SALVOCONDUCTO UNCERTAINTY AND MEDUCA DROPS THE BALL
April 15, 2020
I started the day with a phone call from long-time friend and International Lawyer Michael Pierce. As usual, Mike and I spoke of the millions upon millions of dollars we could make on different projects as well as trying to guestimate when the wine stores would be open again. I confessed that I was worried that I had plum run out of ideas to write about, but he reassured me by saying, “I’m sure something will make the news today.”
Oh, wow was he right about that. A part of me wishes I would have stayed in bed today. No sooner did I finish my coffee, did MINSA, MICI and MEDUCA screw up my (our) entire day. But, thanks to them, I now have 5 pages of premium garble for you to read.
MINSA Statement: Salvoconducto – Safe Passage Document
Last night, the Minister of Health made mention that as of April 21, 2020, the Safe Passage or “Salvoconducto” used by companies who have exceptions to the quarantine, will no longer be valid. She added that the pertinent government ministries who handle this would give further insight as to how this would be handled.
The Minister of Health (Minsa), Rosario Turner, reported on Tuesday during the daily press conference, that the safe-conducts that have been issued so far can only be used until next week.
“The national government, particularly the Ministry of Health, informs that the safe-conducts that are in force until now will be valid until next Tuesday, when the institutions that will be in charge of these processes (Ministry of Commerce and Mida) will establish update mechanisms, “explained the head of the Minsa.
Turner added that through communications the data will be shared so that people who require them can make the corresponding transfers, especially on issues such as the food chain.
The safe-conduct is a document issued by the competent authorities that allows an individual to move freely in a certain region, without representing a sanction or risk, when restrictive mobility measures are taken.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, this document can only be used by the personnel of companies whose economic activities were given exception by way ofarticle 2 of Executive Decree No. 507 of March 24, 2020 and the Fé Errata. (NOTE: The Fe Errata is simply a publication used to correct errors to previously published works, or in this case, Decrees.)
https://m.panamaamerica.com.pa/sociedad/salvoconductos-actuales-solo-tendran-validez-hasta-el-proximo-martes-21-de-abril-1161231
MICI Announcement on Salvoconducto:
Further to this announcement, today the MICI or Ministry of Commerce and Industry published instructions for companies who have exceptions. According to the instructions, these companies are to email them the name of the company, contact and their telephone number.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) informs all those companies constituted by a natural or legal person, that have issued “SAFEGUARDS”, in favor of their collaborators, to be able to mobilize based on the exceptions established in Executive Decree number 507 of March 24, 2020 and Fe Errata, which must submit to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) as of Thursday, April 16, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. To the address salvoconductos@mici.gob.pa the following information:
- Name of the company
- Name of the contact
- Telephone number
Immediately afterwards the MICI will contact you by the same means requesting more information if required.
This information must be sent from April 16, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. until Friday, April 17 at 5:00 p.m.
It is warned that the information received will be reviewed and validated by our entity, and subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Security. Those companies that do not send the information to the MICI will have their passports disabled by the National Police.
In case of falsification of the information provided to the MICI, it will be sanctioned in accordance with Law 40 of November 16, 2006 and Article 3 of Executive Decree 500 of March 20, 2020, without prejudice to other civil and / or criminal sanctions. that correspond. This information will be validated by this entity and communicated to the Public Ministry.
Panama, April 15, 2020
These announcements from the government actually came as a shock to most and has several of the companies preparing for the worst. Apparently, there were several individuals and companies who were using the salvoconducto document to go to the beach or to go shopping outside their established schedule. Now, the legitimate companies are worried that the new system could jeopardize their access to contracts and previously authorized business.
MEDUCA announces the Indefinite Closure of Schools Nationwide
On March 12, 2020, MEDUCA decided to temporarily suspend classes in Panama City for 30 days. First, they suspended classes in the big city, then the outskirts and within a few days, they temporarily suspended classes throughout the entire country. Just prior to the 30–day deadline, they decided to extend the suspension for another 15 days, essentially until April 27, 2020. During these initial 30 days, schools were scrambling to figure out how to give classes to all of their students. Some were able to go all out and offer Live Classes online for their students where others sent out modules for the standard class work. There were several problems along the way and some schools seemed ready to give up as the parents fought amongst each other debating how to proceed with the day to day work during a time of crisis and stress. Petitions were created from both sides of the fight in the hopes to come to some solution on whether to keep the classes going or to pull the plug from its life support. Personally, my wife and I were headstrong on keeping the schools open (online), regardless of the sacrifices we were all making on a daily basis, while simultaneously trying to keep our business operating and sanity intact. I understand much of the reasoning that some parents wanted to suspend classes altogether, but from where I come from, you just don’t give up that easy. If you can’t pay the school, come to an agreement to pay later. If a child did not have access to the internet for Live Classes, there was still an option to do modules. I know that there were several kids who were struggling in this new system, but there were also a lot of kids who were not.
However, today, MEDUCA made the brash decision to suspend classes indefinitely. To me, the decision to do this was the wrong decision. Never should we sacrifice the education of some, because others are struggling. Instead, MEDUCA should have worked harder in bringing those who were having difficulties or could not gain access to their studies, up to the level of those who weren’t. Now, the proposal is to change the entire school year and adjust to a system similar to the schedule in the United States.
Panama really has done an excellent job in nearly all aspects of their decision-making process relating to the CoronaVirus, but this has been by far the absolute WORST decision they’ve made.
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
WORLD REGISTERS MORE THAN TWO MILLION INFECTED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS:
More than 2 million cases of the new coronavirus were officially declared in the world, half in Europe, according to a balance published this Wednesday by specialized centers that analyze statistical data on this virus. The new coronavirus has caused at least 126,898 deaths worldwide since it appeared in December, according to the balance. Since the beginning of the epidemic, more than 2,001,200 cases of contagion were recorded in 193 countries or territories.
MEN ARE INFECTED MORE THAN WOMEN IN PANAMA
The largest number of coronavirus infections in Panama is recorded in the male population, officials from the Ministry of Health reiterated this Tuesday at a press conference.
Epidemiologist Rodrigo DeAntonio explained that out of every five cases, three are in men. Until this Tuesday, 3,574 positives were counted in the country, of which 2,217 are in men and 1,357 in women. In this line, DeAntonio said that the exposure to which the gentlemen are subjected, as well as the factor that they are the ones who violate the quarantine the most, influence the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19.
COMMUNITY WORK FOR BREAKING QUARANTINE IS CATCHING ON
The San Francisco Community Board and the Casa de Paz (essentially the Justice Of The Peace) agreed to impose community work on people who cannot pay the fines established for failing to comply with the quarantine decreed by the new coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve already had the opportunity to see a bit of the same in La Chorrera and Chilibre. San Francisco represents
MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE DETAINED
In the last 24 hours, 512 people were detained by National Police (PN) units for failing to comply with the total quarantine decreed in Panama for the pandemic of the new coronavirus COVID-19. Of that total, the PN detailed, 445 are men, 35 women and 32 minors. In addition, nine drivers were returned in different sanitary fences for not carrying the circulation documents. 10 taxi drivers were also penalized for not complying with the mobility schedule. It boggles my mind. People, JUST STAY HOME!!! Stop it with the JuegaVivo crap! (I can do a separate article about “JuegaVivo”).
STATUS UPDATE:
COVID-19 DEATHS RISE TO 103 IN PANAMA, 3,751 CASES IN TOTAL
- 3,751 positive cases
- 177 new cases
- 103 deaths
- 3,240 home isolation
- 804 are in hotels
- 227 are hospitalized
- 106 in intensive care
- 75 recovered
- 1,809 clinically recovered
END NOTE:
As a followup to yesterdays “End Note”, I’d like to add a few more of my heroes to the enormous list of beautiful humans who support my madness:
- Chuck Kratzenberg for being that friend that I never knew I needed and for which I almost refused to meet. Who would have known that we would have so much in common?
- Frank Stroembo for showing me that even Olympic Medal winners can be softies at heart.
- Ana Ivette Lizárraga for all you do for the Las Cumbres community; everyone who meets you becomes a better person.
- My wife, Sayira Castroverde, for being the spitfire that you are, who refuses to give up even when the rest of the world does and for the tears you shed for your kids, so they don’t have to.
Thank you all so very much for being the wonderful people that you are.
Stay safe… Stay healthy… And by all means STAY HOME!!…
