Panama to send government workers home early

Panama on Friday announced that government workers could pack up early on June 3 and head home.

Panama on Friday announced that government workers could pack up early on June 3 and head home to focus on the Miss Universe pageant to be held here.

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Apparently taking her hosting duties very seriously, President Mireya Moscoso issued a presidential decree allowing all but highly essential workers to take a half day and go home before beauties from around the globe take the stage at a convention center in Amador, a former US base on the Pacific coast.

It seems traffic authorities were troubled by the possibility thousands of government workers, many of whom live west of the capital, might clog roadways and keep others visiting Panama stuck on the road -- making them miss some of the show, a source of great fascination in many Latin American countries.

The US television network NBC has broadcast rights for the event.