Costly musical chairs at Carnival

The reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel cost more than Don Omar, the $270,000 performer they replaced for the closing event of Carnival on the Cinta Costera.

The news comes from Alfredo Arias a ShowPro company representative, responsible for negotiating with artists for the final presentation. Although claiming higher costs, he would not go into details says La Prensa

Arias said Wisin y Yandel cost more than the previous artist, but that the company will bear the costs. "Wisin y Yandel are more expensive, the show is more expensive but we are taking the difference” reported La Prensa.

The ShowPro rep lambasted artist Don Omar and said it was a pity that he did not come to show his face to the Panamanian people waiting to see him and said that they have had situations with Don Omar in the past.
 Don Omar released through social networks, that he did not have any contract sing at the carnival, a statements denied by Arias
"The artist received the money …, we have 18 years of doing this. You think that we would announce an artist without him being paid, please” he said.

"We issued 38 plane tickets costing $130,000 for him and his staff. Before they canceled.” he added.

Arias, said he had asked Omar for the return of the money the money that was deposited into his account in order to pay the artists to replacing him in the carnival.

According to documents on PanamáCompra, the cost of hiring Don Omar was $267,500.

Tourism manager Salomon Shamah, said there are things you can control and things that you cannot. "We cannot control an artist canceling a presentation. Now the promoters have responded with an artist of equal or better quality," he said.