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'Vía Argentina looks like a red-light district in Holland': Residents denounce increase in insecurity
🇵🇦 Panama /Crime & Justice

'Vía Argentina looks like a red-light district in Holland': Residents denounce increase in insecurity

From TVN Panamá · (57m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Residents of Bella Vista, Panama, are denouncing a sustained deterioration of public order, citing increased robberies, public drug use, and nightlife-related conflicts.
  • They describe the area, particularly streets like Vía Argentina, as having regressed significantly in terms of safety, comparing it to a "red-light district."
  • Local authorities acknowledge the concerns and pledge to reinforce actions and improve community coordination, including strengthening the Tourism Police and reactivating neighborhood watch programs.

The vibrant streets of Bella Vista, once considered tranquil, are now a source of deep concern for residents who feel the public order has significantly deteriorated. This isn't just about petty crime; it's a pervasive sense of insecurity that has taken root, transforming once-peaceful neighborhoods into zones marked by open drug consumption, brazen robberies, and a general breakdown of civility. The comparison of Vía Argentina to a Dutch red-light district, made by residents like Sibila Ortiz, is a stark illustration of how far the situation has allegedly regressed, with complaints of prostitution and public drug use becoming commonplace.

Estamos ahora mismo más inseguros que lo que estábamos hace 20 años. En vez de avanzar, hemos retrocedido más de 20 años. Estamos otra vez llenas de prostitución, tenemos niños pidiendo plata, tenemos piedreros que nadie recoge

— Sibila OrtizA resident of El Cangrejo describing the perceived deterioration of public order and safety in Bella Vista.

During a community meeting at the Communal Board, residents directly confronted local authorities and the National Police, articulating their frustration over what they perceive as an escalating crime wave and an inadequate response. The sentiment is one of profound disappointment, with many feeling that instead of progressing, the area has regressed over two decades. The lack of visible police presence and slow response times to calls for help exacerbate this feeling of abandonment. "The police can say whatever they want, I'm going to be very honest, I don't see them patrolling," stated Ortiz, highlighting a disconnect between official assurances and the lived reality on the ground.

La policía puede decir misa, yo le voy a ser bien sincera, yo no los veo haciendo rondas, no los veo. Uno llama y te dicen a veces que van, no llegan. Vía Argentina parece que fuera un barrio rojo de Holanda, todo el mundo está fumando droga y nadie hace nada

— Sibila OrtizExpressing frustration with the perceived lack of police presence and effectiveness in addressing issues on Vía Argentina.

While local representative César Kiamco acknowledged the validity of these concerns and promised to bolster actions and enhance coordination, including supporting citizen initiatives like neighborhood watch programs, the residents' primary demand remains for immediate and effective action. The authorities' plans to reinforce the Tourism Police due to the area's popularity with visitors and to reactivate neighborhood watch programs are steps in the right direction. However, for the people of Bella Vista, the persistent problems affecting their quality of life mean that tangible improvements cannot come soon enough. The unique perspective from Panama is that while international news might focus on broader economic or political issues, for the citizens of Bella Vista, the daily struggle for safety and order in their own neighborhoods is the most pressing concern, a battle they feel is being fought with insufficient support.

Hay una organización de los vecinos respecto al tema de seguridad en las áreas de restaurantes y demás. Esa iniciativa ciudadana es una iniciativa que vamos a apoyar y la policía se va a sumar rápidamente a eso. Y tercero, hay una deficiencia aparente administrativa en términos de vecinos vigilantes en algunos de los barrios. Esa es una cosa que queda muy clara que se va a resolver inmediatamente

— César KiamcoThe representative of Bella Vista acknowledging residents' concerns and pledging support for community initiatives and administrative improvements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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