IN GREECE

Consulate yacht party

07-10-2009 | ALEXIS CHARRIS PALACIOS

acharris@laestrella.com.pa

Panama Star PANAMA. Antonio Fotis Taquis, Panama's Ambassador in Greece and consul at El Pireo spent over $41,000 on a five day yacht tour back in 2007. The Mana party yacht the ambassador used had luxurious accommodations that included Italian marble bathrooms, sauna, jacuzzi and a hallucinating price of $8,288 each day.

The $41,440 bill covered only the yatch and did not include food, drinks or communications aboard it.

Fotis contacted the company Valley Yachts Int'L and picked the Mana yacht to invite his friends from the past government administration on a special tour.

Apparently, Mediterranean life suited the ambassador quite well because he is now lobbying for a spot at the Cyprus consulate.

While he is busy trying to secure another job, Juan Carlos Varela, the nation's Foreign Affairs Minister, said they will investigate “irregular management of some consulates”.

Antonio Fotis Taquis claims that the yacht bill was paid out of pocket by his father, however the bills recorded the transaction between Valley Yacht Int'L and the General Consulate of Panama.

El Pireo is one of the most lucrative consulates coincidentally one with the most alleged corruption cases. First are the reimbursement bills Fotis sent for $98,000 with only a few months in office. He claims the bills are the result of changes in the consulate's budget.

Another case concerns to a company belonging to Fotis's father. This business gives technical certifications and services to ships seeking Panamanian flags.