Varelas pet project facing opposition

PRESIDENT JUAN Carlos Varela’s attempt to create a Jesuit museum in Casco Viejo while the fixing of cultural icons like the National Theatre is languishing, has raised an outcry among  art and historical groups.

The proposal  came to public attention through a back door, The Panama Tourism Authority (ATP)

It first surfaced  in September 2014  when  during his visit to Rome Varela, who is a member of Opus Dei  September 2014, submitted  a “declaration of intent” to establish ” Panamanian  Memorial Museum of the Jesuit presence in Panama and Latin America Pope Francis is a Jesuit.

The museum will be located in the old Society of Jesus, between Avenue A and Seventh Street West,
The ATP is  reported  to be working to establish a study that provides  intervention alternatives in the ruins of the church and courtyard, as well as the type of museum that will house the projected  resource.
The ATP expects the structure at the end of 2018, with a view to the expected visit of Pope Francisco to Panama in 2019.
The study should provide the conceptual design of the whole work, and the criteria to be used to make a specification for the tender for the work.

“The proposal of the President (Juan Carlos Varela) is to highlight the presence and work of the Jesuits in Panama and Latin America,” said an ATP spokesmen when asked about the purpose of the future construction.

It was specified that the project should begin in early 2017, taking advantage of the dry season.

The restoration of the ruins of the Society of Jesus and the museum will be undertaken by the ATP, although the cost of the work is not detailed.

On the administration of the  project  the ATP  indicated that it would  assess the possibility that management would be  by f a board, similar to that of Panama Viejo, which would be represented by the National Institute of Culture, the ATP and civil society involved in the theme of the museum.

“The project has never stopped. There are stages that must be met before and during construction, which is a neat historical research ” says the “entity”  responsible for the work, responding to a media questionnaire.

A team has been commissioned  and  has held several meetings and visits to the headquarters of the Society of Jesus to assess the steps to follow in order to start the restoration of the historic infrastructure.

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Historians and civil society question the fact that while there are important historical structures such as the National Theatre and the Reina Torres de Arauz Museum, which need to be restored, the Government undertakes to put up structures on for which which there is  no priority adaptation .

Maria Elena Mena, former director of the School of Theater of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Panama, said that there is “no justification” for this project, taking into account that there are other buildings in the Old Town that require restoration urgently, among these the National Theatre.

“There is already a museum of religious art in the Old Town,” she said.

According to Mena, the National Theatre is a cultural temple and as such should be conditioned for many years by the competent authorities.
Xenia Quintana, leader of the Association of Residents of San Felipe, said he did not understand how the current government sets priorities within the township.

“Here resources for many social and cultural projects are required, but no funds. However, wasting time to and money on works that do not make sense, “he contributed.

For example, Quintana questioned that currently the  National Theatre, when what is really required is complete restoration.

He said that the parking lots and part of the wall of the Old Town is “falling apart” and for that there is a project established.

Historian Rommel Escarreola said he has no problems with the history of groups such as the Jesuits being highlighted, but priority projects should be the reopening of the National Theatre and the Museum Reina Torres de Arauz.