Panama protests

A lot of people have been asking what the protests and road closures currently happening in Panama are about.

My understanding is:

A Canadian copper mining company, First Quantum, has been operating in Panama for a few years now. Recently their contract was renegotiated and expanded.

It seems several groups of Panamanian are not ok with this. Lots of environmental concerns have been raised and throughout the country people are protesting, it seems mostly with road blockades.

Some parts of the country are more affected than others. Other than a shortage of some vegetables that have to be shipped in, Pedasi has been ‘normal’.

That’s my understanding.

Ruth