Business chamber wants reopening without bureaucratic ties

Jean-Pierre Leignadier

 
1,277Views 4Comments Posted 20/08/2020

Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (Cciap) called  on the government on    Thursday, August 20, for  the reopening of the economy " without bureaucratic ties, or measures that do not adhere to legality and due process."

The chamber emphasized that the health crisis cannot justify ignoring fundamental guarantees, under the pretext of any other considerations.

"Continuing  of restrictive measures, without logical and technical support and with signs of unconstitutionality work against the success of the economic and social recovery, and the bureaucratization of the opening of activities is a contradiction to this reactivation", said  Cciap president Jean-Pierre Leignadier

The chamber considers that although some measures have been introduced to make the restrictions on mobility and operation of economic activities more flexible, these are insufficient, and have led to a number of legal questions for affecting citizens' rights.

“The country has been subjected for five months to extremely strict confinement and with little comparison in the world;  in parallel to an equally severe restriction of economic activities. After so many months, the only realistic option for economic recovery and job preservation is through a responsible opening, where both the private and public sectors can seek a balance in health, social and economic revitalization.