Dj vu for contracting for Carnival Jumbo Rumba

As Jumbo Rumba (this year’s title for Panama City’s, $2.5 million dollar pre-Lenten extravaganza)  gets into its stride history repeats itself. 

For the second consecutive year the government, which President Martinelli had originally said would not received a cent of public funds, has come up with the  cash and the same common denominator …. direct contracting.

In 2011, says La Prensa the authorities indicated that lack of time prohibited a procurement system, so direct contracts were handed out. This year with ample pre-planning time but with more than 50 public events,  all  involved have direct contracts.

The costs include  the  hiring of artists, floats, lights, portable toilets, advertising, paying for foreign journalists covering the activities and other services.

Sensations Productions will be paid $ 289,604 for events leading up to choosing of the Queen. That includes, artists, decoration, and hoisting the carnival flag during the four days of celebration.

Water tanks to  provide water for “culecos” for spraying  revelers  will cost $70 000, and $10 000  goes towards expenses of foreign journalists covering the festival. In the past scores of thousands of condoms have been distributed free to participants.

Fees for artists range from $3,000 to $20 000.

A piano accordionist will receive $8,000 for playing 45 minutes a night, while the brothers Samy and Sandra Sandoval will pocket $19,260 for two nights, according to website PanamaCompra.

$53,500  has been set aside for an as yet unnamed international artist for Shrove Tuesday

The Tourism Authority czar of Salomon Shamah claims direct contracts can be justified: "The the hiring of artists cannot be a public act,” he said.  

The $40,000 allocated for maintenance and repair of the  Cinta Costera  for the four day event  is half that spent on regular monthly maintenance.

Shamah says more than 10,000 tourists participate in the city’s capital and there are economic benefits exceeding $36 million, although observers point out deserted streets, closed shops and restaurants during the drink and noise fest and hotel occupancy falls. Scores of thousands of local residents head for the airports, cruise ships, or homes in the interior.

Last year the government spent nearly $2 million on the celebration. At that time, Shamah requested $1.5 million, but days later the Cabinet approved an additional $500,000.
Organizers of more famed festivals in the interior complain they get no government handouts, but run successful events via private sponsorships.

Carlos Lee, leader of civil society Citizens' Assembly questions the use of public funds for a celebration like this.

Lee gave the example of carnivals in the interiror, in which organizers fund their expenses with activities that take place throughout the year. Lee described  direct contracting as "indiscriminate".

"We are not opposed to this activity, but we believe that public funds should not be used. The country has other priorities," he said.

María del Carmen Ríos, who heads the board of the Jumbo Rumba, said the culecos will give dancers a free shower from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm daily  and parades will take place, under heavy police surveillance, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm