BUSINESSMEN REJECT PRESIDENT’S STATEMENTS

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) stated that the speech of President Ricardo Martinelli at the beginning of the third regular session of the National Assembly directly attacks the business sector.

The CCIAP released the following statement:

“The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP), categorically rejects the attacks made by Ricardo Martinelli, President of the Republic in submitting his report of 30 months in office at the start of the third regular session of the National Assembly.

Federico Humbert Arias President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama.

“It’s amazing that President Martinelli starts the year looking for confrontations with the business sector and the media, of which he is a member. Such statements are those that mark the end of 2011m with so many surprises, and it is this type of action that triggers the government institutions to lose credibility and public confidence,” said Federico Humbert Arias, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.

All sectors of the country deserve respect, and using terms such as empresaurios to refer to Panamanian businessmen is unacceptable. From large enterprises to small businesses, everyone deserves proper respect from our authorities. Today, we expected an address as a management report but, unfortunately, we only received a message of confrontation and unacceptable epithets from the President of the Republic,“ said the president of the business group.

Humbert noted that “this is a moment to remember that the most important achievements we enjoy today, such as the signing of the TPC with the U.S. and the investment grade rating, were made possible by a team from the past governments and our business group, work that must be maintained.

“Our organization calls on the Executive Branch to stop the negative and sterile confrontations, and govern with accountability and transparency for all Panamanians,” concluded the President of the CCIAP.