Watchdog targets joy-riding mayors

 TWO PANAMA mayors have been targeted by the country’s Transparency and Access to Information watchdog (Antai).

Director Angélica Maytín has called on the mayors of Colón and San Miguelito for information about a trip they took to Spain last week.

The investigation into the trip was opened when San Miguelito Mayor Gerald Cumberbatch admitted that the trip was sponsored by a private company.

Colón Mayor Federico Policani also participated.

Maytín said the agency is seeking information about the costs of the trip and why information about it wasn’t published by the government, as required for international trips by state officials.

Cumberbatch, who returned on Friday, was seen in photos on social networks riding a bike in the region of Albacete, Spain. He has promoted the construction of a bike path in his district.

Maytín said that accepting gifts from a private company, such as a trip, could  result in removal from office reports La Prensa

She said accepting such gifts could lead to a conflict of interest.