Richard Glenn Fifer Carles (born January 23, 1957) is a Panamanian businessman and former politician. He is called the "Father of modern mining in Panama" by ''Boletín El Minero''.

Early life and education

Richard Fifer is the son of Richard Glen Fifer Witte (son of Anne Witte and Elzy Fifer) and a Panamanian mother, Celina Carles Montenegro (daughter of Celina Isabel Montenegro and Jorge Isaac Carles). 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 The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

. He is also participated in the Geophysical Engineering program at

Rice University William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranke ...

and took advanced Finance studies at

Tulane University Tulane University, officially the Tulane University of Louisiana, is a private university, private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded as the Medical College of Louisiana in 1834 by seven young medical doctors, it turned into ...

Career

As President and CEO of Petaquilla Minerals Ltd, Fifer has been involved in the mining project since its commencement. 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 during the presidency of

Mireya Moscoso Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodríguez de Arias (born July 1, 1946) is a Panamanian politician who served as the President of Panama from 1999 to 2004. She is the country's first female president. Born into a rural family, Moscoso became active in t ...

. 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 Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on the economic via ...

as president and Chairman of CODEMIN (Corporación de Desarrollo Minero), Panama's State Mining Company. He also assumed the role National Security Advisor 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 An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) & lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturated ...

Aviation Aviation includes the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. ''Aircraft'' includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air ...

Mining Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on the economic via ...

Reforestation Reforestation (occasionally, reafforestation) is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands (forestation) that have been depleted, usually through deforestation, but also after clearcutting. Management A debate ...

, and

Technology Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in medicine, science, ...

. 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 Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cost ...

. Fifer created the Castilla Del Oro Foundation which promotes sustainable development of rural communities in the central provinces in

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...

. It aims to promote projects and provide structures that will turn the region into a cultural tourism destination. Fifer was honored with the title Caballero de Guadalupe in October 2011. 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. 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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifer Carles, Richard 1957 births Living people Panamanian businesspeople