The Trade and Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly approved in first debate a bill that obligates the State to provide economic support to all carnival and carnivalito associations and boards throughout the country.
Bill 469 was presented by Deputy Manuel Cohen Salerno from Cambio Democrático. It received the committee's approval on Tuesday, March 24, and must now be analyzed in a second debate by the 71 deputies in the full legislative session.
The bill's justification reads: "Carnival is one of the most representative cultural festivals of the Republic of Panama, especially in the country's interior provinces. This festival not only has enormous cultural and traditional value but also generates a significant economic impact during its four days of celebration."
The amount allocated to each carnival association or board will be determined based on criteria such as the age and history of the celebration, its cultural and tourist impact, estimated number of visitors, organizational capacity, compliance with regulations, as well as the transparency in accountability for previous years and the proper use of funds as agents for managing and handling State resources."
