The Panamanian government has declared a state of emergency in Bocas del Toro, the heart of the banana industry, following a surge in protests against controversial pension reforms. Shops have been looted, and infrastructure damaged as tensions rise in a region heavily reliant on banana production. The government's five-day measure suspends certain constitutional rights, curtailing freedom of movement and allowing for warrantless arrests.

The unrest dates back a month when local banana workers, supported by the national union, began striking against proposed cuts to their pensions and joined larger protests that began in March. Minister of the Presidency Juan Carlos Orillac stated that the move is crucial to restoring order and protecting citizens from increasingly violent protests.

The situation has turned dire as clashes between protesters—largely comprised of employees from a Chiquita Brands plantation—and law enforcement have intensified, with demonstrators setting up roadblocks and damaging property, including a local airport. The conflict further escalated when the company laid off thousands of workers, exacerbating the tensions within the region.

As the government takes drastic measures to stabilize the situation, the underlying issues surrounding labor rights and pension reforms continue to pose challenges to peaceful resolution.