Judith Pena | January 21, 2023
After the governor of the province of Panamá Oeste, Sindy Smith, asked the Ombudsman, Eduardo Leblanc, to go out to work on the streets and not send notes, there were reactions from the ombusman.
Smith’s statements were given through Radio Panama and he referred to the current situation on the beaches of West Panama at night.
According to Leblanc, Smith’s statements could be considered an attack on human rights defenders and have international consequences, for which he asked the “representative of the president (ergogovernor)” to respect the Ombudsman’s Office.
“I recognize that it is not the official position of the central government but you should be careful when giving your statements,” the ombusman said.
After Smith’s statements, lawyer Ernesto Cedeño, said they were “disrespectful” and sent a message to the President of the Republic Laurentino Cortizo warning that the official “is out of place and must respect the work of the Panamanian Ombudsman.”
He argued that Smith, “could perfectly challenge the work of the Supreme Court and so on.” He asked the president to put order.
“I heard her and the words of the governor of Panama Oeste seemed disrespectful to me. Mr. President Nito Cortizo, please put order, the aforementioned official is out of place, “said the jurist.
