Government hand out to Panama Carnaval questioned

The government allocation of $2.5 million for the Panama Carnaval has been criticized by organizers in the Interior who know that the buck stops at their door.

The president of the Central Board of the Chitre Giovani Solis said it is regrettable that the Government earmarked millions to Panama city while their carnival has to cover all costs associated with sending floats to the  celebration. Solís said this year the Central Board of Carnival contribute a total of $24,000 for each of the two floats from Chitre. On  January  5 the Cabinet approved a resolution giving $2.5 million to the celebration of Carnival 2012 in Panama City. It also authorized the Panama Tourism Authority to carry out the organization of the event. 

 Solis said that by January 15 he will send a letter to President Ricardo Martinelli, to see what contribution the government will  provide, for the two floats they will be sending to Panama’s event. Before last year’s Panama Carnaval, Martinelli vowed not to give one dollar of government money to to Carnaval, before relenting and handing over $1.5 million. This year the cost jumped again to $2.5 million.

Tourism manager believes the event is a great success, although it attracts few tourists and Panama city is deserted during Carnaval as score of thousands head out of the country or to the interior.

The Chitre Carnaval costs around $180.000.