Conflicting views on Carnaval water splurge

Less than 24 hours after Panama’s Tourism Manager announced that he favored the Cinta Costera for the pre-Lent Carnaval celebrations in Panama’s capital, the Public Works Minister has thrown a dampener on the idea.

Federico Suarez, said he will not allow “culecos” "on the coastal strip." He was talking about the  long standing tradition od hosing down of dancing and drinking celebrants.

Suarez said that if carnaval was held on that route, the culecos would have to be elsewhere. Earlier, the Minister of Health has said that because of Panama’s water crisis, the use of water for culecos would be prohibited.

Suarez's statements on Telemetro TV come after Tourism Authority manager Panama,Solomon Shamah sxid that he supports using the Cinta Costera as the Carnaval site, and he wanted to dispel the myth that it could not be used for public events.

Suarez said that what they could allow would be the parade of floats and bands. But "We will not allow it to deteriorate the coastal strip, which is a place of recreation and exercise.”

He reiterated that there is no final decision has been taken taken, . "The issue is evaluated with caution” he said.