BRIEFS. development

Residents protest proposed high rises

David Mesa/LA PRENSA

unhappy: Residents say high rises will ruin their neighborhoods.1037503

Residents of Albrook and Clayton held a protest yesterday on the Avenida Omar Torrijos Herrera to voice their opposition to a law that will allow high-density developments in their neighborhoods.

The protesters shouted slogans denouncing President Martín Torrijos for signing the law, which replaced previous legislation that had declared those areas off limits to high rises and other large-scale projects.

The protest started at 9:15 a.m. with about 300 people marching from Albrook Mall up to the staircase in front of the Panama Canal Administration Building.

Protesters described the current administration as the “worst” in Panama's history in regard to environmental issues.

Albrook resident Yolani Rognoni said that the destruction of forests in one area impacts everyone in the country, and not just the people who live nearby.

The group plans to protest near the offices of the Supreme Court this morning starting at 7 a.m.