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Today,
before God who protects us and my country, I stand here, honored
by the confidence that the people have given us.
I
am enthusiastic about the work that awaits us.
This
transfer of command is something that we all value. What we
celebrate today is proof that in
Panama
the voice of every citizen is heard, and that the democratic
principles that unite us are more powerful than any difference.
Although
they are not here, I want to thank President Torrijos and the
former first lady Vivian de Torrijos for their service to our
country. I also thank them for their so generous support in this
transition. Together we have demonstrated that this people
respects the political dignity of every human being.
I
also want to take advantage of this opportunity to sent
President Endara our wishes for a prompt recovery.
Here
in
Panama
we have a democratic tradition, which is as solid as a rock. I
am honored that the international community is here to celebrate
with us this great moment. We have never had so many visitors,
from so many parts of the world. All are welcome and we thank
them for participating today, in our first steps toward a new
Panama
, which we see on the horizon.
Our
country is unique in many things:
It
is the biggest inhabited island on the Pacific littoral.
Panama
is the only place in the Caribbean that has indigenous peoples.
This
city was the first to be built by the Spaniards here on the
Pacific.
Here
Vasco Núñez de Balboa discovered the
South
Sea
.
But
we have something more that distinguishes us. We have grown to
become the pass key to the world's economy. If Marco Polo had
lived in our epoch, he would have used
Panama
as his modern spice route.
We
Panamanians have always played an important role for our
neighbors and the world. And now were are tapped to do it again.
In these five years, we are called to demonstrate how our
economic and governance model can be an example for all who
aspire to prosperity and progress.
Juan
Carlos Varela and I are two businessmen who have become involved
in politics, to change the way of doing things. We are going to
take hold of our experiences in the private sector and put them
to work where they have never been seen: in the government.
We
are going to debureaucratize the state.
"Debureaucratize" is a word that's a little difficult
to say, but he who's going to work with me in this government
had better learn it.
In
the world of business I walked the aisles, asked questions,
opened drawers. I learned to face problems. As my great friend
and political mentor Samuel Lewis Galindo noted, the government
of Ricardo Martinelli will act with firmness and education, but
without favors. I believe that time is gold and very short.
Neither
Juan Carlos nor I accept this job to remain seated behind a
desk. I am a simple, plain and direct man. If I fail somewhat in
protocol, I beg your pardon. But we were not elected to add more
pages to the protocol book.
This
people gave us a clear mandate to bring change to this
government, from top to bottom, and that is what we are going to
do. The custom that the politicians put their personal interests
above those of the people is over. The game of having a fat
government and a thin people has come to its end. The era of
politicians entering broke and leaving as millionaires is
finished.
In
my government, you can put your foot in your mouth, but you
can't put your hand in the till.
Thus
today, we inaugurate a government that's going to put the
people's interests first. We know that difficult times are
coming. Now is when the government has to be more agile, more
transparent and more efficient. It is no secret that we are at
the beginning of a world economic crisis.
It
is a crisis that we didn't cause, but all of us are going to
suffer. It is the worst crisis since the Great Depression of the
30s.
In
this storm we are all in the same boat, and in the same boat we
are going to face it. The truth is that our government is not
going to have the resources that the previous government had.
But
this gives us more reason to act with urgency. The Panamanian
worker sees the storm gathering above. The changes that we have
proposed can not wait any longer. The promises that we made in
the campaign are good ideas. They are the mandate that this
people demands.
But
more than this, they are an integral part of a stimulus plan
that we need to get our economy afloat. Tomorrow we will have
our first Cabinet Council. We are going to be where we were
always walking towards. We are going to be where the change has
to happen.
We
are going to be the Las Garzas de Pacora, not in the Palacio de
las Garzas.
That's
where they need jobs.
That's
where they need the subway.
That's
where they lack public safety.
Las
Garzas de Pacora is the point of departure for what we are going
to accomplish in the next five years.
I
ask you to prepare with me. We will roll up the sleeves and get
to work.
We
start with this: we are going to raise the salaries of all law
enforcement, because they're very badly paid. We are going to
give life to one of Juan Carlos's proposals: we will give $100 a
month to the old people who have no retirement pension.
And
for the students who see us on television or listen on the
radio, you can count on scholarships and free books and school
supplies. This we will do for all the poor families in
Panama
.
We
will begin a massive land titling program, so what I can tell
everyone who's listening who has possessory rights, prepare
these rights because you're going to have your piece of land
titled.
And
we are also going to start the biggest jobs program in the
history of
Panama
after the canal expansion. We are going to start the bidding for
the construction of a new subway that will give the Panamanian
people a better quality of life. But this is just a start.
We
have many more things to do. Nothing is more important than to
lower the cost of food. Thus we will augment the sales point for
the Compita program, and with no more "married"
products.
We
are going to give more credit to the agricultural sector and
support the self-sustaining farms. In this way we will augment
national production and help our farmers produce more food and
cheaper food.
Two
years ago, we built a house for a forgotten Panamanian named
Newton Rodney.
Newton
taught us a lesson: that like him, there exist more than 165,000
forgotten Panamanian families that suffer the tragedy of not
having a safe roof over their heads. We are going to start on a
massive plan to build houses for the people. This program will
not only go to those families in need of dignified shelter, but
it is going to create jobs for construction workers and
reactivate the economy.
Everyone
who lives in
Panama
, and those who visit us, deserve a safer country. We are going
to turn our jails into rehabilitation centers and not
universities of crime.
Minors
who commit crimes like adults, we are going to try as adults.
And we are going to give more resources and more intelligence
support to our police.
To
protect the right of citizens to walk along safe streets is one
of the primary obligations of any government. we are going to
meet this responsibility.
And
for those who want to come and invest in
Panama
, I'm letting them know that our doors are open. I want to leave
our mission very clear: we are going to make
Panama
the best place in
Latin America
to do business.
This
is the best way to generate jobs and have a better quality of
life for all Panamanians. And we are going to complement the
free trade agreements, with the
United States of America
and all the other countries of the world, including
Europe
and our Latin American brothers.
we
are proud of our history and our heritage, of our freedom of
expression, of our freedom of thought, and our freedom to decide
the course that the motherland takes.
Panama
has to maintain itself as a leader in freedom and justice, not
only here in our house, but in our region and our continent.
As
president, I will do everything within my reach to advance the
ideals of a free economy, challenging the different ideological
pendulum that
Latin America
has.
We
are going to be an active partner with
Mexico
and
Colombia
in the battle against the narco-terrorists, who have invaded our
country, bringing crime, mourning and desperation to our
innocent population.
We
start this government with an unprecedented mandate: a mandate
for change. But this mandate does not go alone. It comes moored
to a great responsibility, the responsibility to work together,
shoulder to shoulder, leaving behind the political egotisms that
have divided us.
We
were elected for this: not only for our proposals, but also to
change the way of governing. We are going to change the system
in which one political party only looks for what it can take
from the other, in which the people look for what they can take
from the government, in which the government looks for what it
can take from the people. It is a vicious circle in which we all
believe that we will win like this --- and believe me that it is
not so. The truth is that in this game, we are divided one
against the others and we all end up losing.
The
government does not have to be partisan. We are going to govern
with the best, no matter from where the come or their political
affiliation.
We
are united for something more important than a political party.
We are united for our country, and in this way, putting the
people's interest first, we are going to govern.
Some
say that the challenges that await us are a lot for just one
person. But they are not much for a united people. This
government is going to keep all the promises that I made. This
is my commitment.
The
only promise that I probably will not keep is to lose weight,
but believe me that I am going to do everything possible.
Until
now we have accepted that the destiny of our country is only in
the hands of the government. But I believe that our hopes depend
on something more powerful than any government. They depend on
the sweat and determination of three million Panamanians.
This
is the true formula for our success. In five years, another
president will be standing here to celebrate a transfer of
mandates, but what we begin here will not change, not in five
nor in 100 years.
From
now on, this government and those who follow it are going to
walk in the shoes of the people.
From
now on, our governments will not enrich themselves on the
people, but will only serve the people.
This
is a time of great challenges and opportunities. The world
economy is put to the test, and that of
Panama
as well.
I
can tell you: I am not perfect. Perfection is something God
reserves for human beings in another life, and I know that we
are going to encounter obstacles along the road.
But
the difficulties are not going to stop us. On the contrary: they
are going to demonstrate our determination. We are going to rise
above this economic storm. We are going to come out of it
prepared to compete, prepared to win.
This
is the moment to be a citizen of this country, because the
opportunities that await us are enormous.
I
see a
Panama
with more men and women working.
I
see a middle class that's growing and making more money.
I
see new technologies producing an unprecedented economic growth.
I
see a
Panama
with better health, better education and more families united
and content.
We
can do anything that we dream. Then, why not make our future the
one we want?
We
dream big. Our best days are to come. We are Panamanians, united
for a change.
And
united, nothing is impossible. United, nothing can defeat us!
I
thank all of you, and God bless, and long live
Panama
.
(Source:
The Panama News,
July 7, 2009
at http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_15/issue_12/opinion_01.html)
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