Carnival by the sea

PANAMA. The site where the annual pre Lenten carnival will take place has always been a subject of controversy.

Bethania’s residents complain every year about the noise, disturbance and pornographic scenes they have to witness for four days.

The mayor of the capital city, Bosco Vallarino has insisted that the next carnival should take place at the Cinta Costera as proposed by Tourism Minister, Salomon Shamah.

“Of course the carnival will take place at the Coastal Strip and I support that proposal,” said Vallarino during an interview with TVN-2.

The Coastal Strip is there to be enjoyed by the people, as in other countries, said Vallarino, while explaining at the same time that the green areas should be used for family entertainment.

“The only thing we need to do is to take care of the green areas and not damage the infrastructures, when the carnival takes place on the Coastal Strip,” said Vallarino.

The mayor made his statements after a flood of complaints from different sectors saying that the Coastal Strip would be destroyed is the carnival is celebrated there.

The Coastal Strip is surrounded by what is considered an affluent area and although the residents of Bella Vista have not said anything yet, committees are beginning to form to address the carnival issue.

The inhabitants are worried most about security and the possibility of having drunk revelers engaging in all sorts of activities on the Coastal Strip.

The Tourism Minister said that next year the government will spend less than $4 million in the capital carnival festivities, but nothing has been decided yet.

The park close to the sea cost almost $200 million and was completed at the end of June under the Martin Torrijos Administration.

Since then there have been complaints about the amount of garbage accumulated in the different areas of the Coastal Strip and that part of the infrastructure has already been damaged by vandals.

A campaign was launched to clean the park, which is showing some signs of success as people begin to realize that the park is there for them to enjoy.

The Strip has become a favorite place to be for high and low income families alike, which finds the Causeway to crowded and full of tourists The government has not defined yet which institution will be in charge of the park maintenance, estimated to cost nearly $1 million a year.