Carnival street closings begin and no guns even if licensed

Street closing are already underway in preparation for Carnival, but the two major thoroughfares involved will not be closed until Friday evening.

 In the meantime Panama’s mayor, Borco Vallarino, has signed off on a series of rules that he hopes will be enforced. It includes a prohibition on the carrying of arms, even if you have a permit, and no throwing of confetti or flour.´
Via España will be closed from 7 p.m. Friday evening from Via Porras to the intersection with Avenida Federico Boyd ( by the Del Carmen church), until 6:00 am Wednesday February 18.

Via Brazil will be closed from the traffic lights at the intersection by Price Smart to Via España for the same period.
The reward for frustrated motorists will be near deserted streets in the rest of the capital from Saturday Feb 13 through to early Wednesday morning, Feb 17.
Costumes likely to be confused with the uniforms of the National Police and other national security institutions are verboten, and body paintings or whips will not be allowed
Fireworks will be allowed only from Friday 12 until Tuesday, February 16 between 7:00 pm and 12:00 am, and should be handled by adults or companies authorized by the Security Office of the Fire Department and the city of Panama.
During Carnival, numerous local magistrates courts will be open
"The National Police, the Judicial Investigation Department, Naval Air Service, the State Border Service, the Traffic Operations Division, the Transit Authority and Land Transport, the Fire Department, the National Civil Protection System, Security Municipal and night court magistrates will ensure strict compliance with the law," says the document signed by the mayor.
Violators of the decree could face fines up to $5000.