BRIEFS: Transportation
Protest closes highway for second time
| ney castillo/la prensa |
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| unrest: Protesters from Llano Ñopo blocked the Pan-American Highway yesterday. 1108709 |
Protest closes highway for second time
Teachers, residents and bus and taxi drivers from the indigenous area of Llano Ñopo blocked the Pan-American Highway yesterday for the second time this week to protest the poor condition of roads there.
The protest followed a rally that began mid-morning. Demonstrators closed off the highway for about an hour starting at noon.
Teacher Davis Otero said that the group has not received any answers from the government on when the roads are going to be repaired. The teachers say that the poor roads make it dangerous for students to get to and from school. He said that authorities have not followed through with agreements they have signed with the community, and they have no choice left but to protest.
David Martínez, another teacher, explained that the life of each person who uses the roads is always at risk, because they are in very poor condition. He said that an additional protest is planned for Monday, and that residents plan to close the highway for a longer period of time.
Arturo López, regional director of the Ministry of Public Works in Chiriquí, said that he hopes an agreement can be reached with the community before further protests take place.
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