Local District Level Representatives March, Protesting Against A Lack Of Funding
Hundreds of local district level representatives from the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Panameñista, Molirena, and independent political parties held a protest this afternoon, Wednesday, Jan. 8, over a lack of fairness in the distribution of circuit funds. The march began at the National Assembly and went to the Comptroller General's office on Avenida Balboa. According to the representative of the Association of Municipalities of Panama, Joaquin Vasquez, the Social Development Programme (Prodeso) gives $100,000 to representatives from the ruling Democratic Change political party (CD), while the rest of the representatives who do not belong to that political party have their projects "shelved." Similarly, they say the projects of the Community Development Programme (PRODEC) have not been executed in the past three years. Jose Herrera, president of the Association of Municipalities of Panama, said they feel solidarity with the feelings of the Ngäbe Bugle and they expect the government to comply wit the agreement signed yesterday, because "they believe in the word of the current government." He also said they have submitted a claim to the Comptroller General of the Republic, asking her to suspend the Social Development Program (Prodeso).
Editor's Comment: If you're in the "right" party (CD), you get funding and can do projects in your community. If you're in the "wrong" party (PRD or Panameñista) then you get squat.
