About two million dollars worth of losses has been caused by the street closure of the Ngobe Bugle natives and peasants at the height of St. Felix intersection, in the province of Chiriqui in Panama. The groups are protesting against mining and hydroelectric projects.
The closure, which represents a daily loss of USD$50,000 for milk farmers, has also led to a national shortage of legumes and vegetables and the free transit of tropical fruits for export, like watermelon and bananas.
"The situation is critical, because we had to suspend deliveries since we have no trucks to take and send products and we would not want for legumes and vegetables in the dam to get ruined," said Virgil Saldaña, president of the Association of Producers of Tierras Altas.
Panama´s Chamber of Commerce notes that "closing of that road impacts negatively the Panamanian and international economies." Meanwhile, Oscar Osorio, head of the Ministry of Agricultural Development, said "Let's wait for the Government´s spokesperson, since I have already communicated the dire situation." "There are fresh fruit containers that are supposed to leave but are caught without ever reaching the ports for shipment," he said.
Based on La Estrella´s information