society

Residents dreading Carnaval

Mimi Chen, 63, isn’t looking forward to Panama City’s upcoming Carnaval celebration.

If it is anything like it was last year, she will spend more time dealing with police roadblocks than she will dancing in the streets.

That’s because Chen is one of those people unlucky enough to have to live close to where the festivities will be held.

Last year, that meant having to wait at police roadblocks trying to convince officers to let her go home.

"Last year I had to go through police roadblocks at least ten times a day," Chen said. "Then they accused me of acting suspiciously."

The Carnaval festivities will start this Wednesday, and police will begin blocking off roads at that point, which is sure to generate the usual complaints from residents.

Luis Carlos Jaramillo, who owns a medical supply company in the Carnaval area, said this year he is hiring a security guard because people using his restrooms last year caused hundreds of dollars in damage.

Carnaval organizer, Panama City Vice Mayor Iván Arrocha, said that most of this year’s activities will be located on the Transístmica, which has not been used in several years. That route has replaced Vía Espania because it will have less of an impact on traffic.

The organizer also said there isn’t much anyone can do about the problems that are an inherent part of holding a major event in the middle of a city.

"We are aware of the inconvenience and we apologize beforehand," he said. "But if we want to host a Carnaval on a global level, we will have inconveniences."