A project sponsored by the Corredor Biologico Mesoamericano del Atlantico Panameno and Petaquilla Gold S.A. looks to instill among the children environmental awareness so they start to protect and take care of the environment.  This is the environmental socio-scientific and educational project called “Ecomix 2”, whose motto is “for your life, take care of the planet”.

The project consists on performing several activities from conferences, contests and expositions, to the delivery of coloring books to the children.

For this, the Jose Agustin Arango School was selected as the educational center of this project which counts with the back up of the Ministry of Education, the sponsor of CBMAP and the support of companies like Xerox, Dulceria Tia Mami, Delicias Caseras, Maxell, Ecotoner, Gulf, and Petaquilla Gold S.A., under the vision of Engineer Richard Fifer Carles.

The Duke of Veragua, Cristobal Colon de Carvajal said the diary of Admiral Christopher Columbus is a very professional one, since the diary is “not only about what took place, it is a professional diary that compiles a lot of technical data about the winds, currents, port extensions, water depths, anchorages, and is technically perfect”.

This was announced by the XX direct descendent of the Admiral of the Americas, while visiting the historical expo “Four Centuries of History between Spain and Panama”, where he toured the exhibitions of historical documents which further intertwine the historical roots that unite both nations since the Colonial era.

When speaking about the depth, quality and professionalism of the content of the diaries of the Genovese Admiral, Colon de Carvajal, who was in Panama promoting the activities of the Castilla del Oro Foundation, a project led by entrepreneur Richard Fifer Carles, stated that Colon’s journal “is what later on inspired the course followed by all the sailors and navies of the world”.

The duke of Veragua Cristobal Colon of Carvajal indicated that it’s a privileges and honor to be the head of the family of the Admiral and that know a days he is the head of the main branch of a hereditary succession, that was held before by his father, during a few year it would be his son, which forms part of the traditional sequence of the Spanish title.

The consideration of Colon of Carvajal were given in occasion of his visit of the Spanish Exposition and Panama four centuries of history, of which participated as guest of honor during its time by Panama, to promote the touristic activities of the Foundation la Castilla del Oro, project lead by the businessman Richard Fifer-Carles, which is president in the mother land.

“On one side it’s an honor and on another it has a certain burden of representation of the different events that would occur. That has also taken my interest in pre-colonial history and by the period of discoveries, I have a very good library, I know the subject very well in order to give conferences not only in my country but also in university, even in a prior visit he gave a conference in the University of Panama, that is my life” said finally Cristobal Colon of Carvajal, president of the Foundation castilla del Oro.

As any economic dynamics, the mining activity requires specialized personnel, due to which with the promotion that this activity performed by Petaquilla Gold company (under the leadership of businessman Richard Fifer Carles) has given it, the interest among new generations has emerged, since more and more students are interested in studying careers related to the earth sciences, something that was just a utopia.

Without a doubt, mining has opened an ample range of possibilities for young people, in the field of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, mine engineering, topography mining and metallurgy, among others.

The presence of a complex and varied medical team in the facilities of the Molejon project is also pointed out which include health professionals, accompanied by excellent paramedic personnel. This has completely changed the panorama and perspectives of those who live in the region.

More than 200,000 tourists who arrive per year to Colon’s port often must be taken to places outside the Caribbean coast, in the absence of tourist attractions, so it is necessary to promote this sector, diversifying the offer and enabling sites, such as Portobelo and St. Laurence forts.

This was how Jaime Ruiz Pena, general director of public enterprises in the Autonomous Region of Extremadura in Spain, put it during a tour through Panama which was organized by the Castilla del Oro Foundation, under engineer Richard Fifer – Carles’s vision, and in which Pena mentioned that tourism is a very serious thing that relies on the existence of visitors who must become tourists who pay for a product once they discover its worth.

One of these attractions could be Fort St. Laurence, site toured by Ruiz Pena, where, having as witness of honor Castilla del Oro Fpundation’s international president, the Duke of Veragua, Cristobal Colon de Carvajal, he signed a gentlemen’s agreement with the governor of Colón to make these structures a showplace of the first order.

Businessmen from the Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Agriculture of Panama toured the mining facilities of Petaquilla Gold Company in order to learn in person about the functioning of this project, that is been carried out under the leadership of Engineer Richard Fifer Carles.

The businessmen heard explanations provided by the executives of the Project: Lázaro Rodríguez, Corporate vice-president of Operations of Grupo Petaquilla; Rafael Eysseric, Director of Operations of Petaquilla Gold, Leonel Silva, Superintendent of Safety and Environment; who provided lots of information about security controls and both national and international standards that are used at the plant.

This tour was characterized by its openness in which the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce asked questions related to reforestation and mitigation plans, as well as prevention of environmental risk, amongst other interesting topics.

Aimed at strengthening the program “Adopt a godson”, the Foundation Petaquilla, main branch of the program of Company Social Responsibility program of the company Petaquilla Gold S.A.,  would deliver this Friday the donations from its collaborators and from the Castilla del Oro Foundation, to the infant and young population of the community of Los Molejones, it consists in toys, adult clothes, sport shoes for the boys and girls, candies, drinks, threats and a piñata, among other things.

The purpose is to keep contributing with the social and economic wealth fare of the families and communities of Cocle and Colon that are close to the Petaquilla Gold S.A. Project located in the community of San Jose Del Gneral, in the district of Donoso, province of Colon, through the Petaquilla Foundation.

“Adopt a godson” is a program directed to the kids of the communities close to the project that are between the school ages of 5 to 13 years and whose philosophy is that the workers of the mining project learn directly from the poor kids of the region what are their needs, dreams, hopes and aspirations, in order to contribute with economical support and materials in the learning process of the kids and help them providing a friendly hand that worries about their scholarship development and emotional growth.

Castilla del Oro Foundation continues with the construction of the modern library in the Ruben Dario Carles school, the work has an 85 to 90% progress, according to Julio Herrera, one of the members of the organization that sponsors the project in the country side.

More than 76 thousand dollars will be invested in this Project, as part of the educational program that seeks to provide more technology to students of different communities.

Castilla del Oro Foundation, along with Petaquilla Foundation is one of the promoters of this cultural Project, which was visited last July by the Castilla del Oro Foundation President from Spain, Cristobal Colon de Carvajal, which highlighted the importance of enabling educational projects that provide benefits to Panamanian students.

While visiting the school facility, Colon de Carvajal explained that it is important to highlight culture and education, which are linked, because it is important for students to have these tools to improve the quality of the education.

September 2011

According to the authorities of the Castilla del Oro Foundation, led by Engineer Richard Fifer-Carles, has planned, for the coming years, an investment that surpasses 12 million dollars in tourism projects in the municipalities of the provinces of Cocle, Colon, Herrera, Los Santos, and Veraguas.  They are establishing contacts between the governmental authorities of Panama and the regional governments and authorities in Spain, which will allow them to exchange ideas about he future of the sustainable development of Castilla del Oro.

International experts with the foundation

Jaime Ruiz Pena, international tourism expert, leads the Spanish delegation in this sense.  On the other hand, as of 2011, the Foundation decided to establish a technical link to offer support and guidance to the governments, with the purpose of providing information and elaborating the plans for tourism development.

The have had visits on both sides of the ocean (Spain – Panama), which has accelerated the works and projections.  The next visit to Spain by the regional governments of Panama is planned for the second week of October.

Petaquilla Gold, S. A. delivered a major donation to the First Lady’s Office, consisting of toys for distribution to needy children in the community of Tambo, in Toabré county.

At the request of the First Lady’s Office, Petaquilla Gold, S. A., with engineer Richard Fifer’s vision, gave the governor of the province of Cocle, Fernando Nunez Fabrega, toys that bring joy to hundreds of children living in Tambo.

The delivery was done by the director of Petaquilla Foundation, Dr. Leonel Arosemena, at a ceremony in the Governorship of Cocle and is part of the activities promoted by Petaquilla Gold, S. A. as part of its corporate social responsibility policy to implement social, economic, and tourism projects through the Castilla del Oro Foundation.