Fish market earns poor health rating

Panama’s popular fish market at the end of the Cinta Costera has received a thumbs down from  Ministry of Health inspectors. 

 Ice and water shortages, flies, and odors are just some of the problems indentified by officials of the health department.
Jorge Hassán, Director of Health for the metro area, said "the deplorable condition of the facilities evidences poor management”
With Lent approaching when many citizens replace their meat diet with fish, the situation threatens to raise even more concerns.
The findings of the Ministry of Health could result in a $500 to $5,000 fine for the administration of the popular market, under the direction of the Mayor’s Office of Panama.
The market’s manager, Víctor Castro said the problems were strictly a budgetary matter. He said that the resources necessary to resolve the issues, would be received by the Mayor’s Office by March.
Lent commences on Wednesday, February 24.