Members of the Chamber of Tourism, Commerce and Industry of Tierras Altas are tired of feeling that they have been ‘hijacked’ by protesters holding four blockade points in the district and Criminal charges were filed against them.
Traders and manufacturers submitted a criminal complaint against 21 peoplewho are accused of being responsible for imprisonment, for damages, criminal offenses against economic assets, against collective security, terrorism and illegal association to commit criminal offences.
The complainants stated that these blockades of Tierras Altas’ main roads have critically disrupted commercial activities throughout the district and prevented supply of food, gas and fuel.
The main economic drivers of this area are: agricultural, tourist and trade activities suffered considerable damage.
They reported that it was the tourism sector suffered losses of 90%valued at $3 million, with 0% occupancy since the closing began a month ago.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Jiménez, representative of the producers, estimated that per day They lose a million dollarson average, they cannot take their food to market.
Those affected added that the protagonists of the blockade used methods of coercion and threats community residents, impairing their psychological well-being.’
twenty one
registered persons. They are Nariño Aizpurúa, Jaime Jiménez, Eugenio Marcucci, P. Pinedo, Karla Valenzuela, Augusto Batista, Laura Pedreschi, Víctor Pinedo, Damaris Sánchez, Elvin Montero, Abdiel Gallardo, Kibzeth Concepción, Yurena Serrano, Gloria Espinoza, Angélica Chavez, Christopher Aizpurúa , Eric González, Dalys Jurado, Benjamín Rodríguez, Diego Flores and Eduardo Núñez.
David Cuevas González, lawyer of the Tourism Chamber of Tierras Altas, He condemned that behind the protesters are the groups that finance themso as part of the complaint they are asking the Ministry of Public Procurement to investigate this situation.
“When we told him that there are citizens who do not live in Tierras Altas, someone finances the stay of these citizens in that community and it is part of the crime of terrorism“, he stated.
At the same time, they maintain that those who close the streets They don’t live in the mountains.
“When we see that there are people blocking the street, they wear hoods so they don’t recognize themselves, but in the moments when they took them off, we photographed them and These are people who are not known in the territorythey don’t live in Tierras Altas,” said shopkeeper Fanny Romero.
He added that they had to release the workforce in their companies by 46%.
“We have no supplies and this will lead to unemployment. It’s a feeling of helplessness, we’ve been struggling for years to get the economy going,” Romero said with broken words as he expressed his feelings.
Leaders of different trade unions of the business sector They accompanied the members of the Gorski Gorje Tourist Chamber to announce the criminal complaint they filed.
Adolfo Fábrega, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap)he indicated that the provinces of Colón, Chiriquí, Veraguas and Bocas del Toro were the most affected by roadblocks.
as a guild are made available to business groups in these regions see them supporting the roads to reopen.
Attorney Cuevas hopes that this it is neither the only nor the last complaint against street actions like those who live in the mountains.
“I invite all trade and business organizations to become prosecutors, because we must stop; they are destroying the country and we cannot allow that,” he said.
Source: Panama America
I am Jason Root, author with 24 Instant News. I specialize in the Economy section, and have been writing for this sector for the past three years. My work focuses on the latest economic developments around the world and how these developments impact businesses and people’s lives. I also write about current trends in economics, business strategies and investments.
