BRIEFS. Corruption

Audit to begin on fly center´s finances

An investigation has begun to determine if funds to eradicate a species of fly that threatens livestock were abused by the program´s administrators.

The investigation is under the direction of the Contraloría General.

Panama and the United States provided money to build a breeding center for sterile screw-worm flies in order to prevent the species from breeding and heading toward the United States, where it has been eradicated.

In 2006 a permanent screw-worm production facility was opened in Panama to maintain a barrier between Central and South America.

The facility received $15 million in funding in 2007. But an audit is now being conducted to determine if those funds were properly spent. Additionally, the center's administrator has been put on leave.