Police are looking for John Edward Jimenez Salinas, a participant in the 2007 reality show "The First Warrior" (a boxing competition) as one of the gunmen who killed Olivia del Carmen Gálvez Valdespino, 19, Yelsin Díaz, 20, and Javier Mena, 27. The three youths were shot dead Tuesday morning when they were having breakfast at their house in the sector 4 de Septiembre, in Las Garzas de Pacora. Witnesses said they saw John Jimenez as one of those who participated in the attack. That tragic morning three men entered the Yeltsin's home, who was confined to a wheelchair after being shot by a policeman. The gunmen opened fire on the people who were inside. Yeltsin was shot twice in the head and died at the scene. His spouse Olivia, who was in her sixth year at the IPT of Juan Diaz, was shot in the chest and died at the Regional Hospital in the 24 de Diciembre where she had been transferred. Javier Mena died at the Santo Tomas Hospital, where he was taken with shot in the mouth.

Police said Friday that anyone who knows the whereabouts of John, call police in Pacora at 296-0020 or dial 104, to proceed with his capture. To date no one has been arrested for this triple murder. (Siglo)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - William Dathan Holbert, the notorious "Wild Bill" serial killer who has confessed to having murdered five people in Panama and one in Costa Rica, has access to communications technology in prison allowing him to communicate with practically anyone he wants, any time he wants. According to my source - a high school friend who has been in frequent contact with Holbert's family members in North Carolina - Holbert has a Blackberry cellular phone in prison with access to the data and the Internet. Holbert can surf the Internet using his cell phone with data access. Holbert can send and receive email. Holbert supposedly even has a printer/fax machine combination unit, and he can use it to send faxes through the cell phone. Holbert uses these means of communication to remain in extremely close contact with his mother - Karen Yvonne Moore - back in North Carolina. And that's not all. Laura Michelle Reese also has a cell phone of her own in the Women's prison in Panama City, and both Holbert and Reese can call one another at will to discuss and coordinate their legal defense strategy.

Holbert Sent An Email From Prison: Remember this story from back in April, which came out when I was in Bocas del Toro investigating the disappearance of Yvonne Baldelli? William Dathan Holbert Sent An Email From Prison - About The Yvonne Baldelli Case. On 26 April 2012 William Dathan Holbert sent an email from prison to several Panamanian news outlets, apparently trying to somehow insert himself into the disappearance of Yvonne Baldelli. The next day both Holbert and his defense attorney were on the news media saying that no, Holbert had not actually sent the email himself from prison, but rather he had supposedly used a public phone in prison, called a friend, dictated the email, and this friend of his supposedly sent the email for him. Well, I now know for sure what I suspected before - Holbert was lying. He does, in fact, have access to the Internet, email, and a cell phone with data in prison.

Scrambling, Denials, Damage Control: After this little incident in April with Holbert sending an email from prison, Angel Calderon, the Director of the Penitentiary System in Panama, went on the news to say it supposedly would have been impossible for Holbert to have sent the email from prison, because they have jamming technology in place that blocks the calls, so a phone would be useless. That might be the party line, and Calderon might believe it to be the case, but in fact it's not true. Holbert has a Blackberry phone, and it works in the public prison in David. I don't know what's going on, maybe he's paying the guards to turn off the cell phone signal jammers or something? Who knows? What I do know for sure, based on both the email Holbert has already sent from prison and from my sources in North Carolina, is that Holbert can access communications technology at will. Jammers or no, rules or no, prohibitions or no - he's got it, and he's using it.

Holbert Probably Read This Article Before You Did: And I suspect that as soon as he got done reading, he started hiding things. Holbert is a relatively intelligent guy, and he certainly knows how to get over on the system, to exploit any little weakness. And, he's been able to parlay that into access - which means information, communications, and coordination. It is my personal hope the authorities in the prison in Chiriqui will shut this down, once and for all. It's outrageous to think this animal has any creature comforts whatsoever. But cell phone, email, and surfing the Internet? That's way, way over the line. Anyway, if you're reading this Bill, give me a call at 6614-0451. I'd like to ask you if you have a cell phone.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The National Elections Commission of the PRD, announced it has successfully closed the period of nominations of candidates for delegates on Friday May 18 at 6:00 pm. The election of the candidates in this period will be on July 8, 2012. Nationwide they have distributed 20,500 application forms, 10,000 electoral calendars, and 6,000 copies of election regulations. The form distribution process began on March 26 and the acceptance of applications began on April 16, 2012. For more they have been receiving applications for candidates nation wide, and as a result of this process they have received more than 3,000 nomination forms, for more than 15,000 candidates as primary delegates, secondary delegates, and alternates. It was also reported that in four stages from 19 to 31 May 2012, there will be a revision of the applications, as well as challenges, the resolution of those challenges, and finally the publication of the nominations admitted. (TVN)

Editor's Comment: This is the first step of the internal election process for the PRD political party. They will be selecting a new National Executive Committee. This is done first by a nationwide vote among all party members (I think they have to have at least three years in the party to be able to vote), to select delegates who will attend a convention. Those delegates at the convention will vote to elect the new National Executive Committee. So, at this point they have just finished receiving the applications for the nominations for those running to be convention delegates. On the surface the PRD seems to be a very democratic organization. But, in the end of the day they have a tendency to flat out steal the internal election results. Many people believe Juan Carlos Navarro beat Balbina Herrera in the last PRD primary, but the party leadership stole the victory from him and gave the nod to Balbina Herrera. As a consolation prize, they made Navarro her running mate. Now, he's coming back for another run, this time without the Balbina Herrera albatross around his neck. However, the PRD is still badly divided. And no matter - their internal political processes continue.   

Some 30 indigenous women and men settled yesterday on the banks of the Tabasará river where the Barro Blanco hydro electric project is being built. The leader Toribio Garcia they are taking this action because the Government granted the concession to build this project behind the backs of the indigenous community. They are trying to install a permanent camp on the site where work is being done on the Barro Blanco project, to prevent progress. Fidelina Rodriguez, the wife of Jerome Rodriguez, said they will have to pull them dead from the place where they are located. (Critica)

Editor's Comment: Spotted owl tartar, anyone? It's crap. The environmentalist movement has paid these people off to create problems for this project. End.   

The former Comptroller Alvin Weeden thinks the former President of the Republic and member of the Panameñista political party, Mireya Moscoso, "is a traitor to her party" by pointing to the Vice President and Panameñista party president, Juan Carlos Varela. Weeden said Moscoso has been paid to attack Varela, and there are several ways she is being paid, "among them the case they have hidden for the mishandling of the Fundación Mar del Sur." In an exclusive interview granted by Moscoso to Telemetro, she urged Varela and Martinelli to talk. (Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: Weeden came right out and said Moscoso has been bought and paid for, in exchange for keeping the Fundación Mar del Sur case under wraps. Ah, Panamanian politicians - gotta love 'em. This case goes back to 2004 and allegations of the mishandling of $70 million dollars donated by Taiwan to Panama. The administration of Mireya Moscoso was both terribly corrupt, and perfectly inept at hiding it. Early in his term the administration of Ricardo Martinelli "tuned up" the Fundación Mar del Sur case, so they could use it against Mireya Moscoso if they ever needed to. According to Weeden, the quid pro quo is simple - Moscoso goes after Varela in order to help Martinelli, and in exchange they leave her alone on the Fundación Mar del Sur case. This is a repeat of the same tactic Martinelli has used throughout his administration, so it's really no surprise. More Panamanian hardball politics...   

The Table of Dialogue between government and health unions and did not reach a consensus to end a strike that has paralyzed parts of the Panamanian public health system since Monday, 14 May 2012. Father Eusebio Munoz said they would restart the talks on Monday at 9:00 am, and during the weekend there will be bilateral meetings between the groups and the mediator. "There is no consensus, but there remains a desire for dialogue," Father Munoz told reporters. Meeting in San Antonio de Padua church in Bethania from 9:00 am yesterday, with the mediation of the Catholic Church, the two sides did not reach an agreement, specifically on the subject of reprisals against the officials who went on strike, demanding higher wages. Alvaro Lozano, vice president of the National Guild of Professional and Technical Services (Conagreprotsa) indicated there was no consensus by the government, but they have the disposition for a 'happy understanding'.

He said on Monday they expect a response from the government to take back to their members, and he denounced that there have been persecutions and administrative cases have been opened against the striking workers. Meanwhile, Javier Diaz, director of Medical Services of the Social Security Fund, acknowledged that there was no consensus at that time, and he said anyone who has been fired can file a complaint. According to Diaz, they are docking the pay of those who are not showing up for work to participate in the strike, and he also confirmed that seven officials have been dismissed.

The National Association of Administration of the Social Security Fund (ANFACCS) departed from the negotiation table, claiming that the government will not stop the retaliation, and they called upon the other groups and unions to intensify their actions. (Estrella)

   

The Italian prosecutor in Naples is analyzing documents received from the company Finmecannica on contracts signed with Panama, involving the sale of radars, helicopters and digital mapping services, said the journalist Joan Solés through Panama Radio. She said after this analysis, the authorities will determine whether or not there are irregularities, then the prosecution will be issuing their oponion within the process that might take Valter Lavitola the Court. The journalist said the court should set a hearing date after a review of the filing of charges. She added at this hearing the only witness will be Mauro Velocci, with whose testimony they can establish whether or not there were bribes paid to Panamanian authorities.

In recent days, the company Finmecannica delivered the documents on the contracts with Panama, to clarify that there was no bribery or payment of bribes involving Panamanian authorities. Solés reiterated that Lavitola still remain detained under the orders of the prosecutor. Meanwhile, Velocci's whereabouts are unknown, except for the Prosecution of Naples and his lawyers. She added the assets of the company Svenmark, owned by Velocci, are still be held as sequestered.

Lavitola was arrested o 16 April 2012 when he arrived in Italy, after several months hiding in Argentina. He is linked to alleged bribes to foreign officials. (Panama America)   

The President of the National Assembly Hector Aparicio requested the approval of the Executive Body for contracts at their institution, according to a letter sent on 11 April this year the Minister of the Presidency, Demetrio Papadimitriu, which was released yesterday, apparently in error, in an internal email of the National Assembly. The title of the email, which reached more than 100 people, including deputies, spoke of a fumigation to be conducted at building 356, but its contents did not refer to that topic. In the attachment was a letter sent by Aparicio.

In the document, received by the Presidency on 13 April 2012, Aparicio said that, complying with the terms of the note DIPRENA / CIRCULAR 04 of 25 January 2011, he sent "for the appropriate analysis and assessment of viability, by Executive Body, contracts for professional services entered into by the Assembly, detailed below." He then lists two contracts, without specifying the amount, given to Iván Madriz G. and Ana Cecilia Garay de Soto. Then in a farewell to the minister he says "pending a positive response from you."

Because of the DIPRENA reference, it is assumed that the circular comes from the Budget of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It was learned that this entity, based on the budget law, requires the approval of the Executive for contracts exceeding $ 2,000. But there is another article of the Act exempting the legislature of this standard. (Prensa)

Editor's Comment: Yeah? So what? More politically motivated reporting. The article itself says Aparicio didn't have to send this letter, and the legislature can issue any contracts they want without Executive approval. So, they screwed up. Big deal. What catches my attention more is the continued efforts by a major news media to try to find any little error, and to make a mountain out of a mole hill. More politically motivated reporting, unless I'm missing something.   

By: The Canadian Press - TORONTO - Inmet Mining Corp. says it has closed a US$1.5-billion debt offering to help fund development at the copper-gold Cobre Panama project. With the closure of the deal, the Inmet board has granted approval to start construction on the project. Questions were raised early in 2011 about the future of the Cobre Panama project, when the Toronto miner Lundin Mining Corp. walked away from its planned merger with Inmet. The project has since received government approval for an environmental and social impact assessment required for the building of a mine, port facility and coal-fired power plant. However, environmental groups continue to oppose the project, contending it will destroy 5,700 hectares of forest and affect local wildlife, including a large number of protected animal species.

In January, Korea Panama Mining Corp. decided to exercise its option to take a 20 per cent interest in Cobre Panama copper mine, leaving Inmet with an 80 per cent stake in the development-stage project. It will fund 20 per cent of development costs. Shares in Inmet fell 73 cents or 1.6 per cent to 44.28 in Friday trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Editor's Comment: The partners in this project will spend more than $6 billion dollars to build this new copper mine - making it a bigger project than the expansion of the Panama Canal. This is a massively important project for the economy of Panama. It will be pumping new money into the economy in a multitude of ways - new infrastructure, jobs, services, logistics, supplies - you name it. The total landmass of Panama is 7,434,000 hectares, so dropping 5,700 hectares of trees to get at billions upon billions of dollars worth of copper means this project covers 0.07% of the land - not even one tenth of one percent. Meanwhile just Gatun Lake covers 42,500 hectares - and every inch of that land was virgin jungle and rain forest before it was flooded to create the Panama Canal. So - if the environmentalists of the world had their way back at the start of the 20th century, the Panama Canal most likely never would have been built. I'm in favor of the Inmet copper project on the math an economics. And besides, they will have to plant two hectares of reforested land for every one hectare they cut down - a fact omitted from this article. Much of the reporting on the Inmet copper project in Panama is very biased against the project, because many reporters are also raging environmentalists and tree-huggers. I'm also a tree-hugger, as long as the trees I'm hugging are on a teak plantation in Panama...   

The former president Mireya Moscoso (1999-2004), did not rule out the possibility of forming a political alliance between the Panameñista party, of which she is a member, and the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD). "I have understood there are talks between the president of my party (Juan Carlos Varela) and the PRD. They have had several conversations," said Moscoso on Telemetro Report. However, the Moscoso did not say more about the subject. She only said that if there is an alliance, that she could not vote for the PRD. "I think it would be betraying my principles. I can not speak for others," she said.

ELECTORAL REFORMS - The first woman to sit in the presidential chair also spoke during the interview about the issue of electoral reforms that were not passed in the last term of the National Assembly. Moscoso said she hopes these reforms are approved because "they are the guide to what's coming in the 2014 elections." The former president also said she did not agree with some of the proposals that were included in the package of reforms, including the case of the second round (of elections.) "I never believed in the second round. I think the Constitution is clear," she said. "If the Panamanians want a second round, let's go to a referendum," she said.

Moscoso said she does not believe in the presidential reelection. "I do not believe in re-election. I think the president should serve five years, and then go home." (Prensa)

Editor's Comment: Moscoso would love to take back control of the Panameñista party, and her political rival is Juan Carlos Varela. She's a slick and experienced politician, who has a relatively small but still somewhat important following within the party. Her reason for dropping his bomb - that Juan Carlos Varela as the President of the Panameñistas and PRD are having talks about some sort of a potential alliance - is clear. She is trying to paint Varela as a traitor to the party. Most of the Panameñistas would rather have their fingernails ripped out than form an alliance with the PRD - whom they have always seen as their mortal enemies. That would be like having Tony Romo as the quarterback of the New York Giants - I'd rather drink acid. But she talks to the press, smiles, acts dumb, then cackles gleefully in her living room once they pull away... I see the prospects for any kind of a political alliance between the Panameñistas and the PRD as slim. But this is further evidence that Juan Carlos Varela realizes just how slim are his chances for winning the election in 2014 - zero to none. I think MOLIRENA might pull more votes than the Panameñistas in the next election, and they will be allied with the CD. So once again, CD wins (with MOLIRENA as allies), PRD in second (with Partido Popular as allies), Panameñistas and whatever "also ran" independents in third and fourth.    

Last night there was the seventh homicide so far this May in San Miguelito. The victim paid with his life over a rivalry that originated in the streets of the Torrijos-Carter sector, where at 11:00 pm on Wednesday a police patrol found the body of Rolando Manuel González Skiare, alias “Chipi”, who was 18 years of age. At the crime scene were the same kinds of elements of the previous recorded 60 homicides to date, only in that district. In the middle of a sidewalk and a pool of blood lay a body, and with him, police units guarding the perimeter while waiting for the arrival of the experts of Criminology for their task of collecting evidence. The crime scene investigators, after the removal of the corpse at 1:30 am, confirmed that five bullet holes were visible in the anatomy of Skiare Gonzalez. The wounds were distributed in the front of the head, right chest, left forearm, left thigh and right cheek.

Suspect Apprehended - The shots were allegedly fired by three minors who use the aliases “Cholón”, “Pellejo” and “Moisés”. According to reports, they found the now deceased were near the Quilin convenience store and without giving him the opportunity to escape, they unloaded the rounds they had in their guns. Although the murderers fled the scene, a police operation that extended as far as the Rogelio Sinán building they were able to apprehend “Cholón”, who is 17 years old. His two accomplices remain fugitives.

A source close to the case explained that the victim was being sought by the Panamanian justice system, for having escaped from the Tocumen juvenile Compliance Center (jail) some months ago. (Mi Diario)   

The new Metro Transit System (subway) that will start operating in Panama City in 2014 will be able to carry about 525.000 passengers a day, said yesterday the infrastructure project manager, Roberto Roy. During a press briefing on the work being done to build the new transport system, the executive secretary of the Panama Metro said the service would operate 17.5 hours daily to transport up to 30,000 passengers per hour in both directions. He further explained that 30% of the work to build the system has been completed, and he said at the start the system will have 19 trains running, each with three cars. He said after starting operations in 2014, the Metro will have the challenge of crossing the Panama Canal, for which they are discussing the options such as building a tunnel or a bridge. (Siglo)

Editor's Comment: Building the "Line One" of the new Metro subway system in Panama City is only just the start. Eventually the system will be expanded to reach out to all of the most populous residential areas and neighborhoods of Panama. And obviously, there are literally hundreds of thousands of people who have to commute to and from the residential areas around Arraijan every day. The 525,000 passengers per day number is pie-in-the-sky, because that's the maximum capacity that the system can carry if all three cars on all 19 trains are 100% full for every trip, during all 17.5 operating hours daily. Max capacity, not expected ridership. But still, not matter what, every ass riding that train is one less up on the road surface, taking up space that would be better used by my Jeep. (grin) Eventually as the Metro takes over for the neighborhoods it services, then hopefully the Metro Bus system might be able to reduce the number of buses needed to cover those areas as well. Again, less vehicles on the roadways, and that's the whole point of this exercise. Martinelli - kicking ass, taking names, and building stuff. Lots and lots of stuff.   

As of this Wednesday, 23 May 2012, one of the two lanes of the street El Paical, located next to Plaza Edison, the Plaza Edison, in the direction towards the Northern Corridor, specifically from the corner of the Calle el Huilo until the intersection and traffic light with the Via Ricardo J. Alfaro, Tumba Muerto. The information was confirmed by the Ministry of Public Works and the company FCC Centroamerica SA, that is in charge of the project. In a statement it was reported that the other lane will be one-way, coming from the street El Paical, but at about 60 meters before the intersection with Ricardo J. Alfaro they will open a second land to allow for vehicles turning left at the intersection. While the opposite lane located on the same site of the road from the corner of Plaza Edison, Via Ricardo J. Alfaro to Avenida Simon Bolivar (Transístmica), will be one way until the Boulevard Edison. The lane closure will remain in place until progress on the project permits the adding adding a third land to the area, and the installation of a second set of pilots is constructed within the Corridor Section 1 of Via Brazil is completed, which forms part of the Plan of Road Reorganization within the capital city. It also was announced that drivers traveling through this route may not use the street Archangel, which will be only for internal use by residents. (TVN)

   

After analyzing the case of the four Ecuadorian citizens who have sought asylum in the Embassy of Panama in Quito, Ecuador, Panama's Foreign Ministry decided to not grant asylum for failing to meet the needed international requirements. The case concerns four providers who fear being imprisoned after being accused of perjury, and of trying to destabilize democracy. In Ecuador there is a scandal involving the president of the republic Rafael Correa and his brother Fabricio. The suppliers have made accusations against Correa. (Telemetro)   

Doctors from the Panamanian Prosecutor's office examined the former military dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega on Friday, who has been hospitalized for the past ten days, to determine if he will spend the rest of this sentence in a hospital for health reasons as requested by his lawyers, said a government source. "Today (Friday) an assessment was made by the forensics (Institute), (a dependency of the prosecution) because of the request for house arrest," said Ministry of Government spokesman Vielka Vernaza. "Then some type of decision will be made considering the results of the medical examinations that have been done," she said, adding that "at present" Noriega will continue to be hospitalized "until sufficiently recovered."

Noriega has suffered two strokes, has heart disease, a condition called cerebral meningioma (a benign tumor), and depression. His doctors and lawyers have been asking since 8 February 2012 for him to be put either in the hospital or at home. The debate on this is in its final stage, said prisons director Ángel Calderón.

A military invasion by the United States toppled Noriega in December 1989. Before he was extradited to Panama, Noriega served 21 years in prison in Miami and France on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering respectively. (Estrella)

   

The Second Superior Prosecutor of Chiriqui will continue the investigation into the disappearance of the American Yvonne Lee Baldelli, who lived in Bocas del Toro. The investigation of this case began under the auspices of the Personality (local prosecutor) of Bocas del Toro, and is now considered a murder, said the Second Superior Prosecutor Nedelka Diaz. She confirmed they have not yet received the results of the DNA tests that were done at the scenes of the investigations. Yvonne Lee Baldelli arrived in Bocas del Toro at the end of September 2011 with her boyfriend Brian Brimager, and she has not been seen since 26 November 2011. (Critica)

Editor's Comment: Good. Finally. I asked the Public Ministry to do this on 20 March 2012, now almost two months ago. The local prosecutors who are scattered throughout the country, called the "Personería", are literally the lowest ranking members in the pecking order of the Public Ministry. There's no way the local guy on Isla Colon has the experience, training, resources, or capabilities to adequately or sufficiently handle this case. I recognized this immediately and advised (strongly suggested) that the case should be elevated to the Superior Prosecutor in Chiriqui. And, I'm glad to see they finally got around to getting it done.   

The American Tyler Bushmann, 40, was found dead after falling from the seventh floor of the El Panama Hotel located in the Bella Vista district of Panama City, in the Republic of Panama. The incident was reported yesterday, Thursday, at about 7:30 am. The body of the foreigner, who has been staying at the hotel since last Wednesday, was located by staff within the hotel complex on the ground floor offices after they heard the impact. Around the body there was blood and debris. Officials from the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (IMLCF) appeared at th scene for the formal lifting of the corpse. A judicial source said the hotel staff had spoken to the foreigner a few hours earlier, because he wanted to enter the area of the pool, but he had consumed several alcoholic drinks. The case is under the orders of the Public Ministry. (Critica)

   

Gerardo Gonzalez, Secretary General of the Association of the Social Security Fund (Anfacss), said they would leave the negotiating table because the authorities of the Social Security Fund (CSS) are "intransigent" because they do not want to respect the freedom of unions or the freedom of expression. "We are concerned about the intransigence of the autioridades of CSS, although the Church in a conciliatory spirit called for unity," said the union leader. He said in protest the leadership of the Anfacss decided to leave the table, but they will continue doing basic work, and he stressed they will be preparing all of their peers for "the mother of all battles." He noted their deputies and representatives from other unions remain at the dialog table. Gonzalez reported that today, Friday, 18 May 2012, at 4:00 pm they will be calling for a meeting of all of the trade union movements at the offices of the Anfacss, since according to the leader, they have to put a stop to the lack of respect from the administration. He added that eight employees have been fired, and he also denied that his strike has any political overtones. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: The labor unions are trying to start their own political party called the Frente Amplio por la Democracia" (FAD) (Broad Front For Democracy). The President of the FAD is Dr. Fernando Cebamanos, who is (or was) also the President of a labor union known as the "Médicos, Odontólogos y Profesionales Afines de la Caja del Seguro Social (AMOACS) (Doctors, Dentists and Allied Professionals of the Social Security Fund). This entire round of bullshit is so completely and utterly political that it's ridiculous. The only thing these labor union "leaders" is trying to accomplish is to create some separation for themselves, in order to increase their chances of signing up new members to their FAD political party. In short, it's crap. They don't have valid complaints, but rather political aspirations for 2014.   

The mediation of the Catholic Church yesterday managed to bring the health sector unions and the government together for talks, but the strike that began last Monday continues. After a two-hour meeting at the headquarters of the Metropolitan Curia, the groups agreed on the methodology to work in solving the conflict that is affecting attention to patients, both in the Social Security Fund (CSS) and the Ministry of Health for five days. Eusebio Munoz, representing the Catholic Church, said that among the points agreed is the meeting schedule: three times a week, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, at St. Anthony of Padua, at Bethania. The sessions begin today and is expected they will be completed no later than Friday 29 June. The parties agreed that sensitive issues be established at the first meeting, and then topic based committees will be created.

Priscilla Vasquez, secretary general of the Association of Employees of the CSS, said after today's meeting they will decide whether or not to end the strike.

Javier Diaz, director of Medical Services of the CSS, said they will take part in advancing the dialogue without conditions of any kind. (Prensa)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just did a sit down television interview with the Reuters news service here in Panama. They are doing an update to the story about Adrian Vasquez and the three birdwatchers aboard the Star Princess cruise ship who spotted the 26 foot long fiberglass panga "Fifty Cent" adrift in the Gulf of Panama on 10 March 2012. This week Vasquez filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines through his attorney in the state of Florida in the United States. So by now this story has gone around the flagpole at least three times.

• The story broke on 24 March 2012 when news reached Panama about the rescue of Adrian "Santi" Vasquez by Ecuadoran fishermen near the Galapagos Islands, after having been adrift at sea for 28 days.

• Judy Meredith, Jeff Gilligan, and Jim Dowdell, the three birdwatchers who spotted the "Fifty Cent" adrift, saw the news reports about the rescue of Adrian Vasquez, and they thought "that might have been the guys we saw." Judy started trying to contact news outlets to tell them what she knew, but everyone else blew her off, didn't respond, or ignored her. Judy contacted me via email on 5 April 2012 and we started a dialog. I investigated and confirmed the information Judy sent me, and on 13 April 2012 I went to Rio Hato to interview Adrian Vasquez, and to show him the photo taken by Jeff Gilligan on 10 March 2012 from the Star Princess. Adrian immediately said, "yes, that's us." He identified an orange colored object in the photo as a life preserver they were using to try to signal the cruise ship, exactly as Judy Meredith had described. At that instant I knew and understood that I had closed the loop, and confirmed the suspicions of the birdwatchers.

• On 13 April 2012 I broke the story about the three birdwatchers aboard the Star Princess who had spotted the "Fifty Cent" adrift more than 130 miles offshore drifting without power in the Gulf of Panama on 10 March 2012.

• I pushed the story for about five days, trying to get someone to pick it up. Finally, on about 18 April 2012 and thanks to the efforts of Panama-Guide.com readers who sent many links and emails to local news outlets, the story broke internationally.

• Then on Monday, 14 May 2012, news broke that Adrian Vasquez had filed legal action in the state of Florida in the United States.

More To Come: I expect there will be a few more headlines in this case, as the investigation continues and more facts and details emerge about what actually happened on the bridge of the cruise ship on that day. So far this incident has only been investigated by Carnival Cruise Lines themselves, conducting "internal" investigations, and in my opinion that's simply not good enough. There needs to be some sort of an outside or official investigation conducted by someone who does not have a significant conflict of interest - and obviously Carnival is conflicted. Now I expect the family members of the other two people who died on that fishing vessel will also file suit as well. Anyway, the Reuters guys told me their piece would be going out this afternoon.

Related Articles:

• Panamanian Fisherman Rescued 640 Miles Offshore - Adrift For 27 Days - 24 March 2012

• National Police Coordinating Prompt Return of Rescued Fisherman to Panama - 26 March 2012

• Panamanian Fisherman - Adrift For 27 Days Then Rescued - Returns To Panama Tomorrow - 27 March 2012

• The second life of a castaway - Survivor Returns To Panama - 28 March 2012

• Panama Castaways Were Spotted By Cruise Ship Passengers - And Ignored By Ship's Captain - 13 April 2012

• Captain Edward Perrin - In Command Of Cruise Ship That Failed To Rescue Panamanian Castaways - 16 April 2012

• Winner Says Cruise Ship Captain Saw Fishermen - 17 April 2012

• Getting The Story "Out There" --- Cruise Ship Captain and Panamanian Castaways - 17 April 2012

• Cruise company investigates claim that ship ignored stricken fishing boat - 17 April 2012

• Story About The Star Princess Neglecting To Rescue Panamanian Castaways Reported in Germany - 18 April 2012

• Same Basic Story, This Time In Swedish... - 18 April 2012

• Same Basic Story, This Time In Colombia's Widely Read and Respected "Semana" Magazine - 18 April 2012

• Tumalo Woman Has Tragic Encounter at Sea - 18 April 2012

• US Coast Guard Never Received The Message About Stranded Panamanian Fishermen Spotted By Star Princess Birdwatchers - 20 April 2012

• Lost at Sea Victim Sues Cruise Line For Passing By - 14 May 2012

• Here's The Link To The CNN Story - 14 May 2012

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received this morning via email: "Dear Don, we are occasional readers, but we want to let you know that you have a Fan Club as far as Russia. Your enthusiasm and your sacrifice of your personal time and energy dedicated to help people just because your moral and life and principals are admirable. I wish i speak better English to express myself. Your solved a murder and put dangerous person behind the bar , saving many people life - the case of murder of Don and Bouhard and now you brought attention of this poor boy fisherman and human cruelty of the captain of the cruise, and this are only the few that we occasional readers know of. Just to say thank you and the world is safer and fairer place . because of you. Thank you, Don, please dont give up, please keep going. NA"

Editor's Comment: I think it's important to help people when they need help the most. Family members of people who have gone missing in Panama will always be a priority, mostly because it's hard or almost impossible to navigate the complex maze facing them in Panama when a loved one goes missing. Over the years there have been a couple of cases when family members got nervous because they hadn't heard from their loved one for some time, but then they turn up later somewhere safe and sound (thank God.) Unfortunately there are the other cases that have become more notorious because of the events. I did what I did, and I do what I do, because in some small way I might be able to help the friends and family members of; Toni Grossi Abrams, Denise Hiller, Jeff Kline, Micheal Francis Salem (Mike Brown), his wife Manchittha Nankratoke, their son Watson Brown, Bo Icelar, Cher Hughes, Don North, Jean Pierre Bouhard, and now Yvonne Baldelli. That's eleven murder victims since 2007.

Getting Results: Now Daniel Moreno is in prison, charged with having murdered Denise Hiller. I learned about that case on a Friday afternoon, contacted family members in Florida over the weekend, they gave me the information I needed, and Moreno was arrested on the following Monday afternoon - just three days from notification to arrest. In the Wild Bill case it took about six weeks - from the time I was first notified of missing people in Bocas del Toro - to bring the situation to the attention of the authorities, get the investigation started, and then use the local Panamanian and Costa Rican media to get Holbert and Reese's photos on as many television screens as possible. They were arrested in Nicaragua after a guy who rented them a cabin in a remote part of Northern Costa Rica recognized them on the news. I then went back and solved the "cold case" murder of Jeff Kline in Costa Rica that had happened four years earlier, and handed the results of my investigation on a silver platter to the OIJ and prosecutors in that country. In the Javier Martin case I learned about it on a Thursday afternoon, helped Ezra North file the complaint the next day of Friday, held a press conference in front of the DIJ on the following Monday morning, and he was arrested in the Darien that afternoon, because the clerk at the hostel where he was staying recognized him on the 12:00 noon TVN news broadcast (thanks, Magda Maxwell). Again, about four days from notification to arrest. And now it's the case of Yvonne Baldelli and Brian Brimager. This one is moving along slowly because so far Yvonne's remains have not yet been found, but the investigation continues. But what matters for the purposes of this article is I think I was able to help Yvonne's family members somewhat in their search for Yvonne. That process continues today. And once they get a grip, Rottweilers never let go... Woof.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

MIAMI — A federal judge in Miami has thrown out a racketeering lawsuit filed by an American lawyer against members of a powerful Panamanian family in a lengthy struggle over a multimillionaire’s estate. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola ruled Thursday that the four-year RICO statute of limitations had expired when the lawsuit was filed last year. It sought $725 million and accused members of Panama’s Arias family, attorneys and three judges of trying to steal the estate of wealthy businessman Wilson C. Lucom. He died in 2006.

Attorney Richard Lehman says Lucom wanted to create a foundation to feed poor children in Panama. Attorneys for the Arias family contend that Lehman concocted the foundation to gain control over the estate for himself. It’s unclear what legal moves might be next.   

Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Petaquilla Gold, S.A., in a formal press conference held in Panama City, Panama, paid royalties for the second half of calendar year 2011 to the Panamanian Government and to the Municipality of Donoso. Mr. Rodrigo Esquivel, President of the Company, began the ceremony by stating that, "Petaquilla Gold, S.A. has developed the first modern gold mining project in Panama, using the latest technology, maintaining high safety standards, respecting the environment, and generating hundreds of job opportunities. As a result of our mining operations, we are delivering royalties for the second half of 2011 totaling US$1,016,373.21 to the Government of Panama and to the Municipality of Donoso. When combined with royalties already paid for the first half of 2011, the total becomes US$1,902,256.52 for the year."

The Mayor of the District of Donoso thanked the Company in response, replying that, "Some time ago the Municipality of Donoso was unknown to many people. We are now on the world map. We owe this to the Petaquilla Gold mining project, supported by the confidence of investors, the Panamanian government and the Donoso people." The mayor further stated that the responsibly-developed Petaquilla Gold mining project has benefitted many communities. He then expressed gratitude to Petaquilla Gold, S.A. and the national government for including Donoso in the country's development plan and providing employment to the region.

To close the conference, Panama's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ricardo Quijano, urged the Company to maintain its good work and efforts, and stated that it is time for all groups - environmentalists, civil society, and the Panamanian populace in general - to understand the importance of Panama's minerals deposits, which should be developed in a responsible manner for the development of the country.   

Panama's Minister of Education Lucy Molinar thinks some people do not understand that stealing from a school is like stealing from their own children, and that is precisely what happened with the six stolen laptop computers that had been given to students as part of the "Technology For All" program promoted by the Ministry of Education (Meduca). Molinar regretted this Thursday, May 17, that such "irrational" actions occur in Panama, especially because it is a program that benefits young people who want to study, educate and better themselves. "We want to denounce to the country that this effort is being done, but we cannot throw it away," the minister said at a news conference.

Without going into details, the minister explained that those who stole the laptops will not be able to sell them because each is designed with an anti-theft system. "The are disabled and remain as dead," but also, through a monitoring system, they will automatically turn themselves off periodically if they are not taken to schools, she said.

On 11 May Meduca began delivery of the laptops, which is part of the "Technology For All" program. In total, they intend to deliver at least 93 000 laptops to students around the country, to provide support to the students during teaching and learning, according to the Meduca. A total of $27.6 million dollars was allocated for this project.

Warning Issued: Molinar issued a warning, after learning of this theft, because she said "we have to review our values" when these types of offenses are committed. According to the schedule, Meduca will soon deliver the rest of the computers to students in fourth, fifth and sixth year of middle education level in each of the educational regions. However, it still has not been confirmed if the delivery will be suspended.

Meanwhile, Mirta Mosquera, Police Commissioner for Children, said at the press conference that whoever is found with the stolen equipment will "be held responsible." Mosquera said people should not buy this type of equipment from "unscrupulous people". The investigations relevant to this case will continue as required. (Prensa)

   

A Colombian national man was "deprived of his freedom" (kidnapped) last night, after robbers pulled him out of his home in Clayton. Police officers were alerted to what was going on and they pursued the vehicle being driven by the suspects. In the midst of the persecution there was an exchange of gunfire. In the end the Colombian man who had been kidnapped was left in the area of ​​Los Libertadores and the offenders fled. The National Police staged an operation in the area of ​​Los Libertadores and January 9, but found no one. (Dia a Dia)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received a couple of days ago via email, and I'm just now getting around to putting it up: "The inaugural event of the Professional Speaking Association will take place this coming Saturday, May 19, 8.00 AM to 2.00 PM,will be Only $35 includes lunch at Martin Fierro restaurant in El Cangrejo. $45 at the door if space is available. A generous member of PSA Panama has donated 4 scholarships for the event.

Keynote Speaker: Dan Poynter, from California, is coming to Panama especially for our first event—with video greeting from Janelle Barlow, president of Global Speakers Federation. Dan is an author of more than 120 books, has been a publisher since 1969 and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). His seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal and his story has been told in US News & World Report. Dan has shared his message with every International Speaking Federation Association and nearly every speaking chapter in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Dan will be interviewed by Gerry D. on the Breakfast Show, Friday morning.

Additional speakers: Rima Laibow, MD, physician, radio host, heath activist. Carlos Sanad, Administrative Investigator for National Police of Panama and Tourist Crime Prevention. Elizabeth Noble, Founder of PSA Panama and professional speaker for more than 3 decades.

Topics: Powerpoint Skills: Illustrating your Message with Multimedia. What You Need to Know to do Business in Panama. Protect Panama Now! Educating the World about Health Freedom. Speaking Internationally & Finding Opportunities Abroad (luncheon keynote). ENNOBLE your English: Make Every Word and Pause Count.

Payment can be made online to the account of Manual Jaen, at Banco General Ahorros 04 97 01 548809 8. Further information: Liz at en@ennobler.net or Manuel at manueljaenster@gmail.com."

Editor's Comment: And, there you go. Good luck.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received this afternoon via email: "Hi Don, My name is Anne and I wanted to write you about a fantastic program a few expats (including myself) have started. Pot to Plate is the newest community program in Panama. Our mission is to help kids learn the importance of English, gardening, recycling and teamwork. We have built a small community garden with the children in the Santa Familia building in Casco. The kids have been working hard for the last five weeks to understand not only how to maintain the garden, but also how to work together for something bigger.

Next Friday, May 25th, we plan to hold a Culmination Dinner fundraiser. The money raised will go towards building a permanent raised bed garden and future Pot to Plate programs around Panama. Tickets are $15 and the price includes two homemade cocktails as well as appetizers, dinner and dessert from our garden and donations from the community. Prior to the Culmination Dinner Pot to Plate in conjunction with YEP! will be holding a fundraiser party at Relic Bar in Casco where part of the bar profits will go towards both Pot to Plate and YEP!. Tickets can also be purchased at the party.

I write you to ask you to spread the word to support something great that the expatriate community is doing for the youth of Panama. For more information, photos and updates people can check out www.facebook.com/PotToPlatePanama or www.PotToPlatePanama.com . Thank you so much for your time! Anne Gegg. Pot to Plate Panama. "Why try to explain miracles to children when you can just have them plant a garden"

Editor's Comment: And, there you go. Good luck.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

While the government is executing multi million dollar infrastructure projects in different parts of Panama City and around the country, the people living in the community of Colinas, in El Coco of La Chorrera, are drinking water from wells. In addition, they use if for cooling and bathing. Believe it or not, this happens 10 minutes from downtown La Chorrera. And 24 families live there.

And when? The water line has been installed, but those affected said the IDAAN officials distribute water via tank trucks. They added the rains of recent days have caused damages in the roadway, and this has prevented the water tankers from fulfilling their distribution route.

One person who goes almost daily to fetch water from these wells is Maria Magallon, who said that at her age she cannot be going up and down a hill to carry water to her home. "I wash my clothes at the side of the well, same as the others .. I ask the Minister of Public Works to help us improve the road so that the tank car can come up and supply us with drinking water. We can't take it any more," she said. (Mi Diario)

Editor's Comment: Many times "communities" such as this don't have water supply installed for a reason - because they don't actually own the land. If the "home owners" can't prove to the IDAAN that they actually own the land where their houses are built, then it's illegal for the IDAAN to install water pipes. Here in Panama people "invade" lands and basically take over as squatters, it happens all the time. Now, I don't know for sure if that's the situation with these people, but I suspect it might be the case.

   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The US Embassy in Panama issued the following warning message this afternoon: "TO: SECURITY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS. SUBJECT: Recent Worldwide Terrorist Activities. Due to recent terrorist activity worldwide, we again urge U.S. citizens and staff at U.S. missions to exercise caution and vary their routes and times when traveling to and from work and pay close attention to their personal security. U.S. citizens should consider avoiding demonstrations, crowds and other large public gatherings.

Editor's Comment: Something's up. Intelligence probably indicates there's some sort of an attack pending, but they might not know when or where. Like the man says, eyes wide open.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.