The first female president of Panama, Mireya Moscoso, invited Scottish actor Sir Sean Connery as her personal guest on Monday when the Central American country rang in its centenary of independence.
Sean was the only Hollywood name in attendance, but 12 heads of state and representatives from 74 countries, including US Secretary of State Colin Powell, were also among those helping Panama celebrate the landmark event.
The 73-year-old star's relationship with Panama developed last spring after President Moscoso presented him with a Manuel Amador Guerrero award – named after the country's first president – in recognition of his talent and versatility. During that trip, he visited the famed Panama Canal, the president's private coffee plantation and the site of the 17th-century Scottish colony of Darien.
Just last week it was revealed that the Oscar winner's follow-up adventure trip to explore Darien has been thwarted by a local tribe. With Sir Sean as their patron, a team of dozens of British scientists, historians and archaeologists had planned to research the area, including the graves of the star's ancestors. However, according to reports, the ancient Kuna tribe says the actor will not be allowed into the site unless he helps them fund their own archaeological dig.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
