The good news and the bad news of Carnival

The final death, injury and crime total of Panama’s Carnival season is not yet in, but by mid afternoon on Tuesday when those who had fled the city began to return it was already high, and climbing.

The good side, for those who remained in Panama , and kept clear of Via Espana, was a traffic free city, although many of the restaurants were closed. Others took time to celebrate Chinese New Year, including Panama’s mayor Bosco Vallarino, who took time off to attend a feast at a Chinese restaurant.

The usual reports of traffic and crime incidents,  this year ran  alongside news of the ongoing dispute between the head of Panama City’s unofficial Carnival Board and the Panama Tourism Authority, which was allegedly in charge of the event.
The problems included police pepper spraying revelers who refused to obey the official closing time, the arrest of the Carnival Board president and announcement by the Board on Monday that it was going to suspended the Carnival. The decision was reversed an hour later.

Carlos Arias, Carnival board president, was arrested after a confrontation with police. He was trying to prevent police from cracking down on alcohol sales to minors. This led the board to announce Carnival had been suspended, even though it was not clear that they had the authority to do so.

Arias also clashed with the Tourism Authority on Saturday over a fee he tried to charge for joining the carnival events.
Food and beverage vendors complained about losing money Saturday night when police forced them to close at midnight, and there were reports that permits to operate stalls had been sold twice.Vendors complained of irregularities and "poor organization" by the Board of Carnival capital.

Meanwhile residents of the area complained of being “ prisoners” in their own homes, unable to get to stores, and said that speakers that were to be turned off at midnight were still going after 1 a.m.

Others complained of litter, defecations and condoms.

In Colon where 60,000 vehicles traveled into the city there were six deaths during Carnival, three from a car accident, two by street violence.

Elsewhere there were the eight victims of traffic accidents, stabbings and shootings.

Traffic violations resulted in he issuing of 3,102 tickets by Tuesday morning.

There were 260 reported accidents and 456 vehicles were towed. Driving under the influence led to the towing of 256 vehicles and 494 drivers were fined for speeding. {jathumbnail off}