The Board of Directors of the National Secretariat for Policies and Development for Afro-Panamanians (SENADAP) requested President José Raúl Mulino to temporarily remove the entity's General Director, Nolis Boris Góndola Solís, after analyzing complaints about alleged administrative irregularities.
The decision came after an extraordinary session held at the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), headed by Minister Beatriz Carles de Arango, during which the allegations presented by representatives of the Afro-Panamanian social movement, who are part of this board, and SENADAP officials were evaluated.
During the meeting, members of the Afro-descendant community expressed their concern about the administrative management of the institution. “The decision seeks to protect the institutionality of SENADAP and allow the facts to be clarified with total objectivity,” they added.
The authorities reiterated that the entity will continue its operations normally while the process is underway. Some indicated feeling a situation of “institutional orphanhood,” considering that the general directorate ignores the provisions of the law governing SENADAP and its corresponding functions.
Representatives also expressed frustration and disappointment with what they consider the way the entity has been managed, which, they indicated, has affected its functioning and the fulfillment of its objectives.
After analysis and the exchange of opinions, the board of directors resolved to accept the complaints presented, order the start of the investigation, and form a commission to carry out these instructions, which will be made up of members of the SENADAP board of directors.
Consequently, the executives agreed to recommend to President Mulino the temporary removal of the General Director of SENADAP, for the duration of the investigation, in order to guarantee the “objectivity and impartiality” of the investigation.
“The Board of Directors acted with institutional responsibility. “Public policies for the inclusion of the Afro-Panamanian population must continue to be strengthened, and that commitment remains a priority of the State,” indicated Carles de Arango.
At the close of the session, the board members reaffirmed their commitment to the institutional strengthening of SENADAP and the promotion of policies aimed at development, inclusion, and the recognition of the historical and cultural contributions of the Afro-Panamanian population in Panama.
