Martinelli Visits Changuinola After Riots

President Martinelli traveled to Changuinola yesterday to speak with those affected  by the violent clash between police and banana workers that consumed Bocas del Toro earlier this month.

He said the government would give pensions to those affected by the Changuinola banana conflict and announced the possible revision of the minimum wage in the Bocas del Toro region with a 60 cent raise from the current $1.24 an hour, among other promises to improve the quality of life in the region.

He also said that an independent commission would investigate what went down during the riots that left two officially dead and hundreds wounded.

¨I apologize if there was excess or abuse, or as they say, if the chicken got out of our hands,¨ La Prensa quoted the President as saying.

Accompanied by a group of ministers including Juan Carlos Varela and Jimmy Papadimitriu, Martinelli distributed bags of food, toys and scholarships to the Changuinolans.

Meanwhile, back in the city, civil society and union groups called for the resignation of Minister of Labor Alma Cortez, Minister of Security Jose Raul Mulino and Chief of Police Gustavo Perez.

Martinelli in Changuinola July 17 2010