In less than a third of the constitutional period two officials of the Mayor of Panama have been made between the two, 17 trips abroad, which account for more than $ 44,000 cost.
This is Deputy Mayor and environmental activist, Raisa Banfield, and the head of the Office of International Affairs, Milton Henriquez Pagés, son of Interior Minister and leader of the youth of the co-governing People's Party.
Since the two took office in 2014, they have spent 44,357 US dollars for travel abroad and travel expenses.
Banfield has traveled so far, a total of nine times, while Henriquez Pagés has done eight times.
According to Transparency Node mayor, the journeys of ecological activist and number two in the district capital cost the taxpayers of the largest district in the country, the sum of 22 000 979 US dollars 98 cents.
While Henriquez Pagés spent 21,377 US dollars.
The destinations of municipal officials, an elected by popular vote and the other by free appointment, carried near and far destinations.
The Old Continent (Europe), Oceania and America are the destinations where they carried out the Banfield and Henriquez Pagés journeys.
For example, both traveled to Paris, France, invited by the German Konrad Adenaduer Foundation, an organization that assumed the cost of the airline ticket.
The two municipal officials hierarchy received $ 4,900, in the case of Banfield, and $ 3,900 for Henriquez Pagés.
The journey was to attend the conference on climate change in the French capital.
On his travels, Deputy Mayor explained that they have done to prepare to carry out the planning of the city, a project that is under his responsibility.
"That's why I've attended invitations training as BID on the subject of the initiative Emerging Cities, World Bank planning issues in metropolitan areas and UN Habitat to Resilience ( ability of cities to prevent and adapt to risks)", he explained.
He added that most of his travels have left as a contribution to strengthen their work two new municipal departments, such as the Environmental Management and Urban Planning.
Banfield acknowledged that his office arrive countless invitations to international conferences and events, of which the mayor selects or designates, for those who "can give us some results in our work."
He agreed that if the mayor spent 22,500 US dollars for a trip to the pleasure of traveling and unpaid with labor official, "is not an investment, it's a waste," which in his case was not, according to the explanations he is given.
Travel to Australia
Meanwhile, Henriquez Pagés , who led a campaign against corruption in the past five years , took a journey to the distant city of Sydney, in Australia , to attend the Asia Pacific Cities Conference - Summer 2015 .
To do this, he spent 81 cents $ 7,616 divided into 3,066 US dollars with 81 cents in payment of plane tickets and $ 4,550 in travel expenses.
It will be recalled Pagés Henriquez , at the beginning of the government, was promoted as Panama's ambassador to Israel, but his appointment fell through.
This designation was promoted at a time when his father , the minister Milton Henriquez , was questioned by a case of nepotism by appointing his sister , Florita Ciniglio , the entity that owns , with a high monthly salary of $ 4.000 .
