Porteadores in Support of TLC
Porteadores, the informal taxi drivers, took the streets yesterday, not in a show of protest against their continuing conflict with the formal taxis, but rather to show their support for the Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) - free trade agreement with the United States.

The porteadores took a drive along Avenida Segunda to the Assemblea Legislativa (Legislative Assembly) to reaffirm to legislators their support for the trade deal.

The peaceful demonstration ended with the handing over to the "verdiblancos" (green and white members of the Partido Liberación Nacional - the ruling party) as well as to legislators of the Partido Movimiento Libertario, a document where the porteadores commit to offer free rides to voters on Referendum Day.

Víctor Salazar, of Auto transportes San Jorge, said that he feels that the TLC is the only solution to more employment.

"We set to work in favour of the TLC. One of the ways we can collaborate is to ensure that in areas of the country there is not one vote left at home and we will talk to our clients about the positive effects of the TLC", said Salazar.

Salazar, the head of the informal taxi organization, added that the Libertarios are coordinating ways to get people of their homes and to the voting booths.

"They are the ones who are going to tell us who, where and when to pick up people and we will be there", added Salazar.

Salazar added that his group doesn't want any confrontations with the formal taxi drivers, saying that it was wrong of the ministra de Obras Públicas y Transportes, Karla González, to give the formal taxi drivers the illusions of things that legally cannot be and does not solve the unemployment problems of the country.

Last week minister González met with the members of the Foro Nacional de Taxistas, asking them not to take to the streets in protest, committing herself to issuing an executive decree that would regulate the use of radio frequencies used by the informal taxi drivers.

For Salazar, the actions of the minister is going to cost the country 15.000 jobs. "She thinks that we will just go home and leave our children to die of hunger. This will add to more crime and prostitution, among other things", said Salazar.