Friday, May 8, 2020
I recently wrote a bit on my political evolution from brash Conservative badass to badass Dad. The article was already lengthy enough, but the point I wanted to eventually reach was actually on the inherent nature of people. Who are we at the time of birth and who could we continue to be without the unintentional programming of our parents and other influencers? I’m a Dad to 3 good kids. (One kid, ain’t no longer a kid, but she’s still my kid.) From this experience, I witness their constant development, I watch how certain discouraging events would direct them away from their innate “innocence”. Every time they would falter, we tried to be there for them either gathering them up, sometimes letting them work things out for themselves and on occasion mending the little broken pieces. More times than not, these redirections were caused by some major impact relating to their interaction with other kids. They say that “kids can be mean”, but I don’t believe they start this way. A mean kid is the negative outcome of an adverse environment. In most cases, we would watch the frustrations of our kids as they dealt with a scenario that just didn’t make any sense to them. Why did you hit your friend? Why do they say they hate me? How a kid deals with this, how they react to this, will change their perspective on everything they deal with from that moment on. That learning moment is important. It changes them negatively or positively depending on how their parents, teachers and other heroes guide them through the moment. (For that very reason, bullying is an important experience for all kids. How they handle it, is another topic for another day.)
This exercise reveals that each one of us is born with inexplicable, boundless, limitless amounts of human empathy. We are born with the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. As time moves boldly against our will, they grow, learn and adapt. They begin the process of making decisions and hopefully they learn from the results and consequences of these decisions. Through a series of values that we teach them, sometimes not defined, but interpreted by the actions we project, they develop into the good people that we hope them to be.
I direct a team of roughly 70 people spread out in complex security environments. Every one of them comes from a unique environment; of course, everyone is unique. With the lockdown, we were forced to make some difficult decisions with our team. We needed to maintain security in several locations, but some posts were eliminated. As a matter of fact, 30 posts were eliminated. The duty of a leader is to look adversity in the face and simply make the call. It’s that decision-making process we learn early on that gets easier to resolve, yet still the consequences remain. How did I decide on which 30 were going to get suspended? Truthfully, I didn’t. Instead, I focused on the 42 best that we had for the remaining posts. We first easily picked the cream of the crop and then worked from there based on their merits and their attention to the team values. Our team values were created by the team nearly 8 years ago; they are Honesty, Responsibility, Loyalty, Courtesy and Team Work.
First, we sent these 30 on vacation for 30 days, then we had to suspend their contracts as per the agreement established from the Executive Decrees with guidance from MITRADEL (Labor Ministry). Today, while everyone battles over whether or not Dry Law should remain or be “lifted”, I have 30 people who are hungry. Sure, some are “ok” and can hold out for a few months on their savings, but I have 30 people without a job and as much as my empathetic nature wants to help somehow, I can´t help all of them.
And then something unexpected happened today. We created a WhatsApp group for everyone in the department. Regardless of their status, everyone is on this list. Unexpectedly, a small group of team members began bashing the government for “doing nothing for the poor” and “they’re all thieves”. My instinct kicked in and I began to challenge the comments as a way to teach what I hoped would be a positive lesson. Instead, more disgruntled citizens jumped in. There were positive “trust God” comments as well as the occasional, “this will be over soon, hold on”. I was witnessing, as I had often, not a battle of colleagues, but instead a battle of previously established values. On one side we had the “these are the problems” group. On the other we had the “let’s find a solution” group”. It wasn’t even based on who was working or who wasn’t.
And then one of our Crème de la Crème, Lexy Mercado, spoke up. She blew me away with her words for a few reasons. First, Lexy has been through a lot of shit in the last few years; there’s really no other way to say it. Her husband was in an accident and became a paraplegic leaving her as the sole breadwinner for them and their 5 kids. Then just last year they lost everything when their humble home caught on fire due to a faulty floor fan. But today, Lexy spoke up through the barrage of anger and concern and instead of going with the flow of pointing out the problems, she said:
“Good afternoon companions, I encourage you to come together and support our companions that are not working and have no income. If anyone wants to join me, let’s organize something.”
That was at 1PM today and right now as I write this, at 1130PM, they’re still talking about what they could do and how to do it. A committee was formed and tomorrow they’re presenting a plan for everyone to give a little as true solidarity for their unfortunate companions.
The values that we established for our team were organized as a constant reminder to the team members of how we hope they behave while on the job. It’s not easy to be Courteous, for example, when you have a crack addict screaming obscenities at you and threatening to kill you when you leave the safety of your worksite. If the employee was brought up right and their environment allowed for it, it would be easier and more natural for them to follow the Team Values. For those who… …lets say, for those with a different upbringing, it wasn’t always going to be as easy for them to always follow these values. But, I never imagined that our Team Values would be revived by empathetic colleagues looking to do good outside the parameters of their work site.
This Pandemic is changing people in many ways. It’s refreshing to see if the Pandemic has changed even just a few for the positive.
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS
The Panamanian population is in disagreement regarding the issue of the “dry law”, on the one hand, the decision taken by the Government is of concern, since there are currently other considerable priorities to benefit the population; while the government assures that if Executive Decree No. 612 of May 8, 2020, is not complied with, it will be withdrawn, all depending on the behavior of the people.
Executive Decree No. 612 of May 8, 2020, which authorizes the distribution, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages throughout the national territory, under the following parameters and restrictions:
- The sale can only be made in establishments with the proper permission to sell alcoholic beverages.
- The sale will be only in retail and in serrated containers.
- It will be for personal and home consumption within the current mobility conditions.
- You can only sell or dispatch: six units of beer or a bottle of wine or one of liquor of any kind.
- For a restaurant at home, only one unit of alcoholic drink can be sold per order.
- The use of the solidarity bond or any other type of subsidy granted by the State for the purchase of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
- The distribution, sale and consumption is prohibited in the communities, regions or provinces that, as of the effective date of the decree, are under a sanitary fence and those that in the future enter into this condition.
Executive Decree No. 612 of May 8, 2020
https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/29020_A/78409.pdf
GOVERNMENT ISSUES A DECREE THAT LIFTS THE DRY LAW
The Decree states that the sale can only be made in commercial establishments that have the proper authorization to sell alcoholic beverages. It can only be sold at retail and in closed containers for personal and household consumption. You can only sell or dispatch per person: six units of beer or a bottle of wine or one of liquor of any kind. In the case of restaurants that offer food service for home delivery, only the sale of one unit of alcoholic drink per order will be allowed. Article 7 of the decree maintains the temporary closure of sports, recreation and recreation places and venues. The generation of noise is prohibited, by means of sound equipment that exceeds the established limits. The Decree indicates that the municipalities that for administrative or economic reasons have difficulties in complying with the dictated measures must coordinate with the Ministry of Government and the National Secretary for Decentralization, what is necessary for their implementation and execution.
https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Gobierno-promulga-decreto-Ley-Seca_0_5574192587.html
FLEXIBILIZATION OF THE DRY LAW DIVIDES CITIZENS, AUTHORITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Citizens, the Central Government and local governments have expressed their positions, some in support and others in rejection. In fact, some municipalities, such as Santiago de Veraguas, issued decrees to maintain the Dry Law. Julio Vives, President of the Association of Municipalities of Panama said that an analysis was made with mayors of the country, on that gradual uprising, which in his opinion will bring consequences to the health crisis. The position of the majority of mayors is based on concern, that “if some sober citizens are violating the decrees, how will they be drunk,” he explained. He alleges that this measure will bring more presence on public roads, increase domestic violence and redouble the effort of the Police in trying to bring order.
“There are other priorities to attend to. Most citizens want to prioritize the issue of going down the curve. In Veraguas, the statistics are ascending regarding the contagion of COVID-19 ”, he stressed.
Vives indicated that they have expressed to the Executive that the decisions that are taken should be consulted with the municipalities, because the mayors would have to attend to many of the cases that would arise with the overflow of order in their districts.
He maintained that they do not want to have a confrontation with the Executive, but they are raising their voice so that the Central Government “reflects” on the measure. The government’s justification The Minister of Commerce, Ramón Martínez said that the issue of flexibilization of the dry law involves studies and analysis by the Health authorities and the economic table. According to Martínez, this activity does not involve contact and in the same establishments that are open and sell food the controlled sale of liquor will be allowed. He explained that the liquor industry has thousands and thousands of jobs at risk and there are beer inventories that are expiring this month and if the measure is maintained, it will lead to millions of losses. For the minister, local governments have their regulations to make these decisions, but the contraband that was taking place forces the National Police to have another burden, which is to verify this situation.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT PARTIALLY LIFTED THE DRY LAW, MUNICIPALITIES IN COLÓN, KEEP IT
Mayor Alex Lee, at a press conference, reported that Decree 006 of March 22, 2020 remains in force, which temporarily prohibits the consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages in the entire Colon district.
Although from this Friday, the Executive partially lifted the dry law in the country, several municipalities in the province of Colón, will maintain the restriction on the sale of liquor. One of these municipalities is that of Colón, where Mayor Alex Lee, in a press conference reported that Decree 006 of March 22, 2020, remains in force, which temporarily prohibits the consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages in the entire Colon district. The Colón district is made up of 15 townships. Similarly, Darisnel Domínguez, mayor of the Chagres district, on the Costa Abajo de Colón, stated that they join in not lifting the dry law. He indicated that these moments, this measure is not relevant, because he considers that there are other priorities. For the Colossian Professor, Aldo Sáenz, the municipalities cannot regulate what is the power of the Executive; For example, municipalities cannot impose taxes on international activities regulated by the executive; because the principle of double taxation would apply. It is like sanctioning a person 2 times for the same cause, said the lawyer. In relation to the current debate on the measures taken by the mayors, it is appropriate to point out that the powers to apply measures
He explained that with respect to Law 55 of 1973 that adds Law 5 of 2007, it regulates the commercial activity of alcoholic beverage outlets, but does not suspend it, and the restrictive measures are only given in the cases established by the norm, and They do not have to do with the health issue.
He said that it is important to clarify that the Supreme Court of Justice has reiterated in several pronouncements (example when the Municipality of Colón wanted to collect taxes from the Enrique Jimenez international airport for international activities) that the municipalities should not assume powers of the Executive. As in this case (suspend the sale of alcoholic beverages) outside the terms of what is established in the aforementioned legal norm. This would violate the administrative principle of strict legality. In other words, the public official can only do what the law allows, said Saénz. To all this, the Colonians will continue consuming alcoholic beverages, in the black market, where a case of beer, for example, reaches from $ 18 to $ 24.
Brett’s comments: The Decree to lift the Dry Law today went in to effect shortly after 1 PM today. Seeing as today was a day in which only women could go out, I really didn’t expect to see many of them lining up just to get one six-pack or one bottle of alcohol. This image is laughable and shows the sheep mentality. All of these women, in line, are literally only going to purchase 1 little thing. They could have gone to the supermarket, but instead they went to an actual liquor store just to get one bottle or a six-pack. I’m shocked! OK, I’ll admit that we almost fell in to this same trap today. We have a HUGE collection of spirits that have been part of a collection that we’ve been amassing over the years. But I’m out of Zacapa 23…. …”Honey, oh snookums, would you be interested in running down to Felipe Motta and get just one little bottle of Zacapa for me, pretty pleeeeeaaaase?”, I asked her. “No.”, she retorted. And, well, that was the end of that.
NEW CRITERIA FOR RECOVERED PATIENTS FROM COVID-19
The authorities of the Ministry of Health (Minsa) established a new definition to declare “recovered” patients in home isolation or who are in hotels.
Javier Nieto, a doctor and part of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Minsa, said that the new definition implies that those patients with 14 days since they were diagnosed with the virus, will be considered recovered.
“These patients who leave the hotels for their homes have to be quarantined for 14 days,” added Nieto, who stressed that, based on the new criteria, patients will not require a negative test.
https://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/nuevo-criterio-para-pacientes-recuperados/
MINSA: 60% OF COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME THE DISEASE
A report by the Ministry of Health reveals that more than half of COVID-19 positive patients have managed to overcome the disease, either clinically or through laboratory tests carried out to date.
Health authorities indicate that this week more than a thousand people have overcome the disease.
It should be clarified that they are considered a recovered clinical patient, who can go up to 72 hours without fever and without respiratory distress, the Minsa indicated that “this recovery can occur two weeks after the onset of symptoms.”
MP INVESTIGATES COMPANIES THAT SOLD SALVOCONDUCTOS (SAFE PASSAGE DOCUMENTS)
Luis Guerra, director of the Legal Advice Directorate of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) announced that the Public Ministry began investigations of companies that were selling Salvoconductos. He related that a person announced himself on social networks saying that he sold the Salvoconductos validated by the competent authorities for B / .80.00, and that he only required the name and ID of the applicant. The MICI noted that the company, which according to Guerra is small, had generated 54 safe-conducts for the courier charge, proceeded to block them.
After this, the managers of the company demanded the MICI remove the blockade, however, it was detected that they were the same as those advertised on networks and that the safe-conducts issued were not for their real personnel. These are two Venezuelans who are currently detained and under the orders of the MP, while the Salvoconductos that were issued in that operation notice were withdrawn and appear not to be in force. On the other hand, the owner of an inn located in San Miguelito had generated 278 safe-conducts, so they filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office.
“We have several companies in our sights … do not lend yourself to this game, we are going to detect them, the MICI engineers are monitoring 24/7,” he warned.
The entity indicated that the companies that incur in the sale of safe conducts or other faults related to the use of this document will be legally sanctioned and disabled to carry out this procedure.
COVID-19 FREE SECTORS MAY BE THE FIRST TO RAISE THE GRADUAL QUARANTINE
The Vice Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, did not rule out the possibility of lifting the gradual quarantine in the sectors that have not registered cases of COVID-19, as is the case of Isla Colón, but this will depend on how behavior is maintained as well as population and disease in those areas. The question was raised by an inhabitant of this sector through #YoMeInformo networks who exposed to the authorities that for 55 days in Isla Colón there have been no cases of COVID-19, so he asked if it can be considered to lift the quarantine here.
“If it does not exist or is free of COVID-19, of course. One of the elements of the plan to return to the new normal is to lift the total quarantine, first in the areas that are free of COVID-19, “said Luis Sucre.
He also stressed that it is an approach that is being scientifically evaluated, but it is one of the possibilities that is on the table.
COMPANIES WAIT FOR REGULATION FOR MORATORIUM
The companies that provide the services of electricity distribution, fixed telephony, mobile telephony and internet are waiting for the regulation that the Executive must approve to know the details of how the moratorium will be applied in the payment of these public services.
Law 152 of May 4, 2020 adopts social measures for the temporary suspension of the payment of public services and other provisions, in attention to the state of national emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Through the regulation of this Law 152, the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP), which regulates public services, must establish through resolutions what are the procedures that companies will follow to apply the moratorium to clients affected by the pandemic.
The moratorium is for a period of 4 months, which began on March 1 and ends on June 30, according to the law.
The legislation applies to all those whose family income is less than $ 2,000 a month, that the family income has been reduced, that the person has had his employment contract suspended, has been dismissed, or is retired or pensioned, indicates the law.
It is also extended to small and medium-sized business workers who have been affected by their income. The owners of restaurants, bars, casinos; as well as owners of public and private service transportation, who are in the same condition.
As of July 1, users of these services must pay the normal bill and will have up to 36 months to face the 4-month moratorium, with no surcharge or interest on the debt.
The moratorium does not apply to pay television. Another commitment is that those who avail themselves of the law will not be affected in the credit history.
https://www.prensa.com/impresa/economia/empresas-esperan-reglamentacion-para-la-moratoria/
ALTHOUGH STILL WITHOUT DATE, TOCUMEN AIRPORT IS PREPARING FOR GRADUAL REOPENING OF FLIGHTS
Tocumen International Airport is preparing for a gradual reopening of commercial flights, although there is not yet a scheduled date for this. And it is that, for the moment; they are only maintained by carrying out humanitarian flights and transporting cargo, medicines and supplies. Precisely, this Friday, more than 150 people were repatriated to the United States and so far more than 30 flights have been registered; with more than two thousand passengers who have been transferred to their different countries of origin. The United States Ambassador to Panama, Phillip Laidlaw, highlighted that so far they have been able to facilitate the return of more than almost 200 Americans. Meanwhile, Raffou Arab, manager of the air terminal, stated that they have the implementation of various security systems such as the placement of thermal cameras, in addition to alcohol gel and the use of masks.
https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/todavia-prevista-aeropuerto-Tocumen-reapertura_0_5574192577.html
MORE THAN 30 PANAMANIANS IN CUBA EXPECT MINSA TO AUTHORIZE A HUMANITARIAN FLIGHT
More than 30 Panamanian citizens who are currently stranded in Cuba due to the closure of airports due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, are waiting for the authorities of the Ministry of Health of Panama to authorize a humanitarian flight to be able to return to the country. They explain the situation of more than 30 Panamanians who are in Cuba. Atenógenes Rodríguez “The airports are closed and the only way to return is for each country to make a request for a humanitarian flight so that we can return to Panama,” said Ingrid Cedeño. He explained that they have had contact with the Panamanian diplomatic authorities in Cuba, however, they have been informed that the Health Minister Rosario Turner is the one who must authorize the humanitarian flight.
“The Foreign Ministry agrees that there are more than 40 Panamanians, where there are children and the elderly, where there are no medicines, where economic resources run out … and the Foreign Ministry only tells us that the Minister of Health is the only one person authorized to request and do all the errands for a humanitarian flight and it is the only answer they know how to give us, they say that they cannot be held responsible for us, ” he said.
https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/2020/05/08/30-panamenos-cuba-esperan-minsa/2842692.html
STATUS UPDATE:
AFTER 60 DAYS IN THE FIGHT 8,070 ACCUMULATED CASES AND 231 COVID-19 DEATHS IN PANAMA ARE REGISTERED
- 8,070 positive cases
- 202 new cases
- 231 deaths
- 3,006 home isolation (980 hospital hotels)
- 333 are hospitalized (248 in ward / 85 intensive care)
- 4,500 clinically recovered
On the number of cases and deaths according to age group, the Epidemiology department has registered that in children under 20 there are 644 cases and 3 deaths; from 20 to 39 years there have been 3,418 cases and 9 deaths; among those between 40 and 59 years old there are 2,824 infections and 53 deaths; in those aged 60 to 79, there are 993 cases and 110 deaths; and in people over 80 years of age, 191 cases and 56 deaths have occurred.
Coronavirus statistics from Day 1:
- Mon, March 9: 1 case
- Tues 10: 8 cases (+7)
- Wed 11: 14 cases (+6)
- Thu 12: 27 cases (+13)
- Fri 13: 36 cases (+9)
- Sat 14:43 cases (+7)
- Sun 15: 55 cases (+12)
- Mon 16: 69 cases (+14)
- Tues 17: 86 cases (+17)
- Wed 18: 109 cases (+23)
- Thu 19: 137 cases (+28)
- Fri 20: 200 cases (+63)
- Sat 21: 245 cases (+45)
- Sun 22: 313 cases (+68)
- Mon 23: 345 cases (+32)
- Tues 24: 443 cases (+98)
- Wed 25: 558 cases (+115)
- Thu 26: 674 cases (+116)
- Fri 27: 786 cases (+112)
- Sat 28: 901 cases (+115)
- Sun 29: 989 cases (+88)
- Mon 30: 1075 cases (+86)
- Tues 31: 1181 cases (+106)
- Wed April 1:1317 cases (+136)
- Thu 2: 1475 cases (+158)
- Fri 3: 1673 cases (+198)
- Sat 4: 1801 cases (+128)
- Sun 5: 1988 cases (+187)
- Mon 6: 2100 cases (+112)
- Tues 7: 2249 cases (+149)
- Wed 8: 2528 cases (+279)
- Thu 9: 2752 cases (+224)
- Fri 10: 2974 cases (+222)
- Sat 11: 3234 cases (+260)
- Sun 12: 3400 cases (+166)
- Mon 13: 3472 cases (+72)
- Tues 14: 3574 cases (+102)
- Wed 15: 3751 cases (+177)
- Thu 16: 4016 cases (+265)
- Fri 17: 4210 cases (+194)
- Sat 18: 4273 cases (+63)
- Sun 19: 4467 cases (+194)
- Mon 20: 4658 cases (+191)
- Tues 21: 4820 cases (+162)
- Wed 22: 4992 cases (+171)
- Thu 23: 5166 cases (+174)
- Fri 24: 5338 cases (+172)
- Sat 25: 5538 cases (+200)
- Sun 26: 5779 cases (+241)
- Mon 27: 6021 cases (+242)
- Tues 28: 6200 cases (+179)
- Wed 29: 6378 cases (+178)
- Thu, 30: 6532 cases (+154)
- Fri, May 1: 6720 cases (+188)
- Sat, May 2: 7090 cases (+370)
- Sun, May 3: 7197 cases (+107)
- Mon, May 4: 7387 cases (+190)
- Tues, May 5: 7523 cases (+136)
- Weds, May 6: 7731 cases (+208)
- Thu, May 7: 7868 cases (+137)
- Fri, May 8: 8070 cases (+202)
ENDNOTES
And here I leave you this for the weekend with a little bit of Robert Frost. Be good, be unique, take the road less traveled and make a difference.
“The Road Not Taken”
by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Stay safe… Stay healthy… And by all means STAY HOME!!…
