Richard Glenn Fifer Carles (born January 23, 1957)[1] is a Panamanian businessman and former politician. He is called the "Father of modern mining in Panama" by Boletín El Minero.[2]
Richard Fifer | |
|---|---|
 Fifer in 2011 | |
| Born | Richard Glenn Fifer Carles January 23, 1957 |
| Nationality | Panamanian & U.S. Citizen |
| Alma mater | Tulane University |
| Parents |
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Early life and education
editRichard Fifer is the son of Richard Glen Fifer Witte (son of Anne Witte and Elzy Fifer)[3] and a Panamanian mother, Celina Carles Montenegro (daughter of Celina Isabel Montenegro and Jorge Isaac Carles).[4]
He attended primary school at St. Mary's School, transferred in 9th grade to Curundu Junior High and completed in 1974 his high school education at Balboa High School.
After completing his elementary studies, Richard Fifer-Carles concluded his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Utah. He is also participated in the Geophysical Engineering program at Rice University and took advanced Finance studies at Tulane University.
Career
editAs President and CEO of Petaquilla Minerals Ltd, Fifer has been involved in the mining project since its commencement.[5] He serves on the Board of Directors of Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. and has done so on more than one occasion. Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company.
In 1993, he was appointed Governor of the Province of Cocle[6] during the presidency of Mireya Moscoso. While under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Panama, he was also the President's Plenipotentiary Ambassador-at-large from March 2002 to September 2003. He later returned to the mining industry as president and Chairman of CODEMIN (Corporación de Desarrollo Minero), Panama's State Mining Company. He also assumed the role National Security Advisor[7] to the President of Panama from 1999 to 2002.
Fifer is the founder of Grupo GEO formed by seven companies that provided services and products to diverse industries, such as Oil, Aviation, Mining, Reforestation, and Technology. He is also currently chairman and CEO of another enterprise, Geoinfo International, S. A., a company that operates in Panama through its affiliated company, Geoinfo, S. A., founded in 1992. Its main activities are the development of mapping technologies, the integration of Geographic Information Systems and business intelligence consulting in the Republic of Panama.
Fifer created the Castilla Del Oro Foundation[8] which promotes sustainable development of rural communities in the central provinces in Panama. It aims to promote projects and provide structures that will turn the region into a cultural tourism destination.[9]
Fifer was honored with the title Caballero de Guadalupe in October 2011.[10]
Fifer was the president of Petaquilla Gold SA. Now a bankrupt company which owes $30,000,000 to the "CSS" Caja del Seguro Social and labor benefits to 600 workers.[11][12]
Fifer was indicted in 2005 for embezzlement and crimes against the public administration, having subtracted $68,000 from the governor's budget and $47,000 from a donation made by the Spanish government, while he was governor of Coclé. In February 2005, an arrest warrant was issued for both Fifer and former Vice Governor Héctor Álvarez at the request of then-Governor Darío Fernández, although Fifer's lawyers filed a habeas corpus that prevented his arrest and Fifer himself returned all the money stolen, leaving in a country precautionary measure for jail[13][14][15]
References
edit- ^ "Forbes" Forbes.com
- ^ Boletín El Minero - Número 18 Febrero 2011 - Año 2 (El Minero Newsletter - Number 18 February 2011, year 2)
- ^ 1940 United States Federal Census for Elzy Glen Fifer
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardfifercarles/?locale=en_US [self-published source]
- ^ Public Deed Petaquilla Minerals, Public Registry, Republic of Panama
- ^ Periódico Panamá América - 27 de noviembre de 2001 (Panama America Newspaper dated November 27, 2001)
- ^ Periódico La Prensa - Portada 4 de agosto de 2000 (La Prensa newspaper - Front Page August 4, 2000)
- ^ Revista Guacamaya Verde Número 8 Mayo-Junio 2010 Año 2 (Guacamaya Verde Magazine Number 8 June 2010 Year 2)
- ^ Boletín El Minero - Número 2 Febrero 2010 - Año 1 (El Minero Newsletter - Number 2 February 2010)
- ^ "CRISTOBAL COLÓN CABALLERO DE HONOR DE GUADALUPE". Caballeros de Guadalupe. Pia Andalucia. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ^ "Corredor Mesoamericano, en peligro por concesiones | la Prensa Panamá". 19 May 2021.
- ^ "PETAQUILLA GOLD, S.A. :: Panama :: OpenCorporates".
- ^ "Ex gobernador devuelve dinero - Actualícese con la Prensa Web". mensual.prensa.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "DIA a DIA: Regional".
- ^ "Se mantiene orden de captura contra anteriores autoridades de Coclé - TVMAX Deportes". www.tvmax-9.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2022.