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, as well as his grandfather, Samuel Lewis Arango, and his father, Gabriel Lewis, 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 America, 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 ; the Panamanian Association of Exporters ; the Panamanian Chamber of Commerce; the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama ; 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 and his voluntary service in organizations and public bodies such as the Advisory Committee of the Panama Canal, the National Council on Foreign Affairs and the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority. 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.
