Debauchery prime cuse of carnival deaths

Debauchery and lack of control  among young people are  the main cuase of deaths during Panama’s carnival celebrations say experts.

Although homicides, traffic accidents and drowning, in that order, are the causes that prevail from the legal point of view over the past 13 years, it is the uncontrolled actions of young people that are the true cause the experts say.

Newspaper articles between 2000 and 2012, based on figures from the security sectorslist  299 violent deaths in those 13 years, 99 of them registered as homicides, 95 occurred in traffic accidents, 45 choked and 60 deaths were attributed to other causes such as suicides, falls and poisoning.

The 30 deaths in e carnival this year, confirmed by the National Police (PN) represent the third highest number of casualties recorded in the celebrations of “King Momo”

The two biggest death rates  were in 2003, the centenary of independence, and 2009. Both years recordded 32 fatalities.

This year, the PN reported 14 murders, but said they occurred outside the areas of parades and culecos. So did four of the eight deaths recorded in road accidents, and eight drowned.

The official figure for 2012 also included two suicides and thedeath Adalides Nunez, the latter as a result of fire in El Chorrillo.

For criminologist Jhonatan Riggs,  the  increasing death toll during the carnival may be linked to the fact that many young  people reached adulthood since  2009 and this, coupled with drug and liquor, and euphoria at the  parties has caused a loss of self control

"People are not controlled in their actions, commit acts of violence for settling scores and grudges," he told La Prensa.

According to Riggs,  carnival traffic accidents are mainly motivated by use and abuse of liquor, in addition to speeding.

Riggs found that people manage to "circumvent the controls”. Despite the authorities trying to prevent and minimize risks, 24 firearms were seized in carnivals.

He cited an incident  fact he witnessed in the culecos in Chitre, Herrera, when a woman cut another woman’s face with a knife, jealous because her partner was watching.

"At the time there was no police. Obviously, that was too crowded, but no doubt that the assailant had no self-control and those are the consequences," he said.

Sociologist and professor Milciades Ortiz said that the deaths at carnivals have to do with the wildness and consumption of liquor, reasons why disregard  their ability to handle drink and the quarrels between gangs arise.

"People, women, especially,  forget values ??at these shows," he said.

Ortiz said it was "regrettable" that there is an increase of victims in carnivals, but admitted that one cannot deny or affirm that all victims are related to the festivities. "You have to analyze each of the cases," he said.

In his view, the carnival "is not a physical but a psychological state in which some people celebrate and change their mood."