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 Published Wednesday, May 27, 2020
the southern border is reactivated
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The transportation of merchandise that enters through the southern border with Panama was reactivated on Tuesday afternoon, confirmed the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
For nearly a week, truck drivers on the southern border kept the passage blocked at the Paso Canoas Border Port of entry due to the lack of clarity in the agreements between Costa Rica and Panama, their truck driver leader said.
On Tuesday, the Panamanian authorities issued decrees and regulations to establish the plan agreed with Costa Rica for a controlled route.
Last week, authorities from Costa Rica and Panama reached an agreement to authorize the entry of containers as long as sanitary guidelines are maintained, announced the Ministry.
According to the Ministry, the same proposal was presented to the Central American authorities to reduce protesting by truck drivers at both the Nicaragua and Panama border ports of entry.
"For the protection of health in Costa Rica, we have proposed to the governments of the region a new strategy for the management of merchandise container carriers, through a system that would allow us to protect their movements and transfers, to avoid possible covid-19 infections," said Daniel Salas, Minister of Health. "We call for regional solidarity because we are facing an atypical situation, which requires innovative solutions.”
On Tuesday, authorities confirmed 46 foreigners working as truck drivers transporting merchandise were rejected to enter the country because they tested positive for covid-19.
According to the ministry’s plan, the country will allow foreign carriers to enter through the border ports with the following conditions: trailers must enter a fiscal warehouse area where the merchandise will be transferred to Costa Ricans truck drivers. Then, the container will be carried through a controlled route and escorted with police to the next border post. Once there the container will be transferred to another trailer to continue to its final destination.
"It was urgent to find a balanced solution because without trade, there is no health and without health, there is no trade," said Dyalá Jiménez, Minister of Foreign Trade.
Costa Rica - Panama agreement will continue to be adjusted depending on the regulations of the Ministry of Health, said the Costa Rican authorities.
Although Costa Rica reached an agreement with Panama, problems continue at the northern border with Nicaragua.
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