A call to dialogue

FUNDAMUJER, a non-governmental, non-profit organization, which watches over the rights of women and their families in Panama, concerned about the situation through which the Social Security Fund is going, and with the objective of contributing elements of reflection that lead us to take necessary measures to save the institution that belongs to everybody, manifest:

1. That the problem of the Social Security Fund is financial and administrative. In the first trimester of the year 2003 the institution closed with a cash flow deficit of $11.2 million. The actuarial deficit is estimated on the order of $3 billion, which gives the institution an estimated life of 12 years.

2. That there is a solution to the Social Security Fund's problem. But the answer is not the blocking of streets, demonstrations, strikes or acts of violence that attack the integrity of individuals and undermine peace. The strikes and confrontations aggravate the problem and prejudice the already deteriorated economy, hurting those who have the least. Each strike costs the country between $15 and $20 million per day. Moreover, we have to say that the teachers' strikes harm more than 500,000 children and youth.

3. That the solution is neither by demanding rehirings nor by brandishing arguments about privatization as if it were a real threat. The privatization of the Social Security Fund is unconstitutional. It has been made clear that the Panamanian people wouldn't accept it and we believe that no sector has such an interest. These arguments only confuse the citizenry.

4. The solution is, among other measures, to:

a. Procure investments that generate better returns to guarantee the necessary income;

b. Make the required spending cuts, without affecting the services to which the insured have a right; and

c. Design a plan by which revenues exceed expenditures, in order to augment the reserves that guarantee the institution's longevity, even though this implies taking unpopular measures.

For this, we must bravely confront the challenge before us, and recognize that we must all be willing to make the sacrifices that correspond to us, as a matter of justice and social solidarity.

Thus, we urge:

• That all sectors avoid accusations and confrontations that weaken, confuse and don't contribute to the solution of the problem, and sit down for a dialogue.

• That the Social Security administration and board of directors assume their responsibility to oversee a transparent, frugal, efficient and effective management.

• That the government and private enterprises pay their payroll taxes, and thus avoid arrears and evasions that affect the institution's cash flow.

• That the medical professionals put in their work hours and provide the services for which they have been hired.

Throughout our history, we Panamanians have accomplished great national goals by way of dialogue and negotiation. In this same manner we will find the salvation of of Social Security. For this, we join in the call for a dialogue that the president has made, in compliance with her responsibility and exercising the authority given her by the law and conferred by popular mandate.

Equally, we call on the governmental, business, political, professional and civic groups that represent us at the negotiating tables to abandon the inflexible demands and postures that lead nowhere, and respond to this call with the valor, will and sincerity required to come up with new ideas and conscientiously analyze the different proposals.

THERE IS A SALVATION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY

NO TO CONFRONTATIONS! YES TO DIALOGUE!

Also in this section:
Jackson, Paternalism's incongruous clients
CARITAS, Who wants Seguro's pension fund?
FUNDAMUJER, Supporting Mireya's call for dialogue
Lorenz, The Venezuelan opposition calls for a US invasion
Hartmann, Bush's bounced blank check
González Maicas, Tourist safety

opinion

Manifesto to the Citizenry