The peoples support towards the mining projects of in the province of Colon

LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMA/NACIONALES

March in Favor of Mining

RICARDO FERNÁNDEZ

periodistas@laestrella.com.pa

The main purpose of the activity was to reiterate the people´s support towards the mining projects of in the province of Colon. Various delegations from Coclé and Veraguas participated in the event.

COCLE. A march in favor of mining projects in the area of Donoso, province of Colon took place yesterday in Penonome, with the participation from the communities that surrounding the Molejon-Petaquilla mine, employees, management team of the mining syndicate (SITRAEMIP), a delegation from Veraguas and municipal authorities of Penonome.

The March began at the town´s main public park at 10: 30 a.m., guarded by agents of the National Police and went through the Avenida Manuel Amador Guerrero and continued on the right lane of the Inter-Americana highway in front of the hotel Dos Continentes, coming to a halt in the Jardin Los Paraguitas in San Jose.

To the beats samba drums, cumbia accords coming from the “murga” ,detonation sounds of fireworks and the support of personnel and logistics team of the mining company, the participants expressed that ‘it was a march in favor of the life of the communities’ because much progress has been made through advances for their populations.

Arcelio Vargas, spokesman for the local community was emphatic while mentioning that the march had the intention to reiterate support for mining projects, but was also a call for authorities to ensure that they act upon and bring to a stop to the street demonstrations, and river manifestations, coming from small groups that exist in the area’, as Mr. Vargas commented are instigated by foreign people whose actions have negative repercussions against the projects which benefit everyone in terms of highways, water projects, food and fuel among others, said the representative.

According to Mr. Vargas, to this activity attended inhabitants of communities such as Calle Larga, San Benito, Nazareno, Nuevo San Jose, San Juan de Turbe, Coclé del Norte, Santa Elena, Coclesito, Sabanita Verde, Caimito, Villa del Carmen, Penonome and Tambo, among others.

Interview of the day: Arsenio Vargas, Mining and Community Committee

Q. You work has been engaging with your community, how would define the development of their communities?

A. I am a member of a committee which supports mining projects, because we want to make it clear that we live in Coclesito 24 hours a day, are certain that at this time we have made progress as a community, and when we speak of development it is because we have witnessed improvement in the last five years. Now that we are able to see that there is progress, we question to those who want to go against development. For example, between the major infrastructure works, streets, bridges and roads, health centers have been created, people are able to transport themselves, and the mining company has helicopters which hold the capacity to carry people out of to get medical treatment in case of emergencies due to snake bites.

I led a project from Molejones to Calle Largo and I know what I am talking about. Before, it used to take 8 hours to reach our destination. The mining company has built a road that connects many villages once inaccessible, a road from Molejones to Nazareno, communicates Calle Largo, Nazareno, San Juan de Turbe and other communities. The government, mining company, community, and Richard Fifer have worked hard for this road which is today available for us. We don’t want to block roads, as small opposition groups do, we build roads so that people and villages develop.

Q. We have received information stating that these miniscule groups are blocking the passage through the rivers, is this true?

A. Those statements are correct. They are intended to make us fight between ourselves, the people of our communities which all suffer from the same problems. But they never present solutions to our problems, rather than solve, they aggravate them. Look how far the situation has gone where these small groups block the rivers for those people who come down in canoes and use it as a road for the poor. Who are they hurting? Our own people. Nobody blocks the Transistmica road in the capital city for 8 days, but these insignificant groups that are opposed to the development and progress, have blocked the river for more than 12 days without any interception by the authorities who should resolve this issue once for all.

Q. In that case, what would be your request to the authorities?

A. I am of the opinion that the enforcement of the law must be firm and pertaining authorities must act soon, because this group is leading a confrontation with our people. To avoid this, we are peaceful people, but will not allow them to play with our development, our children’s future.

Interview of the day: Santos Gomez, Mining Industry Workers of Panama Syndicate, Secretary of Defense and Labor

Q. Your work has been engaging with your community, how would define the development of their communities?

A. We have been studying The Petaquilla project for about 40 years. I remember that during the Perez Balladares Presidency, discussions took place regarding the Ley 9 and we were told the only alternative available for development for the peoples living in the communities of the Atlantic slope north of La Pintada, was the exploitation of our natural resources and were even told of the highly recognized potential we had at the international level. A number of studies have been made that have demonstrated results that the development coming from mining projects is the right choice for our communities who have lived in poverty and even extreme poverty throughout the years. There is no other alternative coming from the government, nor from those oppose mining, or anyone for that matter, to develop our communities. I am sure that in the past 30 years we have had no other alternative. We only have the hope of developing our communities: mining projects.

Q. Is it true that now can be seen the benefits of development in their communities?

A. We can already observe the large benefits from the development in the last 5 years. We have a law that offers great benefits. Today we also have a route of entry and there is a bridge that connects both sides towards the Atlantic and joins La Pintada with Donoso. We have a High School program in Coclesito as well as local roads have the possibility of transporting people in case of emergency evacuations due to illnesses, as well as many infrastructure projects. It is easy to notice the development; we invite you to come see it for yourself in our communities.

Q. You named in your speech those who are opposed to mining, “grupejos”. What is this?

A. They were named “grupejos” which means they do not have the ability to bring people together, would never win an election or have the support of the people. They oppose everything, have opposed the Torrijos-Carter treaty, the expansion project of the Panama Canal and now are against mining, but have never won an election. When something must be done for the people, they do not contribute a penny to help them, never translate a sick person who is in need or urgent medical attention, on the contrary, block the streets, impede any possible development, free transit and undermine human rights.

Q. Are you sending any message to the national government?

Yes. We ask the Government, the ANAM, the MICI and other entities to monitor projects; we want development, but carried out with responsibility.