Shamah defends contract with singer

AP/Archivo

Don Omar se presentará en el carnaval capitalino el martes 12 de febrero.

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10/02/2013 - The administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority, Salomán Shamah, today defended the hiring of Puerto Rican artist Don Omar to close out Carnival events in Panama City for $267,000.

Shamah said that what is being spent this year for bringing an international artist to the event is much less than what was spent in the past.

"Before, everything was spent on international artists, now it is all about local artists," he said, noting the vats majority of acts are local.

He said Omar, who has been nominated for 18 Grammy Awards, is a tremendous artist and that it help raises the profile of the event and benefits the people.

"They can see him for free, which is something very big for the people," he added.

Omar will perform Tuesday night.