4 days ago
Who are Genesis Arjona and Lorena Castillo de Valera, who met Shashi Tharoor in Panama?
Image credits: X/@ShashiTharoor
Shashi Tharoor
, the Congress MP of Thiruvananthapuram is currently leading a multi-party delegation where he will be visiting five countries to clear India's stance on anti-terrorism. The delegation led by Tharoor, has already visited the US and Panama and now will be moving to three more destinations, namely Guyana, Brazil and Colombia.
Sharing about his visit to Panama, Tharoor took to X to introduce the dignitaries he met in the Central American country where the ambassador held a reception for the delegation. The 69-year-old member of parliament shared photos with Genesis Arjona- a member of parliament from 2019-2024, Lorena Castillo de Valera- former First Lady of Panama, Mehr Eliezer- Miss Panama 2019 and aspiring politician and two other ladies "instrumental" in the success of the mission, Kathy Bhiku- Indian-Panamanian Networker Extraordinaire and Milena Alvarado, an Embassy staffer.
Two of these women, Genesis Arjona and Lorena Castillo de Valera have been very influential in their work in the Panamanian government and country. Here's who they are.
Who is Genesis Arjona?
Image credits: Instagram/Génesis Barbie Arjona
Gensis Arjona is a former Deputy of the Republic of Panama who served a term from 2019 to 2024 as a representative of the Cambio Democratico party. Born in the city of Panama on December 28, 1992, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Maritime and Port Business Administration from the University of Panama.
During her time as the deputy, she introduced more than 40 bills focused on health, security, education, youth, seniors, people with disabilities and more.
She also runs her own foundation called the Genesis Arjona Foundation which focuses on social projects such as training unemployed people, feeding children, and improving public facilities.
Along with being involved in politics and social work, Arjona has had a penchant for television since a young age when she appeared in television commercials and on the covers of national and international magazines.
She has worked as a TV presenter and also carried out campaigns for brands such as Nike and Covergirl.
She has been an influential figure in the political and social scape of the country.
Who is Lorena Castillo de Valera?
Image credits: Getty Images
Lorena Castillo de Valera, born on July 31, 1968, is a Panamanian journalist and politician who served as the First Lady of Panama from 2014 to 2019 as her husband Juan Carlos Varela was elected as the President. She holds a Bachelor's degree in journalism from the Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT).
After becoming the first lady, Lorena was appointed as the "Special Advocate for AIDS in Latin America" by UNAIDS in November 2015. In 2012, she left her journalistic aspirations to follow in her husband's footsteps of a political career.
Tharoor's meeting with these women is vital in making countries like Panama understand India's staunch opponency towards terrorism and all its proponents.
