(CMR) Months after Cayman Airways reopened its route to Panama, a major protest is creating setbacks for visitors to the country. A tour company in Panama said nationwide protests have made it difficult to travel around the country, causing people to cancel trips or miss appointments.
Two people were killed in an ongoing anti-government protest in Panama on Tuesday as thousands take to the streets opposing a government contract that allows a Canadian company to expand its copper mining operations there.
According to Reuters, the two people killed were taking part in the anti-government protest when they were shot dead by an unknown assailant, aggravating social tension that has welled up since anger over the lucrative mining contract sparked demonstrations.
The new contract with mining firm First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) was signed into law by Panama's government on 20 October, and provides First Quantum a 20-year mining right with an option to extend for another 20 years, in return for $375 million in annual revenue to Panama.
While the government has said the new contract offers better terms than the previous one, protesters disagree.
Road blocks set up by protesters have caused up to $80 million in daily losses to businesses, according to Panama's association of company executives, with schools closed nationwide for over a week and more than 150,000 medical appointments missed, Reuters reported.
Officials have urged people to end the protests, though construction workers' and teachers' unions have vowed to continue taking to the streets until the First Quantum contract is annulled.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid