Transportation, a problem that affects thousands of Panamanians

Public transport is a problem that dates back many years, and has not yet been solved, despite the various measures taken by the different governments in recent decades. While the Government of Juan Carlos Varela acquired 100% of the company that manages the Metrobus system, and promised a series of measures seeking to solve this problem that affects thousands of users, there is little hope that the situation varies. Even users believe that the crisis has worsened in recent years and that what you can see on the streets is an anarchy by both legal transporters as well as by those known as pirates. Esperanza Mena, of the Foundation for the Protection of Users of Transport, recalled that this sector is a strong one, moving many economic resources and the increase of the Panamanian population, even that non-national who arrives in the country and also uses public transport is added to this situation. Mena admitted that important decisions have been made, however, he said that the question focuses how will I get transported today? because he is aware that the request for new fleet will take time. But for the spokesman of the National Chamber of Transport (Canatra), Agustín Prado, Juan Carlos Varela, President of the Republic, is missing more communication with real people who are engaged in the transportation business. Prado´s view is that the President has had some disagreement with different transporters and this has led to chaos in the system, because he believes that Varela "has ignored the transporters’´ family". Prado recalled that it is transporters who transport the masses in the country, and the President has no "direct conversation with Canatra and other associations which we have organized". In addition, he believes that the responsibility for the current situation in the transportation (although he assured he felt embarrassed to say it) is due to the lack of culture and education of the community and the leadership of the Authority of Road Traffic and Transportation (ATTT) that has allowed illegal vehicles. In fact, Mena said that solutions or comprehensive answers may be achieved through the ATTT Board of Directors which is the supreme body in the field of transport. Despite the problems and the time that the process will take, spokesman Prado explained that he hopes that the system will change in the future. Silence over Pirates To the lack of official system of public transport buses adds the so-called "pirate buses," whose legality has been debated for the last few days. However, the President of the Republic – by means of his assertions on transport on 13 April - evaded the issue about pirates and he called them informal transport. Mena recalled that users are forced to use this type of transportation because they get desperate while waiting for a Metrobus because if they do not do this, they would have to sleep at the bus stops to get to their jobs.