Martinelli Fires Director of National Secretariat for the Disabled
After the reform of the law creating the National Secretariat for the Disabled (SENADIS), the president dismissed the director of the entity, Manuel Campos, this week. Anibal Miranda will temporarily fill the position until the Cabinet decides on a replacement for Campos. Campos, who was appointed by the administration of Martin Torrijos, is a psychologist by profession, he worked in the private sector as a psychologist and a teacher, and he is the father of a disabled child.
Ramón Alemán, a lawyer who is an expert on juvenile affairs is being mentioned as a possible candidate for this position. On 6 August, the National Assembly approved reforms to Law 23 of June 28, 2007, which created the SENADIS, which say the term in office of the director of the SENADIS will be concurrent with that of the President. The reform to this law was presented by lawmaker Marylín Vallarino. Campos' term was to have expired in 2012.
Last May, at a meeting called "Face to Face" with various civil society organizations, a group of family members of deaf children complained to Ricardo Martinelli about the work of Campos, whom they accused of not attending to their needs. At that moment the President said "you just fired him - government officials who do not provide solutions can not continue working in the government." (Panama America)
