After the deaths of dozens of migrants in one accident, and a near disaster when another bus caught fire, the National Migration Service (SNM) has suspended the transport of migrants by bus on the next stage of their journey north. Irregular migrants who cross the Darien gap and arrive from Colombia (from many countries) go to immigration reception stations (ERM), where they have their biometric data taken and are given food and have health assistance. They are then transferred by bus to one of these facilities located in Chiriquí, on the border with Costa Rica, so that they continue on their way to North America.
In a slightly controversial change to a system for selling lottery tickets (that help fund the social security system), which has effectively remained unchanged for many decades, the National Charity Lottery (LNB) has authorised the selling the new electronic games, in addition to the traditional paper tickets (of which I have a handful pinned to a board in front of my desk). The new electronic tickets will be for additional draws, twice a week, with the existing ticket-sellers also providing the new tickets. Sellers will be provided with a handheld electronic device (something like that used in shops for card payments). You see these ticket-sellers outside most supermarkets, mostly being women of a certain age, with wooden boards with the available tickets clipped to the boards. It would be a shame, and a significant loss, if these sellers were to be phased out in the name of progress.
26 FEBRUARY 2023
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