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Burning money:Poverty limits education in Central America said Vivian Torrijos, wife of President Martín Torrijos, at the inauguration Wednesday of the 8th Summit of First Ladies from Central America and the Dominican Republic.

There seemed to be no limits on spending for the summit, however, which is estimated to cost around $700,000.

Expenses include $35,000 for invitations and ID badges, nearly $20,000 for designer handbags and jewelry and $3,000 for fireworks. Education and school maintenance in Panama are chronically underfunded.