PanamaTimes

Thursday, Apr 25, 2024

Elisa Suárez: We have no idea what the economic plan for Panama is

Elisa Suárez: We have no idea what the economic plan for Panama is

Panama Association of Business Executives (Apede) candidate for Apede precidency, Elisa Suárez talks about the economic outlook in the absence of a revival plan.

How many companies will have to close?

If I tell you I'm lying. What can happen is very uncertain – but many.

The estimation is 400,000 unemployed people, will it fall short?

We calculate that it will be more than that, because they only calculate the formal sector. We have to include the independent and informal ones.

Does the economic plan exist?

We don't know. We are blind. We have no idea what the plan is.

Why do you think they don't disclose it?

I trust it is because they want to be safe. Because it would be very sad to think that there is no plan.

What should the State cut funds from?

Now more than ever, they should be more restrained with public spending. Travel, hiring and reducing the payroll will have to be suspended. Today the sacrifices are being made only by the private sector. The government has continued to show solidarity, but with its officials.

How do you evaluate the health part?

It played a basic role in the beginning. But it lacked traceability and isolated people on time. The consequence is what we see now. They have to correct the way of executing the plans and be more open to considerations that lead us to reduce infections more effectively.

And, the economic part?

Tragic. Health had to be prioritized, but it should have had a balance. The consequence would not have been as bad as what we will experience. We will have to align ourselves ... enough political colors, ideologies and particular interests.

Is the economic part carried by Health or the health part is carried by the Economy?

The economic part is carried by Health. And while that continues to happen, we will continue to be confined and with a deteriorating economy. Let everyone play their role. We have made proposals, but we do not know if they have come to fruition. The eight tables that the government created initially never met. Or, at least, they never called us.

Tripartite table. Will it mean something?

I don't think so, because there is no consensus, and apparently they don't want to build. So the decision will have to be made by the government – and that is dangerous.

The Insurance crisis is compounded by Covid-19. What would be your proposal?

Since they haven't called us and it seems they never will, we will make our own table to create solutions.

What is the government not understanding in this crisis?

That they are not alone. That in the guilds there is the potential and energy to do sensible and viable things. They must put forth the idea that consulting is co-governing. When will they understand that in all the productive sectors there are valuable professionals who could contribute?

And, the entrepreneurs?

We have to put down private interests for the common good. Let's keep trying to contribute. In the end, the responsibility for the economy and the generation of jobs falls on us [entrepreneurs].

Is the government or the businessmen more corrupt?

In both there are corrupt and good.

How do you reactivate a company with depressed consumption and people without money?

With much effort and desire. I don't know how, but giving up is not an option.

"It will be useless to be healthy, if we are going to be broke." Agree?

I wouldn't say it like that. Health is not just the absence of disease, but having everything we need to live.

How would you liberate the country?

I would not do it by blocks but by regions. The blocks are too short for national needs. The regions that are very productive and have almost no contagion, why not allow them to open and produce? The majority of infections are in very specific areas. Hunger will be the other pandemic ...

Government. Lack of leadership, clarity or communication?

I think it lacks a little of all three.

The age of your opponent, strength or weakness?

I highly respect his struggles, his experience and his career, but there is a new story to write.

If you weren't running, would you vote for your opponent?

No. He wouldn't vote for me either, I think.

His specific objective, if he wins the Apede presidency?

Work for internal cohesion and be a union capable of saying what other unions do not dare to say.

A self-criticism of Apede?

We must improve administrative systems to have better communication with our members.

How do you respond to those who say that Apede is a theoretical group?

Yes, we are a group of thought, but we put proposals on the table.

Pending tasks of democracy?

Institutionality, respect for free enterprise and citizen rights.
Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×