Thoughts on our political goings on

Wanted, a man or a woman in shining armor to run for President of Panama. A thumbnail surveying of voters’ views has produced news of a great divide based not upon programs, but personalities. Apart from the usual opposition opponents for whom the PRD with its roots reaching back to the dictatorship, Balbina Hererra is finding many card carrying members not responding to her message “from the heart”.

The strong antipathy felt by some, who may not voice it openly, especially if employed by the government, may account for her continuing fall in the polls. And for others the choice of erstwhile mayor Juan Carlos Navarro, scathingly described by some card holders as the Yeye Boy, as vice-presidential running mate is another nail in the PRD coffin.

Yeye is pronounced Jay, Jay, and has nothing to do with the Toronto baseball teams. It is a local expression defining a certain moneyed social strata who strut the farandula scene.

All of which sounds good for leading opponent Ricardo Martinelli a wealthy Panamanian businessman, who according to a Panama-America poll, released this week, is ahead by 10 points.

But there are many who, while turned off by Herrera, don’t relish voting for Martinelli with his ties to previous administrations, and his apparent desire to run the country like a business. “Politics is not the same as business” said one observer. “If you are head of your own company what you say goes. In politics there has to be consensus, negotiations, listening to other points of view, unless you are a dictator, and we don’t need another one of those in Panama.

So where is the Knight or Dame in shining armor?

GONE FISHIN’. Still on the political theme, have you tried contacting your local deputy recently? Do you who is your deputy? Does he have a constituency office? Be sure he will be contacting you directly, or via a blizzard of billboards... all taxpayer funded, in the run up to the election.

Judging from neighbors who have attempted to reach their local, well paid, or overpaid representative, he’s usually not available. In the old days he might have hung a sign on his door, “Gone Fishin’” (with apologies to Satchmo.)

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN. On the municipal scene, the candidates for mayor get a little hidden by the smoke and fire of the presidential run up. While the Panama city council and its chief have little real power, other than mal-administering garbage collection or ignoring illegal parking, the post of mayor is a useful get-to-be-known sinecure that provides a springboard for those with bigger political dreams.

But there is one perrenial candidate without party strings: Miguel Antonio Bernal. The lawyer and university professor who is described by some as a loose cannon, and may not be everyone’s idea of a white knight, is at least an independent character with a colorful history.

During the Noriega dictatorship, as a radio broadcaster he was constantly harassed and even roughed up for his opinions. He is the source of the “legend of the pennies”.

When he received a fine of $1000 he asked his listeners to send in pennies to help him pay the fine. They responded in droves, and when he had one thousand dollars in pennies, he delivered them in a wheelbarrow to the authorities, who had a fine old time counting them.

He has continued spreading his opinions through the community and calls the people his best advisers. As part of his largely self-funded campaign, he is consulting with professionals throughout the city and at various levels of governmental administration, to put forward workable plans for the city. Sounds like a better deal than a trickle down effect from political parties pushing those with bigger ambitions.