Carnival deaths highlight cash priorities

José Donderis, director of Panama’s Civil Protection the National System of Civil Protection (Sinaproc), hit out at misapplied funding of carnival celebrations over security, following the death  of  a  35-year-old man man  working in the culeco area (water tankers spraying revelers) in “El Manguito” Coclé on Sunday, March 5.

According to TVN News, the man collapsed and was helped by people in the area, but as since there was no emergency post they had to transport him to a local hos[ital remove him and transport him to a medical center where he was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest.

decreed due to cardiac arrest.

Members of the Carnival Board said there was a lot of security at the site, however, TVN News confirmed that an emergency post could not be placed due to lack of resources.

Sinaproc’s Donderis, said “You cannot continue investing, in the revelry and not in emergencies “

He confirmed that there was no emergency in “El Manguito”, where hundreds of people come every year.

He added that operational expenses were denied to the Red Cross and Sinaproc which provided coverage in the area every year.

A death from drowning took place at a private water location listed as a “spa” where there was no lifeguard.