Tensions flared Thursday morning on 5 de Mayo Avenue in Panama City. A group of street vendors protested the removal of their market structures, which they have used for years to sell goods in the Informal economy.
The operation is part of a broader program by the Panama City Mayor’s Office. Officials aim to recover commercial spaces and restore building facades across the capital. But the intervention has sparked immediate backlash from vendors who claim they received no proper notice.
One vendor expressed deep frustration with the city’s actions. “We want the street vendor to live in peace because we are not a burden on the state. We are loans to the national economy,” she said. “Since yesterday, we have been suffering an outrage from the Panama City Mayor’s Office, which came to tear down all the roofs of our colleagues. There are colleagues here who depend on this.” [Translated from Spanish]
Vendors Cite Lack of Notice and Rising Insecurity
The removal of structures caught many workers off guard. They argue the municipality failed to provide any advance warning before the demolition began.
A second merchant shifted the focus to crime in the area. “What I want is for them to send security so they don’t rob my people, that is what I want. Look, we are all there, we have been robbed, we have been robbed. And they do nothing. They come to destroy us, to take everything from us. I have been here for 43 years.” [Translated from Spanish]
Another vendor criticized the lack of dialogue. “They had to give us prior notice for this and they did not. They did things the way they should not have. What we need is for them to understand one thing: we are not opposed to anything. What we want is to be treated with dignity, to be respected.” [Translated from Spanish]
Workers Vow to Stay Until a Solution is Found
The Eviction has left hundreds of families uncertain about their immediate future. Many vendors have operated in this zone for decades.
Informal workers say they will remain at the site. They are waiting for a formal response from the Municipality of Panama. Their demands include a guaranteed workspace or relocation to nearby areas where they can continue selling their products.
The situation remains unresolved. The clash between urban reorganization needs and the defense of informal livelihoods has once again taken center stage in the capital’s public debate. City officials have not yet issued a statement regarding the vendors’ complaints or potential relocation plans.