(prensa.com) 
The government has started making plans for the Panama City Carnival celebration, which will be held from March 5-8.
Tourism Authority Administrator Solomon Shamah said that the government will contribute $1.5 million to the event, with the remainder of the money needing to come from sponsors.
The government tried to collect an entrance fee for the events last year, but that resulted in numerous problems that eventually led to the plan being scratched.
During the five years of the administration of former President Martín Torrijos, the expenditures for the Panama City Carnival reached $13 million annually, an amount that was drastically cut by the administration of Ricardo Martinelli.
Also yet to be decided is the location of the event, which annually generates a large amount of controversy.