{"id":18665,"date":"2026-11-10T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18665"},"modified":"2026-11-09T12:07:26","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T17:07:26","slug":"chaos-in-david-university-austerity-measures-spark-highway-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/crime-safety\/chaos-in-david-university-austerity-measures-spark-highway-protests\/","title":{"rendered":"Chaos in David! University Austerity Measures Spark Highway Protests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Teachers and administrative staff from the Autonomous University of Chiriqu\u00ed (UNACHI) blocked the Pan-American Highway<\/a> in David on Monday, demanding payment of three overdue pay periods as university austerity measures<\/a><\/strong> demanded by the national government<\/a> continue to stall December salary disbursements. Riot police dispersed the demonstration, escalating tensions in a dispute that has pitted the Ministry of Economy and Finance<\/a> (MEF) against the university’s leadership over spending cuts and institutional restructuring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The protest reflects a deepening financial crisis<\/a> at the regional university, where the Executive branch has conditioned the release of operational funds on strict compliance with cost-containment protocols<\/a>. At stake are salaries owed to faculty and administrative personnel through the end of the fiscal year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Una publicaci\u00f3n compartida por Critica Panam\u00e1 (@criticapa02)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n