Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (Cciap)  on Sunday reiterated its willingness to discuss national problems but advocated participation on equal terms.

The chamber said that it has always presented proposals in the face of the weaknesses faced as a nation.

“It is willing to continue contributing, as long as the conditions are met for participation on equal terms, where the arguments of the parties are heard within the framework of respect, citizen freedoms are guaranteed and the common objective is to build a social agreement that leads to a Panama of opportunities for all”.

The position of the Chamber comes at a time when the unique dialogue for Panama, in which several measures have been approved, including economic ones, is in recess pending a pronouncement by the Catholic Church on the second phase, which would include new actors.

This unique table began its sessions in mid-July with the participation of three alliances of social groups, the government, and with the church as facilitators. The table was convened by the Executive after protests, road closures, and paralysis of school classes.

"In reaction to the situation, an incomplete dialogue table was established, where there was not the necessary representativeness to make decisions that would lead to the execution of effective actions that would really attend to and resolve popular demands," said the Cciap.