by Miguel Antonio Bernal

That the quality of life for the majority of residents in the Capital District is in free fall is a notorious public fact.

Two Panamas cohabit in this would-be metropolis: the Panama that concentrates profits and power and the Panama where poverty and misery confirm the growing inequality. The Panama in which some, wrapped up in ostentatious privileges that come with certain positions or the monopolies they have over the greatest and most valuable sectors, and the other Panama in which raw sewage flows through the yards of the squatters' shacks and drinking water comes every now and then, which are without sanitary or health services, where schools are far away and transportation is inadequate.

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INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF PANAMA CITY

The Liberal Party has nominated Dr. Miguel Antonio Bernal as its independent candidate for mayor of Panama City during a special meeting held on Thursday the 17th. The National Political Committee of the party, gathered at the Continental Hotel, decided not only to support the candidacy of the well known lawyer and human rights activist, but also the independent candidates for representatives of the various districts of the Panama City area who are part of the "A Mayor For Everybody" campaign.

Bernal accepted the offer, that was made without any conditions, saying that "independent candidates will play a decisive role in the elections of May 2009 because they allow citizens to separate the wheat from the chaff, electing candidates who are really concerned with the reality of our country and dedicated to its citizens".

Bernal, now 58, fearlessly fought the military dictatorship that ruled Panama from 1968 to 1989, was exiled twice, and continues up to this day to oppose corruption and social inequality. He will be the first official candidate for mayor once the required papers have been filed with the Electoral Tribunal over the next couple of days.

Dr. Miguel Antonio Bernal was guest in "Dialog", a popular interview show on TVN-Channel 2 hosted by Luz Maria Noly.

In the interview, Bernal talks about issues like the crisis in the public transport system, the skyscraper building frenzy and safety concerns, environmental issues and the coastal ribbon project.

Central to his discourse is the theme of citizen participation. Bernal believes that the trend of imposing policies and decisions without consultation or even informing the citizenry must be broken sooner rather than later to transform Panama City into a capital where inhabitants no longer need to feel like strangers in their own homes.

A liberal translation of the transcript of the interview can be read here:

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