Panamas crumbling heritage
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
La Prensa, Hoy por Hoy, June 5
The precarious situation of our heritage is regrettable.
The negligence and apparent lack of interest in the preservation of many buildings and monuments has been causing a deterioration incompatible with development strategies based on the take-off of the tourism sector.
And it is not just about Casco Viejo.
The fortifications of San Lorenzo, SanFernando, San Jeronimo and Santiago de la Gloria on the Atlantic coast also recognized by UNESCO as a historical heritage have suffered an inexcusable degree of neglect.
Action to recover these sites is urgently needed, for the delight of visitors and locals alike. They are part of our identity and our history.{jathumbnail off}
It is ironic that less developed neighboring countries have had the good sense to invest millions of dollars in maintaining their historical sites, while in Panama governments have provided just crumbs for this purpose.
We cannot turn our backs on our past, because it is one of the pillars upon which we build our future.
