ACROSS the isthmus

WEST PANAMA. Two people died, 4 houses were destroyed and another 18 were extensively damaged along Panama’s Pacific west coast after unextpectedly high tides in Gorgona, Farrallon, Playa Leona, San Jose and Puerto Caimito. In all, 217 people were affected, said the Director of Panama’s National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC). The unusually high tides, which registered almost 18 feet on Saturday and Sunday, are expected to continue until Thursday.

PANAMA. A long, dry summer from November until May of next year is the likely consequence of the current El Niño that is affecting the country, the acting head of the Minstry of Agricultural Development has said. He advised farmers to start laying aside provisions.

PANAMA. The Business Executives Association (APEDE) has spoken out against the privileges that legislators have in the National Assembly, saying they strongly contradict the message of austerity that the government is trying to send. “If the people are going to have to contribute by paying more tax then the excessive privileges of our legislators should be eliminated immediately because they have a lot to do with cases of corruption,” said the president of APEDE, Ruben Castillo Gill.