Martinelli defends government at independence festivities

ESPECIAL PARA PRENSA.COM/Vielka Corro Ríos

Afectados por dietilene glycol exigieron respuesta al Presidente.

10/11/2012 - President Ricardo Martinelli presided over events this morning to mark the 191st anniversary of the first cry of independence at La Villa de Los Santos.

Martinelli arrived at 8:15 a.m. to preside over the raising of the flag. He was accompanied by the first lady, Marta Martinelli Linares.

César Barrí­a, the Panamanian swimmer, was the standard bearer for the activities.

Also accompanying Martinelli were ministers Jorge Ricardo Fábrega (government), Javier Dí­az (Health), Lucy Molinar (Education) and Jaime Ford (Public Works).

There will also be events today in San Miguelito, La Chorrera and Juan Díaz.

At the Los Santos festivities, Martinelli used his speech to defend the policies of the government and urged citizens to feel patriotic every day and not just during these holidays.

He highlighted the government projects to build roads, hospitals and water and sewage facilities, but said that the government "cannot be responsible for all the ills in the country."

He said people must abide by the laws, not litter and keep working to make Panama a country of equal opportunities.