Thousands of Panamanians took to the streets again on Tuesday to protest rising inflation and government corruption, despite announcements of cuts in the price of fuel and some groceries.
The demonstrations, called for by the numerous trade unions in the Central American country, lasted two weeks and led to the closure of some main roads.
President Laurentino Cortizo announced Monday that the price of gasoline for personal vehicles will be cut to $3.95 a gallon starting July 15, down 24 percent from the price at the end of June.
He also announced that his government would draft a decree to freeze the prices of a dozen essential commodities.
But several unions say protests will continue until prices are cut across the board and gas prices drop below $3 a gallon.
Protesters in Panama City marched from central Porras Park to the heavily guarded National Assembly building on Tuesday.
Many carried Panamanian flags and banners with messages like “Corruption has embezzled my nation,” “We want honest governors,” or “Where’s the money?”.
“The cost of living is what concerns people on the streets,” protester Sergio Gallegos, an indigenous man from the Ngabe-Bugle region, told AFP.
In La Chorrera, a town west of the capital, protesters marched along the Inter-American Highway, the main artery connecting Panama to the rest of Central America.
Security Minister Juan Pino called for “reason” on Tuesday so that “social peace” should prevail over “any differences”.
The protests have fueled government and business fears that the country could see a drop in economic activity or an impact on the tourism industry.
In Ecuador, 18 days of mass protests over high fuel prices cost the country over $1 billion last month, according to the central bank.
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