The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, visited several places in the province of Colón this Friday, in what he called a “tour to rescue Colón from neglect and abandonment in order to dignify it.”
The president’s first stop was in Portobelo, to thank the Black Christ and fulfill a promise.
Mulino explained that a week before the elections of May 5, 2024, he told the Nazarene of Portobelo that, if he allowed him to win the Presidency, he would remodel his Sanctuary, which is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In fulfillment of that promise, President Mulino knelt before the Black Christ and, together with his ministers, met privately with the Bishop of Colón and Kuna Yala, Manuel Ochogavía, and the parish priest of the Sanctuary of Portobelo, Ángel Pinilla, to begin preparing the way for the total renovation of the temple.
The governor of the province of Colón, Julio Hernández, also participated.
The president then visited the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA) Free Market in the Los 4 Altos shopping center, which sold more than 35,000 pounds of food at low prices in one day.
Mulino took the opportunity to greet hundreds of people who were taking advantage of the offers on basic necessities.
Accompanied by ministers of state, directors of entities and local authorities, the president closed his visit to the Center of Art and Culture of Colón, where he previewed several works and projects that his government will develop during this five-year period.
He mentioned the reconstruction of the city’s Old Town, the rescue of neighborhoods from gang control, and the beginning of the process to grant concessions for the operation of the Enrique Adolfo Jiménez International Airport.
All works carried out in Colón will have a predominantly Colon workforce.
