Big balloons could mean big delays as drivers return to city

Giant balloons will start arriving on the Cinta Costera at 12 noon on December 26, for a parade to take place late  afternoon creating fears of massive traffic chaos as thousands return  to the city from the Christmas break.

The coastal belt is scheduled for closing throughout the afternoon for a parade of inflated effigies   of cartoon characters but  Teofilo Moreno, National Police director of traffic operations, said he does not want to close the road before the start of the event to avoid chaos.

Moreno said that Balboa Avenue will remain open during the event but drivers will only be able to  turn right

Some 90 efigies of  Barney, Hello Kitty, Elmo, Popeye, SpongeBob SquarePants and the like will be brought to the area from noon. Each giant balloon takes about  two hours and to inflate. In the parade they will be  accompanied by nine school bands and bands from the National Police and the Fire Department. It is estimated that the parade, involving 500 people will start at the Fish Market at 4:00 pm, roughly the time that the crowds from the interior are expected to hit the city. The cost of the parade and how it is financed, has not been explained by the authorities. Show Pro Panama, said  last week that such questions should be answered by the the Government. 

The Secretary of State has not given specific answers to questions about the cost of the event.