The Minister of Culture, Maruja Herrera, participated as a keynote speaker in the commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the National Customs Authority at the iconic Customs Office of Portobelo, a space that was used to put Panama's historic and cultural memory into value.

The choice of this stage, declared as part of the TransStmal Colonial Route and registered with the UNESCO's World Heritage List, gave a special meaning to the celebration, by linking the country's customs legacy with the cultural wealth that distinguishes Panama throughout the world.

In his statement, Minister Herrera emphasized that the Portobelo Customs had been beyond its role as an administrative building of the Spanish Crown: it represented the economic heart of the colonial period and at the same time a meeting place of communities, traditions and cultural expressions that today are still alive in Afro-descendant and national identities.

"The Portobelo Customs symbolizes the union of our economic history with the cultural wealth we have inherited. To have been made here this anniversary is a reaffirmation of the historic role of the Isthmus of Panama and his commitment to the preservation of our heritage," she said.

The participation of the Minister as an official speaker paid tribute to the cultural dimension of the event, highlighting the contribution of the National Customs Authority to protecting the property from illicit traffic and recognizing the work of the National Government in restoring historic monuments, such as the 36.8 million balboas invested in the recovery of fortified Caribbean and St. Philip's Church in Portobelo.

The event, organized by the National Customs Authority, brought together national and local authorities, representatives of the private sector, the community and the media and concluded with an recognition to Minister Herrera for her valuable contribution to a ceremony that united the past, present and future of the country's customs and cultural history.