Post-pandemic recovery in Panama depends on self-discipline, says president

PANAMA CITY, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo on Saturday expressed his confidence in the country's economic recovery in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, although he admitted that there will be no way forward if there is no self-discipline among the population.

"To speak of sustained economic recovery with the current social behavior of some Panamanians (who do not abide by health measures) is not realistic," said the president on the opening of the new period of ordinary sessions of the National Assembly.

He said that over the next 90 days, vaccination against COVID-19 will begin in Panama, with the government having committed 56 million U.S. dollars to acquire 5.5 million doses.

He also talked about his government's economic recovery plan announced six months ago, which includes public infrastructure projects, legal initiatives to maintain jobs and reactivate the economy, and an aggressive plan for public investment through joint public-private partnerships, among others.