With an investment of more than B / .7.7 million, President José Raúl Mulino - with his first lady, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, and ministers of state - put into operation at Colón the new Visitor Center of the National Park and Castle of San Lorenzo El Real de Chagres. That work, powered by the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente), consists of extensive and modern facilities designed to enhance conservation, scientific research, tourism and environmental education in the province.

During the event, the president expressed his satisfaction with his completion of this project, which became unfinished in old administrations despite its great importance. He also emphasized that the centre will work as a showcase to show the world's history, cultural wealth and biodiversity. He noted that Panama, as well as with a Canal that promotes global trade, will be dedicated to green tourism.

"They say that the third is the defeat, and this is the third administration that has on its agenda this project that we have at last completed and open today to the public. That's an opening demonstration that opening a project for the photo, but without finishing the works, is a lack of respect for Panamanian people. That should be part of the past," said the president.

"I think that a country that doesn't value its history can hardly build a future of grandeur, and that's what we're opening up today: a look at what we have been and what we are and what we will be. Our country is unique, we have a united history and virgin nature, in harmony. That cultural and natural heritage attests to our past, to what signified the start of the Canal that united the world," she remarked, urging people to care for the structures of the new centre, just as rivers, broken and parks throughout the country have to be cared for and preserved.

For his part, MiAmbiente's incumbent, Juan Carlos Navarro, stated that the opening of the new centre and its surrender to the Portobelo and San Lorenzo sponsorship for his administration reflect the fulfilment of the premise of the National Government: Colón is a priority. "A great step we have taken today. Colón is a priority, they had to pass three governments to fulfill this centre (inherited without completion). Mr. President (Mulino): his instruction has been fulfilled and today this centre of global category is opened," she added that Panama's new and biodiversity. "

Meanwhile, the Minister of Culture, María Eugenia Herrera, noted that with this new centre Panama makes history and takes a decisive step to put into value the cultural heritage of the country as one of its main assets. He emphasized the commitment of the National Government to invest in what the country needs to be hosts of the world. "We open our doors to tourism, progress and our history," she said.

At his turn, Yelitza Norse, president of the Portobelo and San Lorenzo Board, thanked President Mulino and his government for his work that had been abandoned and will now be a centre that will promote green tourism in a sustainable manner.

The construction of the new installations was undertaken through public bidding through Contract No. DAYF-003-2020 as part of the Project to Support the Conservation and Management of Cultural and Natural Heritage, run by MiAmbiente with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (BID).

The project is located within the San Lorenzo National Park, in the area of the old Sherman Fort on the coast Below Colón, close to the legendary San Lorenzo Castle The Royal of Chagres. The new centre was designed as an iconic, tourist, historic and cultural pole of Colón, an area where the visitor will be told about the natural heritage and about the historic fortifications of the Panamanian Caribbean.

The Visitor Center of San Lorenzo National Park and Castle The Royal Chagres also aims to provide the area with first-world infrastructure dedicated to the care of visitors, conferences, environmental education, interpretation of the heritage and promotion of the natural, historic and cultural values of the San Lorenzo area, at the bottom coast of Colón province.

The work includes a spectacular monitoring tower where visitors can enjoy, throughout its dimension, the primary forests, coastal landscapes, flora, fauna and natural beauty that surrounds the area of the fortification. Also, the new centre has a training hall, auditorium, exhibitions room, boleteria, restaurant, terrace, panoramic elevator, main tower elevator, viewpoint at level 900 (about 50 metres above the level of the street), administration, machine room, bomb and storage tank, water treatment plant, parking and bay for buses.

The Visitors Center was designed as a reference space for the interpretation of the environmental, historic and cultural values of San Lorenzo as well as of the biodiversity and natural resources present in the protected area. The administration and operation of this area will be referred to the Portobelo and San Lorenzo Board, currently also responsible for San Lorenzo Castle The Royal Chagres.

The event was also attended by Minister of Tourism Gloria De León and Governor Julio Hernández and Ambassador Armağan İnci Ere and representatives of the BID and others.