Promoting agreements for the Ngäbe Buglé Comarca, Panama

This indigenous region, the largest and most populated in Panama, covers about 10% of the national territory and is marked by the highest levels of poverty and unmet needs (87.2% of its population lives in poverty, 2023). In addition, the dispersion of its population centers and the migratory nature of its population, in search of better opportunities, pose challenges to citizen participation.

Together with the office of Deputy Roberto Archibold, representative of the Comarca, IDEA has carried out a process of dialogue and consultation. After a technical roundtable with specialists, former indigenous leaders, and experts from the offices of the indigenous peoples' commission, the workshop “Exchange of Knowledge on Governance and Implementation of Law 10” was held in the Comarca (Sabanita and San Félix). Law 10 of 1997 creates the Ngäbe-Buglé region.

This meeting brought together the highest indigenous authorities: the General Chief, the President of the General Congress, the three Regional Chiefs, Local Chiefs, and Mayors. The Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs and the Comarca Governor also participated on behalf of the government. The dialogue was conducted in Spanish, Buglé, and Ngäbe, and the regional leaders shared their experiences and knowledge about the 28 years of implementation of Law 10, with the aim of identifying strategies for more efficient governance, effective dialogue with the State, and better citizen participation.

The positions and consensus reached were taken to the second and third technical roundtables. To conclude, a workshop on “Governance and Development of Local Governments” was held with mayors and municipal officials in David, Chiriquí. The workshop was attended by an official and manager of the energy project in the Comarca of the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID), as well as experts in decentralization and local government. The event was inaugurated by the European Union Ambassador to Panama, Izabela Matusz.

Among the proposals to be submitted to the legislative body are: 

• Operationalize the High-Level Commission for effective coordinated action, as mandated by Law 10 of 1997.
• Normalizing the Comarca's participation in defining its funds in the General National Budget, in accordance with the same law, among others.

In relation to citizen participation, the following is proposed: 

• Requesting the Electoral Tribunal to apply the early voting mechanism to allow greater participation by seasonal migrants from the Comarca.
• Applying parity in the elections of traditional authorities.
• Increase the number of polling stations in rural areas, in accordance with legal provisions.

This process of dialogue and proposal development is part of the Parliamentary Support Project financed by the European Union Delegation in Panama.