At the end of a meeting in Santiago, the capital of the aforementioned demarcation, the educators left a technical table with the executive and felt that it did not provide any answers regarding the high fuel prices and the improvement of the sector’s conditions, two of their claims.
Spokesmen for the group confirmed that the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo – now in the United States for health testing – had dispatched a commission to these talks with no proposals.
In response, members of the Association of Veragüenses Educators pulled out of the negotiations, while their peers protested in different parts of the country, such as the city of David (Chiriquí) and points along the Inter-American Highway in Coclé province.
Meanwhile, sources close to the government delegation said they were ready to resume talks, possibly tomorrow Friday.
In Santiago de Veraguas, the high-level working table was chaired by Education Minister Maruja Gorday; and had the mediation of the ombudsman.
Before the exchange began, Gorday pointed to the expectation that each party would have to put forward their demands, find a middle ground and move on, but that was not possible.
The minister pointed out that the recovery of learning in basic subjects remains at an alarming level; and advocated mediation to maintain dialogue but with schools open.
However, as the hours go by, the demonstrations of educators in Puerto Armuelles (Chiriquí province) are also increasing in the areas of Bocas del Toro, Herrera, Panamá Oeste, Colón and Darién.
For their part, in Panama City, dozens of educators marched to the National Assembly (parliament) to also demand that the state invest at least 6 percent of gross domestic product in improvements in this sector. The demonstrators, including students and parents, chanted, “There they are, they’re the ones who are selling the nation,” alluding to the MPs and the state agency that was alien to their petitions.
A teachers’ leader, Diógenes Sánchez, told the press that until this government offers answers and concrete measures to their demands, they will remain on the streets in protest; in addition to fulfilling his campaign promises.
Students and administrators from the University of Panama also joined protests by teachers’ unions and other sectors calling for a fuel price freeze.
One of the students’ spokesmen, Donier Salazar, explained that the current government does not give precise answers to the major problems in the country, that it has not dared to take any measures to solve the needs of the population.
He pointed out that the student movement of the high study center noted that while a blockade of the Transístmica highway in front of the university campus is maintained, the pressure measures in the fight against the executive branch against hunger, corruption and impunity will continue permanently.
jha/ga