President cancels visit to murder district

PRESIDENT Juan Carlos Varela, beset with problems linked to investigations linked to the Lava Jato and Odebrecht corruption scandals, canceled a visit to Bocas del Toro on Saturday, February 11.

He had planned to make the trip  Isla  Bastimentos, where an American woman tourist was murdered last week.

He was to have been  accompanied by Omar Pinzon director of the National Police who has drafted extra police into the area to assist Investigations to find those responsible for the killing of Catherine Johannet, 23, whose strangled body was found on February 5 on a footpath in a wooded area.

the Public Ministry authorities have not provided information on the progress of investigations.

In spite of the crime, on Isla de Bastimentos there is a

influx of tourists and the tourism authority  has  reported 80% hotel occupancy.

The National Police  have allocated more resources to this province including increased  foot and boat patrols and National Air Service surveillance.