Over 19 months in office and the people demand answers

It has been 19 months since Juan Carlos Varela became president of the Republic, with a series of promises that secured met after taking office and which still echo in the memory of thousands of Panamanians, but are limited in their hopes of becoming possible.

The government Varela was projected as a management characterized by transparency, respect for institutions and low cost of the basic food basket; however, several scandals have crumbled this picture marketing media allies.

Even the president of Panama promised to bring forward economic growth. Growth in recent years had a steady increase and became the highest in the region. However, there has been a downturn being experienced.

as fundamental steps to convene a new constituent, supply water to all people, not to raise taxes, not repress citizens and media, lower levels of insecurity and provide better education to the Panamanian students are listed as the main shortcomings of the current administration in the first third of his term and was set in the government plan "People first".

Nepotism, influence peddling, appointments without consultation, compromise and allegations of corruption have come to contradict the actions of President Varela, who said a statutory scheme providing the appointment of civil servants, through the National Assembly.

However, this body has come to position itself in the eye of the storm of criticism for not addressing a number of complaints against judges of the Supreme Court (CSJ), who in televised remarks of some of its members have shown serious misconduct an institutional crisis that does not seem to hit bottom

Even in recent days it has questioned the president's ability to make important decisions such as the renewal of his cabinet and ministerial changes that doesn't generate dynamism in the governmental sphere.

In this sense, the sociologist Marco Gandásegui states that it is the president who must make important decisions for the benefit of the country.

"To convene the constituent, for example, is the president who should form the basis on which they will discuss and contribute to solve the problems facing the country," said Gandásegui.

In this line of ideas, the former magistrate of the Electoral Tribunal (TE) Guillermo Marquez Amado assessed the decision not to convene a constituent as a mistake of Varela.

Más de 19 meses de gestión y el pueblo exige respuestas

"In so far as it does not comply, it will be like a person who commits some actions, but then follow them, and not good", he said.

And it is that the implementers of government works themselves have acknowledged that there are difficult promise to keep.

One such campaign promises of President Juan Carlos Varela was to provide 100% potable water it needs the Panamanian population, however, this would have contradicted the assertions of its portfolio managers.

This is the case of Julia Guardia, director of the Institute of Aqueducts and Sewage Systems (Idaan), who explained that the program 100/0 requires a much larger investment.

"It is a goal that we are doomed to get it is not easy, but we are working every day," explained the director of Idaan, who hinted that there will be a five-year process only.

At this, the exviceministro of Finance Rolando Mirones said there are many other promises that President Varela has failed. "The happiness of the people hard lasting promise," he said.

According to economist Juan Jované, the growing competition of the population is proof that in the country there is full employment, but a precarious and that, in fact, about 39% of the population is in a situation of informality, this, despite the economic growth that has been pronounced.

Better days

Hope for better days in terms of the low cost of food and obtaining decent housing also seems to fade, despite achieving fair and the price freeze and granting of solidarity bonds.

Thus, the fact of spare $58 to each Panamanian becomes a promise that is not reflected in the testimony of citizenship, which claims these savings.

"People find it difficult to cover the cost of basic goods and seek other alternatives," said economist Juan Jované, given the scarcity of some foods in open markets.

In turn, the union leader Abelardo Herrera argues that the country's economy continues to stand out, but "citizens are killed since dawn for possibly a bag of rice."

For his part, Professor and economist Maribel Gordón seen in measures such as price controls "fallacy" of the government.

It states that the basket price never diminished by the lack of a serious policy, and the country requires policies that guarantee food sovereignty and effectively regulated.

Remaining less than 39 months in office, and the president ensures that the important work already carried out, although part of the population says not know them.