Steely glances while Archbishop preaches reconciliation

Panama’s  days of national celebration produced few signs of amity between the country’s leader Ricardo Martinelli and Vice-president Jaun Carlos Navarro.

On day one of the holiday, Wednesday November 3 they were into verbal accusations against each other. On day two November 4 while they sat on a church bench listening to the Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa preaching “social recognition” they kept a stony silence and, according to La Prensa exchanged hostile glances.

They were attending the traditional  Te Deum in the Cathedral for the celebration of the 108 years of separation of Panama from Colombia.

The first to arrive was Varela, who had  missed the earlier events in the Presidential palace.. Then came the president and his wife Marta.

There was only a handshake between the two.When they sat they sat  in the front row separated by the First Lady and teacher and parade organizer  Dayra Almendra.

While the Archbishop warmed to his theme Varela,  at one  end of the bench occasionally threw glances, at Martinelli to his right which were recorded on camera and published in La Prensa.  Martinelli did the same thing, looking to his left, at Varela. 

Ulloa offered up a prayer "for the existence of social reconciliation in Panama and a sincere dialogue. This is a process for parties living situations of confrontation lay down their destructive relationship and ring the future."

The message seemd to have fallen on deaf ears for the two politicians who before the election had come to an agreement that led to the forming of a coalition government.

After the homily, Martinelli and Varela walked apart, not speaking. to the headquarters of the Municipal Council for a meeting to commemorate the occasion.

Prior to the meeting in the church, Martinelli referred to Varela as his friend… “ I appreciate him very much, my colleague who should be here by my side…"  But he immediately returned to the attack: He "should apologize to Lucy Chandeck."

Chandeck, director of the National Environmental Authority and Deputy Minister of the Presidency, had a confrontation with Varela in the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday  when the vice president called for  action on the granting of free  land titles  of 54 hectares  in Juan Hombrón to corporations . He interrupted her  to say that Chandeck also had investigated the purchase of land for a hospital in Chilibre.

The events of November 3 which Varela missed began at 5:00 am with the traditional touching of "targets" at the Palace of the Herons, and the president danced and sang accompanied by his ministers.

At 7:00 am Martinelli presided over the ceremony of hoisting the flag, also, and presented the national flag to Almendra