AT THE ASSEMBLY

Torrijos’ last speech

03-02-2009 | MARIJULIA PUJOL LLOYD

mpujolstar@laestrella.com.pa

Panama Star PANAMA. President Martin Torrijos said that his government during the last four years has given a hard blow to poverty.

During his swan song speech before the National Assembly, Torrijos pointed out that the country’s growth over the last four years has been close to 9 percent and the latest poverty index was of 28.6 percent, which according to him was much lower than when he took power.

The legislators heard the biggest accomplishment of Torrijos’ administration such as the Fiscal Reform to sanitize the public finances, the creation of the opportunity network, designed to help the poorest citizens of the country, and training courses to help people to find jobs.

Torrijos insist that he has delivered his promises to the people and that he solved the problems previous administrations decided to ignore and requested that the next president continue with the programs he started.

The departing head of state gave thanks to the legislators for their support and the fact that they worked in harmony and respect for the last 54 months, which benefited the people in the long run.

President Torrijos believes that his time in power was a complete success, although his government was marred by constant protests, rise in violence and a profound discontent among the population that feels disappointed by his performance.