Panama Bishops Decry
Neglect of Poor
The Panamanian Episcopal
Conference said on
Friday that the
country's proclaimed
economic growth benefits
are not reaching the 37
percent of the
population that lives in
poverty.
The Catholic hierarchy,
which met in the last
five days in Panama
City, denounced the
rising costs of basic
foods and public service
tariffs, as well as the
threat of increase in
the public
transportation fares.
During a press
conference presided over
by Monsignor Jose Luis
Lacunza, the bishops
urged government and
business sectors to
consider the needs of
the population,
including stepped up
public safety, and
criticized the waste of
money in the recently
started race for the May
2009 presidential
elections.
They also called to
prevent the interests of
economic groups from
predominating over the
protection of
environment and natural
resources in mining
exploitation and the
construction of
hydro-power stations. |
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