The Government ordered the immediate closure and suspension of all operations and of the Central Agricultural Market, adjacent to the Electoral Tribunal on Monday, December 31.

The decision was taken after it received reports, from the l Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) and the Fire Department, which said that the market facilities represent a danger for tenants and customers.

In the resolution, Panama Governor Deyanira Murgas said that Sinaproc carried out an inspection of the market on December 28. And officials determined that the facilities could "collapse."

Sinaproc recommended closing the site, as it did not have a good distribution of the areas and circulation routes sufficient for the number of people who arrive at the site.

On November 15, a group of vendors blocked, the entrance to the market, in rejection of the planned move to Merca Panama on the Centennial road.

After several hours of tension and negotiation,  reports La Prensa, the authorities decided to suspend the move scheduled for November 16. The new transfer date was for the first week of 2019.