Tourism web site cost reaching for the sky

THE PRICE of websites in Panama keeps climbing. Former ombudsperson Patria Portugal was fired for signing a contract for a site costing $250,000. Now The Tourism Authority (ATP) is spending over $1 million dollars.

On Monday, August 19. La Prensa, which had exposed the lavish spending of Portugal, which ultimately led to her dismissal after appearing before the National Assembly  said: "The design and management of the tourism website, visitpanama.com cost taxpayers Over $1 million, in the last year.

"In 2012, the administrator of the ATP, Salomon Shamah, awarded a direct contract to the company Pensanómica SA for $715 920  which included the payment of $ 447,000 for the site and $268 000 for the bringing  of foreign journalists into the country.
"In 2013, Shamah rehired directly the same company for $882,998, paying  $600,000  for the site and $282,000 to bring international media.
" he president of Pensanómica S. A. is Adolfo Fabrega, former Secretary of Information Security management of the Presidency, and brother of the Secretary for Social Affairs of the Presidency, Fabrega Dayra."