The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, today presided over the takeover of Ricardo Gago Salineros, high Commissioner for the restoration of San Felipe Parish from Portobelo and Ricardo Bermudez Dutary, high Commissioner for the Valuation of the historic town of Colón, Qzx11qQ and San Lorenzo.

During the event, coordinated by the incumbent of the Ministry of Culture (MiCultura), Maruja Herrera, and held at the Yellow Salon of the Palace of Las Garzas, the Mulino president expressed his interest and commitment to advance the potential of Colón, his town and his tourist locations, as the historic and busy Church of Portobelo.

The idea was to replicate, the president explained, his Dominican Republic's experience with his visitors with a tour of the Cathedral Museum, transformed into a work of art with a mix of history and technology. In the case of Panama, Mulino mentioned, he expects that his jobs will be completed by 2026, as he expects to conduct a General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) and a Bolivarian Presidential Summit at the occasion of the 200 years of the Anfictionic Congress of Panama.

"I hope and trust that by that time, as they have taken me to Santo Domingo to see the cathedral, we can bring all (high personalities from both events) to Portobelo to see the church. I hope that everything will be a complement to history, tourism and work, especially for the thousands that come to Colón, to Portobelo. I have a great pleasure to help Colón, we are going to get ahead of Qzx23qQ at all costs. Let's get pic and pala to get ahead of Qzxqqqq restored."

President Mulino - who was accompanied by his wife, the first lady of the Republic, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, and President Juan Carlos Orillac and Minister of Economy and Finance (MEF), Felipe Chapman- also announced that a "very beautiful" place will be built that will benefit both the inhabitants and the visitors, coupled with security efforts to eradicate gangs and that they will have no more damage to the area.

For her part, Minister Herrera stated that the Gago and Bemúdez's possession ceremony marks a milestone in the current government's commitment to the preservation and rescue of the valuable cultural heritage of the country, including: the historic centre of the town of Colón, the Church of San Felipe and the St. John's Chapel of God of Portobelo.

"Colón is a witness and a strategic reference of world trade. It has been a bridge between oceans and a crossing of cultures, with its historic centre still conserving its brilliance. Nevertheless, it has suffered the pounding of time and a lack of investment to preserve them as part of our heritage. Today we are here to reverse this! We will restore its architectural splendor and we will revitalise its colors as a cultural, tourist and economic beacon," she stated.

Portobelo and San Lorenzo, fortifications recognised by UNESCO

Herrera emphasized that Portobelo was the most important port in the Caribbean during colonial times. His church at San Felipe, home to the venerate Black Christ, has been for centuries a spiritual and cultural centre of great relevance to Panama and the world.

He recalled that, beyond his religious meaning, Portobelo and San Lorenzo have been without part of the Caribbean fortifics recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site since 1980.

"These fortifics that evoke the physical representation of the defence that existed on commercial routes between Europe and America also symbolize a window to make our culture and our identity known to the world," emphasized the incumbent of MiCultura.

According to Herrera, Gago Salinero, with extensive experience with the conservation of churches that are part of the heritage of the country, will be responsible for restoring the splendor to the San Felipe Church of Portobelo and to the St. John's Chapel of God, through the strengthening of the spiritual heart of the historic coastal town.

The temple that houses the Nazarene, the Black Christ of Portobelo, for centuries has attracted thousands of national and foreign faithful and pilgrims to proclaiming his faith, and the St. John's Chapel of God, "with his architecture and holy atmosphere, are symbols of hope and unity for the Panamanian people," he noted.

Concerning Bermudez Dutary as an advisor for the restoration of the historic centre of the town of Colón, San Lorenzo and Portobelo, Minister Herrera indicated that she hopes to achieve with her professional work more than 40 years of trajectory and vision, a balance between the preservation of the architectural heritage of the country and the revitalization of the city, leading to economic and tourist development of the region.

He added that the restoration of the historic centre of the city of Colón, the Church of San Felipe and the St. John's Chapel of God of Portobelo will benefit local communities, strengthen national identities and place Panama as an example of conservation and sustainable development in the region.

The event was also attended by deputy ministers of state, local authorities of Colón province and members of the Board of Directors of Portobelo and San Lorenzo, among others.