Panama President Mulino Sets A Deadline For An Agreement With Banana Growers In Bocas Del Toro -

(MENAFN- Newsroom Panama) President José Raúl Mulino issued an ultimatum today amid negotiations between the government and the Banana Industry Workers Union (Sitraibana), led by Francisco Smith in Bocas del Toro. The clock is ticking in Changuinola: Mulino sets 1:30 pm today Thursday May 22nd as the deadline for an agreement with banana growers. According to Mulino, the union's refusal to sign an agreement with the banana company could lead to mass layoffs in the coming days. This is a story in progress. Check back later for updates.

Chiquita Panama's Offices are Closed

The Cry for Help from Guabito above: 'We need to Move Forward. We're trapped.'

Commercial activity in Guabito is virtually paralyzed. This border town, with a population of over 10,000, plays a key role in the connection between Panama and Costa Rica. Rain falls intermittently over Guabito, in the Changuinola district, as if accompanying the town's somber mood. The drops patter on the zinc roofs, while the shops look deserted and the streets, once bustling with tourists and merchants, have become silent. The crisis has set in here since the blockades began in Bocas del Toro by banana workers. “Up to 40 trucks carrying bananas, lumber, and other goods used to cross here every day,” says an official overseeing the bridge over the Sixaola River on the Panamanian side.“Now no one crosses. Not a single tourist, not a single container. We're trapped by this situation,” he laments, as the river's powerful current can be heard in the background.

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