Panamas tourism chief axed

Panama’s tourism czar Saloman Shamah, a close advisor to President Ricardo Martinelli has been axed from his job.

His is the first head to roll in the planned administration reshuffle, which the president has promised for July.

Shamah, a Colombian, who was linked in WikiLeaks revelations  with money laundering and drugs, denied in a tearful press conference, the  allegations which came from former American Ambassador Barbara Stephenson.

He also made the headlines when he missed out on a trip to Washington with  a group of high level officials accimpanying Martinelli to meet President Barack Obama, because his U.S. visa had been canalled.

The president, made the anticipated  announcement Tuesday morning, June 14, in San Miguelito. He said that Shamah will leave his post as administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority. 
and would get another post within the government administration. 
The president said last month that  there would be Cabinet changes withouts pecifying the reasons.
When questioned about reports that  more than 20 current government officials  had had their  U.S. visas withdrawn, says La Prensa,  Martinelli replied thatthe story was false and a "commotion. "

He said  an American visa was not necessary to become a Minister in Panama.