The Association Restaurants, Bars and Discotheques of Panama (ARBYD) expressed its outrage at the meeting that took place yesterday between deputies and directors of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), at a time when restrictions are in force to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
At the same time, the Association of Restaurants and Related of Panama (ARAP) also reacted after this political meeting, emphasizing that under no circumstances do the violations of the decrees that regulate this sector endorse the violations.
Given the events of the last hours, it is impossible to overcome the level of boredom and outrage when seeing how the administrators of a traditional restaurant with known ties to a political party make fun of an entire country, opening its doors in frank disrespect for the rules that they demand the most disciplined behavior as they are all experiencing a pandemic, ”is reflected in a statement (ARBYD).
The union highlighted that in these 100 days of pandemic the situation has been critical and that they have strenuously faced this socioeconomic and health challenge, but that the attitude of those who participated in the meeting held at the Parrillada Jimmy's restaurant shows the highest contempt not Not only because of the harsh health crisis in the country, but also because of the unusual lack of the hackneyed solidarity towards all businesses in this sector.
"Because of the imminent danger of promoting the spread of a terrible murderous virus in open defiance of the mandates of the Ministry of Health, today we join the national protests vigorously against the irresponsible act that more than corruption represents a fact of barbarism towards the sacrificed citizenship and, without a doubt, a slap loaded with arrogance towards the companies that we are suffering and losing everything since March 11, 2020.”
Yesterday, Thursday, after closing the extraordinary session in the Assembly, members of the ruling PRD group went to a restaurant, despite the fact that the Executive ordered the temporary closure of all the restaurants in the country, as part of the measures to cope with the spread of the coronavirus.
The meeting was also attended by the PRD general secretary, Pedro Miguel González.
"We appeal to the most serious investigations and, to prove the irregularities experienced in social networks and transmitted by the journalistic media, to the most exemplary and energetic punishment in strict law for each of the parties involved in what constitutes yet another act of disrespect towards the sanitary norms and towards the authorities in general during this confinement ”, add the guild of owners of Bars, Restaurants and Clubs of Panama.
For its part, the ARAP also highlights that the officials who enact, sanction and enact laws are called to abide by the regulations without using their charges to violate them to the detriment of thousands of Panamanians and companies that today are experiencing a difficult economic situation and that they are complying with the legal provisions for the benefit of all.
"We demand equal conditions for all Panamanians, whether they are public officials, businessmen or the general public and that the legal provisions are fully complied with by all, especially by the Public Officials who must show 'example' to the citizens", is reflected in the ARAP note.
The ruling political group in its official Twitter account indicated that social distancing measures were kept at all times. They do not explain how they managed to settle into a restaurant whose operations - like those of the entire sector - were suspended by order of the Minsa.
This meeting caused a group of citizens to protest, sounding booths and chanting slogans, until late at night on Thursday.
The Ministry of Health reported that an investigation into the case was started.
