individual or political interests,” they stated.
At the Autonomous University of Chiriquí (Unachi), family influence is not limited to the highest echelons. While names such as the rector Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas and the director of Human Resources, Indira Candanedo , stand out for having relatives on the payroll, the situation extends beyond management positions.
There are also a significant number of professors who have at least one family member named on the university payroll. This practice, which has raised questions about possible conflicts of interest and transparency, highlights the presence of family networks at different levels of the institution.
Reports to which this media had access reveal that, at Unachi, there are at least 56 teachers with relatives on the payroll, including children, nephews, spouses and siblings, among others. On that list, Francisco Vigil stands out, former director of the National Decentralization Authority and teacher at that higher education institution. His daughter also works there.
Both the National Assembly and the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (Antai) decided to open investigations to determine whether there are cases of nepotism and conflict of interest within that higher education institution.
This happened after the revelation of Unachi’s own Human Resources director, Indira Candanedo , who acknowledged that her husband, her son and her sister work at the higher education institution.
Deputy Jhonathan Vega stressed that the commission formed in the National Assembly to investigate the anomalies at Unachi is awaiting swearing-in to begin the process. “Unachi is a winter quarter not only for administrative staff, but also for the teachers who work there,” Vega confirmed.
For her part, the director of Antai, Sheyla Castillo, said that the process opened against Unachi is still ongoing and will take more time. “We have detected some things, but we are still investigating,” said Castillo, without giving further details.
At Unachi, several of its collaborators, mostly professors, receive salaries that exceed $7,000 per month, the same amount that the President of the Republic earns. The overall payroll of this higher education institution includes 2,000 collaborators, including administrative and teaching staff. Of this total, 219 employees receive salaries of $7,000 or more per month, which represents a significant expense for the institution.
These high salaries cost the university approximately $1.5 million per month, which translates to $18 million per year for this group of professionals alone. Of this group of 219 employees, six people earn $9,000 or more, 16 earn $8,000 or more, and another 197 employees earn more than $7,000 per month.
The First Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime held simultaneous hearings for seven people arrested in Operation Capibara , related to alleged irregular appointments in the Ministry of Education (Meduca) .
This operation took place last Friday, October 11, in different provinces of the country. As a result, six of these people were charged and a seventh was sentenced to 60 months in prison through a plea agreement.
At the first hearing, held in West Panama , a woman was charged with influence peddling, money laundering and unjustified enrichment, and was also ordered to be provisionally detained, the Public Prosecutor’s Office reported in a statement .
The entity explained that in the province of Panama, a person was charged with influence peddling. The Prosecutor’s Office requested his dismissal from office and provisional detention; however, the judge of guarantees, considering the age of the accused (63 years) and other elements, did not admit the procedural risks and decided not to apply a precautionary measure.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed this decision, and the hearing was scheduled for October 23. The case concerns educator Misael Trejos, leader of the Association of Teachers of Panama (Asoprof) and member of the Selection Committee of Panama Center.
In Bocas del Toro, two people were charged with influence peddling, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested their dismissal from office. However, the court determined that they should submit to a periodic report, a measure that was also appealed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office .
In addition, in Bocas del Toro, another person was charged with sexual crimes in the form of lewd acts and harassment, and was ordered to report periodically. The Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that it would appeal this decision.
In the province of Chiriquí, one person was charged with influence peddling and ordered to be removed from office. In addition, another person accepted a plea agreement of 60 months in prison, together with an additional penalty of 36 months of disqualification from holding public office, once the main sentence had been served.
A group of union leaders announced a march from Porras Park to the Presidency of the Republic on October 17 to protest against the alleged persecution of the union and the possibility of an increase in the retirement age as part of the debate on the future of the Social Security Fund.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the variation in prices of various products and services, barely registered an acceleration of 0.2% in August compared to July of this year and 0.3% year-on-year. A relatively low rate compared to other countries.
However, when detailing which services and products registered the greatest variation in the report of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), it is reflected that the groups that registered increases in August compared to July were: alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 1.4%; and housing, water, electricity and gas by 0.1%.
The INEC indicates that the increase in the alcoholic beverages and tobacco group was due to growth in three of its four classes and the greatest variation was recorded in beer, which increased consumer prices by 2% in August alone compared to July.
Looking at the year-on-year variation in beer, i.e. from August 2023 to August this year, the variation reached 4.2%. On average, consumer prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco increased by 2.3% in one year. In the middle of this year, an increase in the tax on alcoholic beverages was applied, which may be influencing the increase for consumers.
The increase in the housing, water, electricity and gas group was due to a 0.9% rise in the segment of housing maintenance and repair services, due to the increase in the price of housing repair services, which rose 10.3% in one year.
There were also increases in July in the prices of furniture, household items and household maintenance, and in restaurants and hotels.
In the year-on-year variation, the consumer price index for restaurants and hotels accelerated by 2.6%; miscellaneous goods and services by 1.8%; education by 0.7%; food and non-alcoholic beverages; housing, water, electricity and gas; and transportation all by 0.5%.
In the case of miscellaneous goods and services, which increased by 1.8% in one year, the categories with the highest increases were insurance, with a 6.2% increase in the CPI from August 2023 to August of this year. Specifically, health-related insurance registered a variation in the consumer price index of 9.3%, auto insurance 5.2% and financial services 6.9%.
The CPI shows that in the group of food and non-alcoholic beverages the variation was only 0.5% year-on-year and that even with respect to July a reduction of 0-4% was recorded.
But looking at the product by product, beef registered a 5.5% increase in consumer prices, legumes increased 6% in one year, ice cream rose 4.1%, sugar and other derived products 3.7% and yogurt 2.9% among others.
Panama is consolidating its position as an emerging destination in gastronomic tourism, offering a unique cultural experience that delights visitors through its culinary diversity.
With flavors ranging from high-altitude coffee from Boquete to fresh seafood from the coast, Panama offers a sensory adventure that allows tourists to discover the essence of the country through its dishes.
This focus on gastronomy as a tourist attraction has generated the union of different actors in the sector, who see in Panama’s culinary wealth an open door to economic and cultural growth.
With this objective, Mario Castrellón, Ximena Vallarino and Jorge Chanis created, together with other exponents of gastronomy and tourism, the Chamber of Gastronomic Tourism of Panama.
“Panamanian cuisine tastes like Panama, and Panama is diversity… that is what I have always said,” highlights award-winning chef Mario Castrellón, one of the leading exponents of local cuisine and an internationally recognized chef.
For Jorge Chanis, a Panamanian gastronome and creator of platforms for social innovation, this chamber is already a movement that brings together many minds and protagonists of Panamanian gastronomy. “We want to influence the many things that need to be done for gastronomic tourism in Panama… from taking photos to creating video games and music videos.”
Ximena Vallarino, an entrepreneur in the tourism, hotel and gastronomy sector, stressed that this organization is designed to involve not only those who are dedicated to gastronomy, but all those who are part of the tourism ecosystem. From lawyers to taxi drivers and local producers, the Chamber of Gastronomic Tourism will be inclusive and will represent the interests of the entire community. “The chamber is like an open door for everyone’s knowledge to be involved in this common goal,” she said.
All three have the same objective: to highlight the flavors of Panama beyond its borders and attract tourists from all over the world to experience a journey of flavors across the isthmus.