Panama protocol chief fired over message to Venezuela

PANAMA’S chief of State Protocol and Ceremony has been fired over a message addressed to Venezuela’s president elect, Nicolas Maduro.

Foreign Minister, Fernando Nunez Fabrega, confirmed on Thursday, April 17 that Christopher Sarmiento, was sacked for the error in sending a note congratulating Maduro, beforeVenezuelan electoral authorities had formalized Maduro’s triumph.
Sarmiento, who has a degree in International Relations, had a $4,000 a month salary and had received the decorations of the Order of the Liberator San Martin in the Grade of Grand Officer granted by the Argentine government and the Order of Civil Merit in the Grade of Grand Cross of the government of Spain.
On Wednesday the Government conducted an internal administrative investigation, into a letter in which supposedly President Ricardo Martinelli, congratulated the elected president of Venezuela.
Through his Twitter account Martinelli denied that he had signed such a document.