Costs of government junkets abroad not reported

THE REPORTING of the cost of Panama government trips abroad and per diem expenses of the Office of the Presidency  are under scrutiny with suggestions that the office is violating the Law of Transparency and Access to Information.

 The law requires state institutions to publish on the Web site updated data on the public resources used in travel and per diem expenses for staff and other representatives.

Staff travel to destinations such as South Africa, Italy, Austria, China and the United States appear incomplete and outdated on the electronic portal of the Presidency of the Republic templates.
The National Authority of Transparency, headed by Martinelli appointee, Abigail Benzadón , has not delivered on this statement and, instead, said last year that the Ministry complied "fully with the Transparency Act . The holder of the Presidency, Roberto Henriquez, also remained silent, says La Prensa.

Magaly Castillo, director of Citizens Alliance for Justice, said that these omissions will "raise suspicions" about the management of state resources.