Samuel Lewis Navarro
Encyclopedia
Samuel Lewis Navarro was the First Vice President and Foreign Minister
of Panama
. He served in these posts from 1 September 2004 to 1 July 2009 during the administration of President Martín Torrijos
.
Lewis was elected First Vice President of the Republic of Panama for the period 2004-2009 by popular vote on May 2, 2004. He took oath on September 1 together with President Martín Torrijos
and Second Vice President Rubén Arosemena. On the same day, Lewis also became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was elected to the first Vice Presidency of the Republic on the ballot propositions of "Patria Nueva", a political program endorsed by the Revolutionary Democratic Party and the Popular Party, advocating more employment, more production and zero corruption.
He studied business administration at prestigious academic institutions in the United States , earning a BA from Georgetown University
in 1979 and an MBA from American University
in 1981, both in Washington , D.C.
Samuel Lewis is married to Anagrethel González, and they have two children. He was previously married to Mariela Delvalle, the daughter of former President Eric Delvalle and has two more children.
, the Caribbean and Mexico; Northsound Corporation, engaged in the production and distribution of bananas; and Red Crown Corporation, the biggest Central American company operating with regional capital dedicated to growing and selling pineapples to markets in Europe and North America. He is also the President of Calder International, a real estate company involved in housing development projects in Panama City. Since 1981 he has been a member of the board of directors of eleven industrial, real estate, farming and investment companies.
At the same time, he has participated in business organizations such as the Industrial Guild of Panama; the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE in Spanish); the Panamanian Association of Exporters (APEX in Spanish); the Panamanian Chamber of Commerce; the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama (AMCHAM); The Young Presidents' Organization, and the Gabriel Lewis Galindo Foundation, dedicated to promoting education in Panama.
(1994-1999), the National Council on Foreign Affairs (1999-2003) and the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority (1998-2002). The latter state institution, wholly run by Panama since December 31, 1999, is responsible for the management of the waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Finally, his involvement in partisan politics started in 1993, when he founded the Solidarity Party, of which he was the Vice President from 1993 to 2003. He resigned from it to contribute as an independent citizen to finding solutions to the serious social, political and moral problems facing the Panamanian nation.
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. He served in these posts from 1 September 2004 to 1 July 2009 during the administration of President Martín Torrijos
Martín Torrijos
Martín Erasto Torrijos Espino is a Panamanian politician and the former President of the Republic of Panama.Torrijos was elected President on May 2, 2004...
.
Lewis was elected First Vice President of the Republic of Panama for the period 2004-2009 by popular vote on May 2, 2004. He took oath on September 1 together with President Martín Torrijos
Martín Torrijos
Martín Erasto Torrijos Espino is a Panamanian politician and the former President of the Republic of Panama.Torrijos was elected President on May 2, 2004...
and Second Vice President Rubén Arosemena. On the same day, Lewis also became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was elected to the first Vice Presidency of the Republic on the ballot propositions of "Patria Nueva", a political program endorsed by the Revolutionary Democratic Party and the Popular Party, advocating more employment, more production and zero corruption.
He studied business administration at prestigious academic institutions in the United States , earning a BA from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1979 and an MBA from American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in 1981, both in Washington , D.C.
Family life
Samuel Lewis was born into a family with a tradition of public service, particularly in the international field. His great-grandfather, Samuel Lewis García de Paredes (1871-1939), as well as his grandfather, Samuel Lewis Arango (1901-1972), and his father, Gabriel Lewis (1929-1996), all held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama before him.Samuel Lewis is married to Anagrethel González, and they have two children. He was previously married to Mariela Delvalle, the daughter of former President Eric Delvalle and has two more children.
Business career
Samuel Lewis began his business career in his family's company Empaques de Colon, where he became the general manager and president. He went on to work for other corporations, including the ELE Group, a packaging company with investments in Central AmericaCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, the Caribbean and Mexico; Northsound Corporation, engaged in the production and distribution of bananas; and Red Crown Corporation, the biggest Central American company operating with regional capital dedicated to growing and selling pineapples to markets in Europe and North America. He is also the President of Calder International, a real estate company involved in housing development projects in Panama City. Since 1981 he has been a member of the board of directors of eleven industrial, real estate, farming and investment companies.
At the same time, he has participated in business organizations such as the Industrial Guild of Panama; the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE in Spanish); the Panamanian Association of Exporters (APEX in Spanish); the Panamanian Chamber of Commerce; the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama (AMCHAM); The Young Presidents' Organization, and the Gabriel Lewis Galindo Foundation, dedicated to promoting education in Panama.
Political career
Lewis' participation as a citizen concerned with the defense of the interests of his country in the international field was demonstrated by his work as Special Ambassador of Panama (1994-1999) and his voluntary service in organizations and public bodies such as the Advisory Committee of the Panama CanalPanama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
(1994-1999), the National Council on Foreign Affairs (1999-2003) and the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority (1998-2002). The latter state institution, wholly run by Panama since December 31, 1999, is responsible for the management of the waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Finally, his involvement in partisan politics started in 1993, when he founded the Solidarity Party, of which he was the Vice President from 1993 to 2003. He resigned from it to contribute as an independent citizen to finding solutions to the serious social, political and moral problems facing the Panamanian nation.