Panama Bus Drivers Get
Weapons
Panamanian public bus
drivers are currently
considering arming
themselves to face up to
an increase in attacks
and murders that affect
the guild, one of its
main leaders said.
At least six drivers
died in recent weeks at
the hands of criminals
that shot them rob the
money collected, while
armed robberies,
especially at night, are
reported daily.
Those crimes motivated
strikes and drivers'
calls to the police and
authorities to
strengthen security in
remote neighborhoods,
greater patrolling, and
more severe punishment
of criminals.
National Transportation
Chamber President Luis
Rodriguez, who announced
the drivers'
determination to arm
themselves, abstained
from asserting or
denying that it was a
firm decision, but he
said "each route
president would see how
many drivers he would
arm."
Land Transportation and
Traffic Authority
Director Heraclio
Batista told a
television news show
that it is an extreme
idea, but he admitted
that bus drivers are in
a desperate situation.
He was in favor of
tightening security
measures and encouraging
the whole society to
fight crime.
According to official
announcements, the
government included in
its agenda adoption of a
new plan for security
and crime prevention,
while there are national
debates about making
sentences for younger
gang members more harsh
is still latent. |
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