The growing insecurity in the province of Veraguas was exposed bluntly during a recent meeting between members of the Chamber of Commerce and the Director General of the National Police, Jaime Fernández. At this gathering, merchants expressed their concern about the persistence of robberies, thefts, and assaults that continue to affect individuals and commercial establishments, mainly in the district of Santiago. Fulvia de Vargas, a representative of the commercial guild, pointed out that the situation has become alarming for many entrepreneurs who claim to be constant victims of crime without receiving a timely response from the authorities. She indicated that although citizen security programs exist and there are plans to install video surveillance systems, these must be used effectively to curb criminal acts. During the meeting, several merchants expressed their discontent regarding the deficient communication between the National Police and the community. They denounced a lack of follow-up on filed complaints and an apparent lack of willingness to address the cases. According to them, on multiple occasions, victims do not receive information on the progress of their complaints, which increases the feeling of abandonment and impunity. Furthermore, they questioned the scarce police presence in vulnerable commercial areas, a situation that, in their view, facilitates the action of criminals who operate freely. The merchants insisted on the urgency of reinforcing patrols and establishing direct coordination channels with the authorities. Although the Director of the National Police listened to the proposals and committed to evaluating strategies to improve security, the commercial sector made it clear that they expect concrete actions and visible results, warning that the lack of effective responses continues to affect economic activity and the peace of the people of Veraguas.
