Ramón E. Martínez de la Guardia, Panama’s ambassador to the United States: “The triggers of the protests in Panama are the cost of fuel, food and medicines. This is paired with other legitimate grievances related to the rising cost of living. President Cortizo’s administration understands this and has deployed an ambitious agenda to bring more people out of poverty. For example, during the pandemic we launched a program to support those who had been laid off from their jobs. The program, Panamá Solidario, was internationally recognized as a good case of the use of technology and innovation to address the crisis. Panama is facing a challenge similar to that of other democracies in the region. The pandemic stretched government resources and disproportionately hit those in underserved communities. The cost of fuel has made headlines because it affects every sector of the economy. It is understandable that people are concerned. The government wants to facilitate a dialogue to find the best path forward. We must also consider the political context. Panama’s electoral cycle…”