Author Archives: Mof

Richard Fifer -anonymous article

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A recent anonymous article posted on an internet website implied that Richard Fifer had been involved in illegal activities and that he had defrauded his business partners in the past.  This is a completely false statement.

  • Richard Fifer has never been indicted or convicted for any illegal activities in the Republic of Panama
  • The situation detailed in the article was about Minamerica Panama, of which Richard Fifer was only a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors.
  • Richard Fifer has never been charged for fraud or anything similar.

Upon reviewing the article it became clear that this was a deliberate smear campaign purposely aimed at discrediting Richard Fifer as the facts were garbled and misquoted.

read more soon….

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Richard Fifer – The history of Gold in Panama

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500 years ago, Panama was attractive to the Spanish for the gold in the ornaments worn by natives or “First Nation settlers” as they like to say in the isthmus and the possibility of getting a passageway or a channel to the Indian sea Marcus Brutus spoke of.

The gold that adorned them was a clear indication of the volume that could be drawn from these lands, the Indians stretched and kneaded the 18 and 24 carat gold of soft material and then molded their figurines. Columbus was not wrong and those who followed him, after reaching the shores of Panama after his fourth voyage.   Gold was abundant in the area and the Indians spoke of a sea across the isthmus. In addition to the task of evangelization, Columbus was determined to carry gold to Spain to finance the crusade that would allow the holy places of Jerusalem to be returned to Christian hands.

At the mouth of Rio Belen in the region he named Veraguas, the admiral attempted to establish the first Spanish settlement in the American continent, but his intention was brought down by the hostility of chief Quibian.

Sometime later, after the death of Columbus, the Spanish crown divided the isthmus into two governments: Nueva Andalucía and Castilla del Oro.  Today, more than 500 years later, the Panamanian government granted the mining of gold in a total area of 100 hectares to one individual.  Once again, in this place of America the massive extraction of ore begins.

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The mining activity having a boom in Panama, Guacamaya Verde editorial notes.

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It’s an open secret that the mining industry is starting to take a special place in the beginning of this century of this fledging millennium, because earlier times have been overcome as the stone or bronze ages, concerning the way how materials where extracted, since this industry has given a qualitative leap that facilitates the exploitation and development of mining in a friendly coexistence with the natural surroundings and the environment.

That’s how strongly the bimonthly newsletter Guacamaya Verde editorialized, corresponding to the month of July and August, that is edited by the Petaquilla Gold S.A. Company, led by the Panamanian businessman Richard Fifer-Carles in defense of the mining industry in panama, stating that “this activity has evolved significantly in order to contribute to the conservation of the environment and develop the mining exports in a friendly manner with the natural environment”, he said.

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Colonial legacy and its great tourism appeal

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It is a monument which as if it were a watchtower monitoring the Caribbean Sea from the mouth of the Chagres River, leaving testimony of glorious days, victories and defeats, which marked the colonial period in Panama: Fort St. Laurence, whose tourism potential can make it one of the most attractive places in Panama.


Thus was seen by CEO of Public Enterprises in the Extremadura Region in Spain, Jaime Ruiz Peña, fascinated by the colonial and historical environment surrounding St. Laurence, after making a gentleman’s agreement with Colon’s governor, Pedro Rios, in which he commits himself to promoting tourism development in Fort St. Laurence, and whose witness was the Castilla del Oro Foundation, founded by engineer Richard Fifer Carles.


“I promised before the governor of Colón, bearing witness to the president of the Castilla del Oro Foundation, the Duke of Veragua, Cristobal Colon de Carvajal, to do everything possible to create a first class tourism product at Fort St. Lauremce,” said Ruiz Peña.

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Renovation of inn in Ocu will impact the tourism in Herrera

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One of the most emblematic initiatives driven by the Castilla del Oro Foundation, under the leadership of entrepreneur Richard Fifer Carles, is the renovation of the San Sebastian Inn of Ocu, with which they will return the splendor to this iconic structure, and positively impact this region.

It is about a town which tourism product is supported by the festivities that take place throughout the year, including the Fair and San Sebastian’s Patron Saint’s Day, Carnival, Holy Week, Manito Festival, all of folkloric, popular, and traditional character.

The works that will be done by the Castilla del Oro Foundation have a cost of 250 thousand dollars and currently, are in the process of lifting the project.  Once the renovation is completed, this installation will boost other tourist attractions like other fairs and interest sites for the visitors, where different types of tourism can take place, among them, Religious Tourism, Historic and Cultural Tourism, Folkloric Tourism, given the authenticity of some manifestations, the Manitos and the mejorana dances.

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Places of Interest: La Cerca Alta

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Madrid, September 2011

The Castilla del Oro Foundation, lands in Spain with a new project, more precisely in Huelva (Andévalo Hill). For this reason we invite you to learn the history, customs and life in general of this place in old Europe, in which the La Castilla del Oro Foundation takes on a new challenge: develop what  its driver, engineer Richard Fifer – Carles calls Second Generation Social Responsibility.

EL CASTILLEJO

In the privileges granted to Seville by Ferdinand III and Alfonso X -”… as waters run in Guadalcarranque and… Zufre, Aracena, Alfayat del Campo, Almonaster, Cortegana … “(AMADOR DE LOS RIOS, 1983) – it appears that Alfayat del Campo that, by its order in enumeration and geographic ordering that the text follows, it suggests that it may be identified with Cerca Alta in the vicinity of what is today Cerro de Andévalo (PEREZ ROLDAN, FUNES AND LORCA, 1987).

richard fifer

The A.M.E.C. documentation allows, thanks to the place names of the fields, locate this fort, but with the name of Castillejo, which also uses the municipal terminology of El Cerro for many other places.

In Don Jacinto Marquez’s will, a native of El Cerro, who lived between 1675 and 1753, reaching political relevance, the following farms are recorded: Juradilla Lands, Umbria del Castillo and fenced immediately, Umbria of Castillejo, olive post; the Carrinchosas, Jaroso, Tejoneras … among others, which are of no interest now.

This Castillejo, with shade of olive trees, can be identified with current place names near Cerca Alta because by defining the town preserves appears sometimes as “Port of the enclosure of the heirs of Jacinto Márquez” and others as “Puerto de la Peña del Castillejo” between the same two consecutive landmarks.

The fort has an interior perimeter of 350 meters inside their north-south axis and east-west measure 77 and 88 m, respectively. The wall’s width composed of pieces of basic rocks, which sometimes have considerable weight, often reach more than two meters, and according to the need for fortification, more than three meters high.

richard fifer

Among the potsherds collected this exhibition highlights prima visu Jewish crosses to the seal.

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Calañas: cultural crossbreeding, meeting of civilizations

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LA CASTILLA DEL ORO FOUNDATION IN SPAIN: A NEW DESTINY

Calañas: cultural crossbreeding, meeting of civilizations

Madrid, september 201

La Castilla del Oro foundation, lands with a new project in Spain, more precisely in Huelva (Cerro del Andévalo). For that reason we invite you to become acquainted with the history, customs and general life of this place in the old Europe,in which La Castilla del Oro Foundation takes on a new challenge; it will develop what is named by its driving force;  engineer Richard Fifer – Carles; Second Generation Social Responsibility.

After the resurgence of the mining activity that happened fundamentally on the second half of the XIX century, Calañas had lived another of its prosperity stages, in which the population increased in an accelerated manner and faced the turn towards the XX century with a reported optimism.

Although very affected by the political setbacks of the XX century Spain and alternating moments of great prosperity than others, the mining activity was in this case responsible for the sustained development that  Calañas enjoyed until the sixties.

Starting on that decade and because of the progressive shutting of the mines, Calañas is submerged in the crisis that affects all its surroundings and that continues until this moment.

Facing the closing of the mines, Calañas solely counted in general outlines with a livelihood agriculture, insufficient economic activity to act as a refuge sector and solve the needs of a society that had grown to the rythm of the explotation of the mineral resources.

The consequence of the crisis that has affected many towns of the district, has been a masive exodus of population towards other spanish regions and even towards foreing countries.

All the cultures and economic activities that were present in Calañas stopped, in a gradual form, their impression in the town and its people, both fruit of what they were and what they had; Calañas keeps in its physiognomy  and the carachter of its people the riches and  plurality of its history.

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Richard Fifer

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Mining Industry and Human Resources

Skilled human resource for the mining industry is in many cases difficult to find, as development and innovation of the mining industry continues to increase in demand as noted by Richard Fifer. College students seem to be less engaged in mining than a several years ago. In contrast, experienced personnel in the industry are commonly retiring due to different reasons deteriorating the already worsening condition.

Aware of this current situation, mining companies are presently working hard training their employees and focusing on employee retention. Many university programs also provide students with certificates, diplomas and degrees related to the mining industries. Since mining is made up of a great number of disciplines, the training is highly advanced as stated by Richard Fifer. Some of the fields and courses taught at mining industry related institutions are Dragline Training, Haul Truck Training, Shovel Training, Wheeled Loader Training, Long haul Training, Continuous Miner Training, Roof Bolter Training etc.

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RICHARD FIFER

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Community Relationships

Petaquilla operates in a developing area and is considered a friendly and collaborative partner with the communities and populations in its environment. It therefore applies a model of openness and transparency in its relations, as well as on environmental and social issues.

We believe that we must combine our business objectives with the aspirations and hopes of the communities near our operations. For this reason we implement communication processes as indispensable tools in building relationships with the community. We seek to improve the lives of our neighbors, both in health and education, infrastructure and economic development, while always acting responsibly, working together, and seeking the active participation of the Government, NGOs and, above all, the community.

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Richard Fifer and Gold

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Petaquilla Gold: Driver of Change

The mining industry with companies like Petaquilla Gold has dramatically and positively changed the social landscape in Panama. The diversity and intensity of its effects are well represented in the neighboring communities that have profited through education, infrastructure and economic improvements.

Significant advances have been identified as result of Petaquilla´s hard work to benefit the communities. Evidence exists of substantial flows of revenue into Panama’s Central provinces are thanks to the mining industry. These have come in the form of compensation, wages, royalties and business contracts.

For the past twenty years, developments in the mining industry in Panama have created money, jobs and development for population near mining projects. The education and health sector in these villages have also noticed improvement through the building of health centers and classrooms. A positive change of growth for the community are a reality due to the hard work and social responsibility programs that have taken place.

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