Mayor a no-show at meeting to review costs of Worlds biggest Christmas

Panama’s Mayor, Bosco Vallarino, seemed to have gone to ground after  the infamous noise fest which he labeled “The World’s Largest Christmas”.

Now he is under fire over irregularities in the expense report.

After announcing early in the week that the budget fo the event was some 30 percent over budget at $1,400,000, he failed to provide Council members with details of the expenditures.
When later in the week some figures were produced he was a no-show, and La Prensa reports that they were not accepted because of his absence.
Councilors complained that the report was changed twice so that he could massage some of the figures.
Thousands of toys that were to be delivered to 21 community boards in the city instead went to fellow members of the Panameñista Party. La Prensa carried a detailed list of the recipients including an unsuccessful Assembly candidate.
Of the initial order of 21,000 only 15,000 were delivered but the price was unchanged at $50,000.
The mayor’s explained this by saying that at the time of confirming the direct purchase of toys, the company had no inventory of the models requested so they selected other toys of "higher quality and price." But, says La Prensa this does not appears in the expense report.
The report also shows an expenditure of $15,000 for transport of children and adults to the Cinta Costera but several council members reported not receiving the service
Carlos Herrera, San Francisco councilman, criticized the givingof gifts to Panameñista deputies and friends of the mayor. "There are many irregularities, and the mayor should be prosecuted."

The mayor did not attend the council meeting, but sent his staff.