Public consultations could represent a cost to the state of $8 million dollars, confirmed yesterday Raul Mulino, the Minister of Government and Justice. His remarks came after a meeting between the Minister of the Presidency Jimmy Papadimitriu, the Minister of Government and Justice Jose Raul Mulino, Rómulo Roux of Canal Affairs, the Vice Minister of the Presidency María Fábrega, and the justices of the Electoral Tribunal to learn what is needed in order to hold this kind of public consultation. Although Mulino said he still does not have a specific plan, they are evaluating the costs associated with the last referendum on the Panama Canal, which was about $8 million dollars. It was learned that after the meeting, they intended to present a report to president Ricardo Martinelli to explain the results of the meeting with the judges of the Electoral Tribunal, and to create a proposal for a bill that will be presented to the National Assembly to begin shaping the popular consultations. The meeting came after an announcement made by Martinelli on Sunday, 7 March, regarding the participation of Panamanians in a plebiscite or referendum in forums, surveys and momentous issues. Martinelli launched the proposal as a means of obtaining the views of the people who will decide what action should be taken to seek the best solutions to major issues in the country. Through public consultations, regional or national issues could be addressed, and then it would fall to the Executive branch to call for the election and to the Electoral Tribunal to regulate and oversee the voting, said the Ministry of the Presidency. According Papadimitriu, they still have not defined what issues will be included as part of the plebiscite to be discussed between the people and the executive, nor has an exact date been fixed to hold the first vote, but he said the opinion of the people is the most important thing. (Source: El Siglo)   

The first "Red Devil" bus repaired by students from the National Institute of Vocational Training for Human Development (INADEH) was delivered Wednesday to the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA). The elementary school in 24 de Diciembre is the beneficiary of the donation, where they will now use this bus to transport students. Edilma Coronado, the Director of the school, thanked the authorities for this assistance which will save money and time for parents and students. Meanwhile, the Minister of the Presidency, Jimmy Papadimitriu, was satisfied with the "exorcism performed on this red devil," and at the same time he thanked INADEH thanked for this bus and the work they will do in the future. Papadimitriu said they have yet to deliver two more buses that are ready, but the Minister of Education, Lucy Molinar, must choose the schools where the buses will be delivered. For his part, the Director of INADEH, Themistocles Rosas, said the repairs for each bus cost less than $2,000 dollars. (Source: TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: Right now private bus owners are required by law to transport school children at 10 cents per head. In fact when the bus drivers see a bus stop packed full of school students they will just drive right by and not stop because they don't want their buses filled with kids who don't pay as much, and who have a tendency to tear up seats, mark things up with graffiti, etc. The government plans to eventually remove all of the old "Diablo Rojo" buses from the streets and to replace them with the new "Metro Bus" system. These buses will be government owned and operated by a contractor. The old school buses are being repaired by the INADEH students as practical training and experience in the field of mechanics, and the buses are being donated free of charge to the schools. So, sooner or later all of the "Diablo Rojo" buses will turn into "Diablo Amarrillo" - once they are painted yellow and pressed back into service as school buses once again. It's a good plan, as long as the school buses are operated in an responsible manner. It's ironic that these buses started life as school buses, came to Panama for general public transportation, and now they are being pressed back into service once again for schools.    

Italy plans to formalize a donation that will allow for the construction of a new children's Hospital in Santiago, Veraguas. In view of this action, an Italian commission headed by Vice Minister of Economic Development and International Trade, Adolfo Urso, met with health authorities in Panama. This hospital will be a pediatric specialty center. Italy's decision to donate this medical surgical center came as a result of Ricardo Martinelli's visit to the European country. The Foreign Ministry said the grant will be formalized by the Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who will visit Panama in May of this year. (Source: Telemetro Reporta)   

For all of those people who have never tried sushi because they don’t like the taste of raw fish, you’re in luck. Veneto’s Sushi Lounge, known as one of Panama City’s top sushi bars has a new special, with a local taste, no seafood included! The Sushi Lounge is proud to announce 3 new Panamanian style sushi rolls, with a twist of local flavors! Imagine having chicken and plantain, skirt steak, or chorizo and chopped pork all with local herbs and spices, mixed and rolled for your delight.

Panamanian Roll – Shredded Chicken & Plantain

Parillero Roll – Skirt Steak & Onion topped with Chimichurri Sauce

De Interior Roll – Chopped Pork & Chorizo Sausage

These three new rolls can be found exclusively at Veneto’s Sushi Lounge Open from 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM, so don’t to pass on this opportunity to sample these creative and delicious sushi rolls. Below is a video of these sushi rolls being presented on the Travel Panama television program on Channel 45.

   

Panama's Minister of Government and Justice, Jose Raul Mulino, predicted additional clashes with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) due to the drug trafficking activities related to this group, and said the country will need more resources to combat crime. In an interview with Acan-Efe, the minister warned also of the "tentacles" of Mexican drug cartels in the region and acknowledged the infiltration of Panamanian institutions by elements of organized crime related to drug trafficking, which according to unofficial estimates move about 250 tons of cocaine through Panama every year. "I predict this year we could see more confrontations. It's important to point out that these conflicts are occurring within our national territory ... they do not mean we are interfering in the internal armed struggle in Colombia, these things do not happen within the borders of Colombia," said Mulino. Panamanian border guards engaged in a confrontation in January 2010 with FARC guerrillas, resulting in the deaths of three insurgents and the arrest of two more. Last week four more FARC guerrillas were arrested. The minister said security and vigilance has been increased in the Darien province, which borders Colombia, and he pointed to the creation of four new aero-naval bases by the end of this year - and that two of them are already working - to impede the transit of drugs. "Before, there were no clashes within our territory (...) simply because (the Panamanian forces) were not patrolling," he said, in highlighting the border area between Panama and Colombia "is the commercial and financial front of the FARC. From this side, the Panama side of the border, towards the Pacific ocean," he added. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (412 words)

Former President Ernesto Pérez Balladares declared a net worth of $10 million dollars when he took office in 1994. In 2000, a year after leaving office, his personal net worth increased to at least $20 million dollars, in money held in at least eleven bank accounts and real estate. Of that amount, $9,558,000 was not declared by Perez Balladares when he left the office of President in 1999. This is indicated by a preliminary audit ordered by the then-Comptroller, Alvin Weeden, on 20 November 2003, to which this newspaper (La Prensa) had access. The audit found this money held by Perez Balladares in less than three months of investigation by auditors and accounting technicians. The audit found at least $20,828,000 in US dollars of money and assets making up the net worth of Ernesto Perez Balladares as of 31 August 2000, just over double the $10 million dollar figure he declared when he assumed office as President in September 1994. Part of that money was not included in the statement the former president signed on 16 September 1999, after having left office. The estimated net worth of the former head of state becomes relevant, considering Perez Balladares described the $5 million dollar bail established by the Second Tribunal in the money laundering investigation being carried out against him as "unfair." (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (941 words)

(EFE) Colombian, U.S., Panamanian and Honduran authorities seized more than two tons of cocaine off Panama and Honduras, and arrested eight suspects, a high-level Colombian drug enforcement official said Tuesday. The seizure was made during joint interdiction operations conducted by the United States, Panama and Colombia, acting drug enforcement agency director Col. Jose Angel Mendoza said. The 2.3 tons of cocaine were found Monday afternoon aboard two speedboats on the high seas. The simultaneous operations, which were carried out in the Atlantic and Pacific, resulted in the arrests of eight Hondurans and Colombians. The first operation was undertaken in international waters off Honduras, ending with the seizure of a speedboat carrying 1.53 tons of cocaine. Four Hondurans were arrested in a joint interdiction operation by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Honduran navy. The second phase of the operation was executed simultaneously in the Pacific off Panama, where the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a speedboat. The speedboat was carrying 760 kilos of cocaine, and the four Colombians aboard were arrested.   

BY KATIE DEROSA, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE - A Victoria man and a foreign national have been arrested and charged in relation to a sophisticated cocaine smuggling operation uncovered in Port Hardy this weekend. The two men were arrested at Port Hardy dock early Saturday morning after they raised police suspicions by providing false information about their vessel. Officers with the RCMP Federal Drug Enforcement Branch said they seized "a significant amount" of cocaine, but the branch spokesman Staff Sgt. Dave Goddard could not say how much. The men are each charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking. A large contingent of heavily armed officers with the drug enforcement branch, an RCMP tactical team and a police dog unit swarmed the boat and arrested the two men aboard. The 39-year-old Victoria man is known to police, Goddard said, adding that this was a sophisticated operation, with cocaine being imported from another country. Goddard could not say where the 38-year-old foreign national is from. Mark Proulx, maritime co-ordinator at the Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, said it appeared the boat was from Panama but Goddard could not confirm that. The men will remain in custody until their appearance in Victoria provincial court Friday. Police are not releasing their names until the court date.   

A small group of construction workers of the Sole Union of Construction Workers and Allies closed Ave Frangipani this afternoon. The protest began at noon. In responding to the situation, the Land Transit and Transportation Authority advised drivers to use alternate routes. (Source - La Prensa)

SUNTRACS Lunchtime Mini Protests: The construction workers who are members of the SUNTRACS labor union like to pull these little "mini" lunchtime demonstrations from time to time. They get a short break in the middle of the day for lunch, so they will all come down out of the building they are working on, waving red flags, and block traffic for about ten to fifteen minutes. By the time the police respond the demonstration is over. They made their point, so they just go back to work. Traffic gets screwed up a little bit but it dissipates quickly once the mini-strike is over. They do these just to remind the government that they have workers spread out all over the city and if they wanted to they could cause real havoc. Striking, protesting, and blocking roads are their primary weapons.   

The director of the Direction of Judicial Investigation, Javier Carrillo, said about 900 firearms were reported as lost or stolen in 2009. Carrillo was concerned, because these weapons are being used by criminals to commit crime. He called on judicial authorities to be more forceful with cases in which the use of a stolen firearm is detected. (Source - La Critica)   

The Directorate of Immigration of Panama has approved a moratorium on foreigners with children born in Panama, in order to normalize their immigration status on humanitarian grounds, said the Director of Immigration, Maria Cristina Gonzalez on TVN Channel 2 news this morning. The official announced the moratorium will also extend to Bocas del Toro. This weekend lawyers and social workers visited homes in Changuinola to verify family relationships as part of the "$100 for 70" program and they discovered people who have been living in Panama for more than 35 years who have never obtained a legal status in Panama. Gonzalez made her statements after several Haitian women with children born in Panama sought to legalize their status in the country. The women say that although they have Panamanian birth certificates for their children and some of them are of school age, they cannot work here because they have no legal documents. One of them is a widow. In these cases, Immigration can apply a partial waiver of fines and proceeded to legalize their immigration status, although the Director of Immigration said one of the requirements will be the child's Panamanian birth certificate. (Source - TVN Noticias)

Update - 3:38 pm: I just spoke to Didacio Camargo, the Director of the Public Relations office for the Panamanian Directorate of Immigration. He said this information that appeared on TVN is actually incorrect, and he referred to his recording of the statements made this morning by the Director of Immigration, Maria Cristina Gonzalez. In fact during the interview she clearly stated "simply having a Panamanian child does not resolve the immigration status of the parent according to Panamanian law." And, Didacio explained how there are exactly three Haitian women who are trying to take advantage of the recent earthquake in Haiti to try to get out of having to pay fines and fees, although they have actually been living in Panama for years. Anyway, to make things clear - the story is wrong and the information is incorrect. Just having a child born in Panama does not mean the mother can automatically obtain a legal immigration status in Panama.   

Today on the Channel 13 Telemetro morning newscast, Panama's Minister of Trade and Industry, Roberto Henriquez, said the only person who would immediately benefit from a proposal to reduce the waiting period for a former president to seek reelection from 10 years (currently) to five years would be Martin Torrijos. Henriquez said any proposal to change the Constitution of Panama to allow for the immediate reelection of the sitting president is not on the agenda of the present government of Ricardo Martinelli. He said the only ones talking about his possibility are PRD politicians from the opposition. (Source: Telemetro Reporta)

Editor's Comment: The message coming from the administration of Ricardo Martinelli became clear on this issue, as of yesterday morning. Martinelli himself said he has no interest whatsoever of seeking immediate reelection in the 2014 elections. However in these statements made by Roberto Henriquez, this is the first time I've seen the "trial balloon" floated of decreasing the waiting period required from 10 to 5 years. If that change were implemented then Martin Torrijos would be able to run for office in 2014, instead of having to wait until 2019. Right now when a President leaves office he or she has to sit out for two full cycles before they are eligible. In 2009 Ernesto Perez Balladares was eligible because he left office in 1999, but he lost a PRD primary election to Balbina Herrera. With no change to the constitution both Ernesto Perez Balladares and Mireya Moscoso could run in 2014, because Mireya left office in 2004. If the change is adopted then you could add Martin Torrijos to the mix for 2014, but Ricardo Martinelli would not be eligible until 2019.

And Here's The Grand Strategy: Ricardo Martinelli does a good job, runs the country well, focuses on making sure he keeps the people happy, and glides into the end of his administration with relatively high approval ratings (60% or higher). He hands the reins to Juan Carlos Varela (or some other politician he could back as his anointed candidate) who takes over and runs things for the next five years. And then in 2019 after taking five years off Martinelli could come back and do it again. As long as the non-PRD coalition remains intact, then the PRD will never have the votes to run the country. Repeat forever. The kicker to this plan is "keeping the coalition together." What tends to happen ever five years is - the non-PRD parties get together and form a coalition and they win. (Endara). The next time around it all falls apart and they lose (Perez Balladares.) Then after being reminded of what the PRD is like they come together again (Moscoso). Once in power they are corrupted, fall on their asses, and the PRD comes back (Torrijos.) Once again reminded of the PRD, they get it together again (Martinelli) and here we are today. Anyway, the message is "we don't want reelection" but their plan apparently calls for holding on to power for a very long time.    

The Electoral Tribunal (TE) could have much more work than usual during the five years of any presidential administration, given that President Ricardo Martinelli has taken seriously the idea of holding a popular annual consultation (vote) on issues of national interest. The basis for these consultations will be established today. The Minister of the Presidency, Demetrio Papadimitriu, heads a government commission that will meet with the judges of the Electoral Tribunal, Eduardo Valdés, Gerardo Solis and Erasmo Pinilla. The executive committee also consists of the Minister of Interior and Justice, Jose Raul Mulino and vice ministers María Fábrega and Alejandro Garuz of the Presidency and Security, respectively. The review of the legal framework under which these kinds of public consultations would take place will be one of the first issues that must be explained by the Electoral Tribunal. Once a "strong base" is established, it is expected the judges and members of the commission will make the results of this meeting public through an official press release. The issues on which public consultations will be held are not of "the moment" but rather of "the future", said said minister Papadimitriu. An issue such as tax reform, according to Papadimitriu, would not be part of this consultative process, although the issue of changes to the education system curriculum could fall within the announced dialog.

INITIATIVE: Martinelli was clear, the initiative to convene annual plebiscites would be similar to the model employed in Europe. Switzerland is the only country on the European continent where the Constitution provides for conducting referendums as a way to adopt rules and decisions that apply to the whole country. Unlike a referendum, whose character or legal rigor can only accept or reject a law or a decision of either local or national character, a plebiscite can set standards, receive proposals, and allow for the making of decisions or the writing of regulations. In both formulas, the popular vote is the deciding factor.

Sovereign provinces: Another issue to be addressed would be the decentralization at the provincial level, giving governors the power to decide on the execution of public works and projects. For this, the figure (the Governors of the Provinces) who right now is designated by the President of the Republic would become subject to a popular election, a proposal that would also have to be included in the process of reforming the electoral code. Last year, the National Assembly suspended the effective date of Law 37 which decentralized public administration of municipalities, giving them autonomy in their operation and management of funds allocated to public education health.

POPULAR CONSULTATION: From 1978 to date, Panama has held four public consultations on vital issues in national affairs. The ratification of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977 passed public scrutiny at the height of the years of the military dictatorship in Panama, while the decision to expand the Panama Canal in 2006 was the last time an issue was submitted to public scrutiny. Unlike elections, this type of consultative approach, either by referendum or plebiscite, requires an extra mobilization of staff before, during and after election day. In the proposal being put forward by Martinelli, they would hold at least four public plebiscites between 2010 and 2013. To do this, the explanations of the judges of the Electoral Tribunal will be highly relevant. (Source: La Estrella)

Editor's Comment: Very intelligent. I see this proposal as an expansion of democracy in Panama. The government of Ricardo Martinelli could place issues of national interest on a ballot and then once they pass the vote, he would have the popular backing of the people to do whatever it is that needs to be done. For example - consider the possibility of a referendum on balancing the budget. If the people speak and demand that the government run a balanced budget, then the government would have to both cut spending and increase taxes until they were running a surplus and paying off debt. The question will quickly become - what will be the process for determining what questions will be a part of the plebiscite. For example if they ask "We're going to eliminate the PRD - should we shoot them or drown them?" (Pick only one) You get the point. The person forming the question already pretty much knows what the answer is going to be. And (conversely) they won't ask the questions if they don't want to hear the answers. Anyway, it's still a smart play and it will give me a lot to talk about for the next four years, so I like it.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I consider the fact that Jerry Ray Hall is mad at me to be a badge of honor. He's a bullying punk who has been slamming around the members of the English speaking expatriate community in the Republic of Panama for quite some time with little or no downside. Well, he's on my shit-list. More specifically he will have a dis-honored place on the Panama Guide Rogue's Gallery forever more. Since Jerry Ray Hall got is ass kicked in the Texas Republican Primary a week ago he's been doing what he always does when challenged - running around the Internet, fabricating lies about his accuser, and doing anything and everything he can think of to cause harm to my good name. The sad part is - apparently Jerry Ray Hall suffers from some kind of mental illness and he's quite literally incapable of seeing the obvious - that these childish antics are a confirmation and demonstrated manifestations of every accusation I have ever made against him. (Jerry, slow down, go back, and read that last sentence three times until you understand it.) In other words, by doing what he's doing, Jerry Ray Hall is proving through his own actions every accusation I leveled against him was spot-on. Therefore, I was right, he's nuts, and getting nuttier. He might continue on forever more. And, ask yourself this - who really cares about the crazy man screaming in the basement? Nobody.

Copyright 2009 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 - The Panama America newspaper ran a statement provided by the National Police Chief Gustavo Perez this morning, in which he denies that he participated in the kidnapping of US civilians from the Marriott hotel on 20 December 1989 during the US invasion of Panama, Operation Just Cause. Perez says the documents published on the website of the Panama America newspapers as "facsimiles" are inadequate legal proof. He said he never tried to hide his participation in the Special Anti Terror Unit (UESAT) and he confirmed this in June 2009 before he assumed the position as Chief of the National Police. In discussing his "dishonorable discharge" from the police forces in March 1990, he said the police disciplinary boards of the time could only resolve administrative disciplinary actions and not criminal complaints against officers. In other words, he says he was discharged from the police as an administrative matter and not a criminal matter, because he was accused of having taken the US citizens hostage, which he denies. However, he was never charged with a crime nor did he ever face a trial or judge in these charges. He said he deserves the assumption of innocence, to have his rights respected, that he has nothing to be ashamed of, nor does he have anything to hide from either his family or the nation. Finally, he said he would cooperate fully with the authorities who should investigate or resolve this situation in order to clarify exactly what happened, as well as to apply "repair measures" in his favor, in light of the unmerited accusations made against him.

Editor's Comment: Gustavo Perez is right. There are certain undeniable facts in this case. For example, we know US citizens were in fact kidnapped from the Marriott hotel on 20 December 1989. We know in fact Gustavo Perez was actually accused of having participated in that action, an accusation which he denies to this day. We also know due to this accusation Gustavo Perez was in fact dishonorably discharged from the National Police as part of an administrative action (not legal action) taken against him in March 1990. We also know for a fact no criminal charges were ever pressed against anyone in relation to the December 1989 kidnapping incident in the Marriott hotel.

A Formal Investigation Should Follow: Happily, most if not all of the participants in the kidnapping event (on both sides) are still alive. If the Public Ministry is in fact as independent as Panama's Attorney General Giuseppe Bonissi says they are, then the events surrounding the kidnapping of the US civilians during the Just Cause invasion should be fully investigated. I agree with Gustavo Perez in that all of his legal rights should be respected, including a presumption of innocence in these matters. I would hope the investigation be a "real" investigation and not a quick white-wash, just to do something so they can say they did it and then shove the whole thing under the carpet and hope it goes away. Sadly, this is exactly what I suspect will happen in reality - no real investigation at all. Thus are the realities of the weak Panamanian Judicial System. As such, I seriously doubt Gustavo Perez will ever be charged or convicted of a crime in this case.

Political, Not Legal, Ramifications: Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli has indicated he intends to stick by and support Gustavo Perez. With his declarations today Gustavo Perez has indicated he has no intentions of stepping down due to this evolving scandal. As I have said in earlier comments, it is my analysis this entire evolution is much more political than legal. There are people in Panama who are literally hated - loathed by the "other side" - and politically speaking Gustavo Perez falls into that category. He might be able to defend himself legally by pointing out the fact that facsimiles of old documents published on the website of a local newspaper cannot be considered legal evidence (we all knew that already), however those same documents carry tremendous weight in the realm of public opinion. There's a world of difference between a legal defense and a political downside. I suspect eventually Gustavo Perez will evolve into a sort of virtual political albatross for Ricardo Martinelli. I think these accusations and any ongoing investigation will weigh down Perez's credibility and therefore his effectiveness as the Chief of the National Police. Therefore, it's not a question of a legal defense but rather one of political expediency. Gustavo Perez might be guilty or innocent - who knows, let's wait to see if there is an investigation, if he is ever actually charged with a crime, and what the judge in the case decides. Until then, he's to be presumed innocent. However, in the meantime political realities might mandate that he no longer continue to serve as the Chief of the National Police. And that's a decision only Ricardo Martinelli can make. Innocent US civilians were in fact kidnapped and held as hostages during the Just Cause invasion as part of Noriega's strategic defense plan, and someone in fact did it. I would love to see the Panamanian Justice System investigate the matter and prove, once and for all, who that "someone" was - protecting the legal rights of the accused during the entire process.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Torrijos Pauzner Rachel, the sister of former Panamanian President Martín Torrijos, was the legal representative of the Nuctech company that won a public bid in 2007 for the government's purchase of new cargo scanning systems that were to be used by the National Customs Authority. The company was the only bidder, and their bid was $24 million dollars. Torrijos Pauzner declined to discuss the case yesterday. Instead, her partner, the lawyer Jose Javier Rivera, said that being the President's sister at that time did not impede her from participating in the bidding process for the government contract as the legal representative of the Chinese company. Yesterday La Prensa revealed that none of the scanners were ever installed or used, and that several of the scanners are damaged and rusting in a hanger of the former Howard Air Force Base. The Customs Director during the Torrijos administration, Vilma de Luca, said yesterday that when she left office in June 2009, an extension of the guarantee for these scanners was pending, "in view of problems not attributable to the providing company." (Source - La Prensa)

Editor's Comment: Remember when the PRD went nuts because one of Ricardo Martinelli's cousins won some contracts to make embroidered shirts? I don't think those contracts were for $24 million dollars, and the shirts were actually used. I'm going to find out how much these scanners cost on the open market right now. No matter, (in my humble opinion) paying $24 million dollars in public funds for cargo scanners that don't work is a really bad deal no matter how you slice it. Well, it was probably a pretty good deal for Torrijos' sister, in any case. She got paid, the Chinese company got paid, so it's certainly a good deal for them. However the Panamanian people got screwed, and whatever the scanners are supposed to be looking for is getting through, so it's a bad deal for the customer. And how many other bids worth $24 million dollars were handed out by the Torrijos administration when there was only one company bidding? And we're supposed to believe that the fact that his sister was pushing the deal through had absolutely nothing to do with it? Yeah, right.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - It gets better and better. This afternoon the "Doctor of Fake" Jerry Ray Hall sent an email to some of the companies who advertise on my website, saying they should not advertise with me. In doing so he used several email addresses and IP addresses which can be easily linked to him using computer science forensic investigation techniques. Cable Onda has already been notified, together with a formal request to not erase or destroy any of their computer logs, which will be requested by the criminal prosecutor in this case. Jerry Ray Hall created a new email address on their server and sent out an email, "faking" that it came from me. Cable Onda now knows that all of his activity will be part of both the civil and criminal legal actions I am taking against him here in Panama. In addition (and, this is the best part) Jerry Ray Hall has just handed me a 100% iron-clad connection to economic damages. If someone slanders or defames you then that's a criminal action, but until this afternoon my civil case against him was relatively weak or nonexistent. But now - thanks in no small part to the new evidence Jerry Ray Hall has handed to me on a silver platter - my civil case against him for damages just got much, much stronger. And of course all of my advertisers are also avid readers of Panama-Guide.com, so most of them just forwarded copies of the email to me (together with the complete and raw headers for forensic analysis) with a note saying "look what Jerry Ray Hall sent us about you." And no, none of them cancelled their accounts. So thanks, Jerry. Every time you pull another stunt like this my legal cases against you get much stronger. Please, by all means, keep it up. I'll take all of the evidence I can get. Cases like this are slam-dunks, and the stuff my lawyer eats for lunch.

And this is the part where anyone who might be considered "normal" would knock it off, however Jerry Ray Hall is apparently incapable of normal civil responses in situations such as this. The only thing he knows how to do is attack, attack, attack (and lie, lie, lie). Not very "Christian like" - eh? Jerry Ray Hall painted himself to be an ultra-conservative bible-thumping Christian - when in fact he only put on those (fake) robes because he thought it would earn him a few more votes in the conservative Republican part of Texas where he was campaigning. Again, more fake from the "Doctor of Fake" Jerry Ray Hall.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Bilbao, Spain - Spanish police made 16 arrests and seized 1.2 tons of cocaine in two separate actions on Monday. The larger seizure targeted a drug trafficking ring which had imported a ton of cocaine on board a refrigerated container ship that sailed into the Basque port of Bilbao from Panama. The drugs had been dissolved in cans of fruit pulp, which suspects were handling when police raided their hideout in the northern region of Navarre. Police said the drug had a black market value of more than 30 million euros (40 million dollars). In the second bust, police in the southern city of Seville seized 175 kilograms of cocaine and detained nine people. The drug had been smuggled into the port of Algeciras, hidden in a cargo of wooden floor planks arriving from Paraguay. Spain is regarded as the main point of entry for Latin American cocaine into the European Union market.   

BOGOTA, Colombia. (EFE). The major routes used by the FARC to transport drugs are through Venezuela, Panama and the Pacific, and are led by seven rebel leaders, said today, Monday, the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo. The newspaper said this was inferred from documents taken from the computer of "Edgar Tovar, the head of the 48th Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who was killed by the Colombian military. Sources from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) told the newspaper the documentation found in the computer belonging to "Edgar Tovar" is "clear proof that the FARC is actually a drug cartel." Police found about 60 emails the rebel leader exchanged with the FARC Secretariat and several other guerrilla leaders in which they exchange information about drug shipments and alliances with emerging gang leaders and leaders of organized crime to move cocaine from the Departments of Nariño y Cauca, which are located in the Southeast of Colombia. What's more, the information on the computer reveals FARC partnerships and transactions with the three most wanted drug traffickers in Colombia - Luis Calle Serna, alias "Comba"; Daniel "El loco" Barrera, and "Cuchillo", to trade drugs for weapons. "Given the weakening of the FARC fronts of the Eastern Bloc, which were the organized crime blocks of the FARC, business is concentrated on the fronts near Colombia's borders," said one of the police investigators. The expert said the 48th FARC front collects the drugs in the Putumayo region (near the Colombian border with Ecuador and Peru), the 30th FARC Front protects the movements of the drug shipments from the Cauca Department as far as the Cañón de Garrapatas (in the Colombian Chocó Department) and the 57th Front of the FARC takes the drugs out of Colombia near Urabá (along Colombia's border with Panama.)

Editor's Comment: This is news only because it appeared in a Colombian newspaper. The details in this report have been known to US, Colombian, and Panamanian law enforcement authorities for at least the past 15 years or more. "48, 30, 57, hike!"   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Is it any surprise failed congressional candidate, the "Doctor of Fake" Jerry Ray Hall lied to the Dallas Morning News about his campaign spending in the weeks leading up to the Republican Party Primary election? On 5 February 2010 the Dallas Morning News published an article entitled "Candidate trying to unseat Hall says he's waiting to funnel cash." In the article the "Doctor of Fake" Jerry Ray Hall claimed (lied) that he was going to spend $500,000 dollars of this own money on his effort to unseat longtime Republican incumbent Ralph M. Hall. When asked about Federal Election Commission requirements to report campaign spending and funds, Jerry Ray Hall lied again and said he was waiting until just before the election to spend the money on his campaign. He told the reporter from the Dallas Morning News that he was trying to leave his opponents guessing. "It's called a plan of action," he said. "There is nothing like being on a stealth mode."

More Lies from Jerry Ray Hall: Of course, now that the election is over, it's perfectly clear that all of these claims about spending $500,000 on his campaign were nothing more than another pack of lies from Jerry Ray Hall. Today on his Jerry Hall for Congress website, Jerry Ray Hall says he only campaigned for six weeks, and he only "spent a total of $600 on the campaign." Well, even that was a lie. He actually spent more than that just on plane tickets, motel rooms, and rental cars, because he actually lives in the Republic of Panama and he had to fly up there in order to participate as a candidate. So, he's lying when he says he only spent $600 dollars. He was trying to say that he only spent that much money but still managed to get about 3,000 votes, so therefore he ran an efficient campaign. Only his brain could cook up a way to put a positive spin on a fourth place public humiliation. So which is it, Jerry. Did you spend $500,000 dollars in "stealth mode" or did you spend just $600 dollars on your campaign? Or, will you just say anything at any time if you think it might suit your immediate needs at that moment in time? Jerry Ray Hall is a pathological liar - there's no longer any doubt about that (if there ever was.)

Internet Rant and Childish Pout Session: After the election, Jerry Ray Hall has now embarked on the same kind of crazy crap he always pulls when someone confronts him, questions him on his lies. He has set up a website to slander me (which I refer to as "evidence") and he's trying to pull other childish stunts, like trying to increase the amount of spam I receive at my personal email address. Of course he's wasting his time. My email address, don@panama-guide.com, has been out there for years, and I established methods and filters a long time ago to deal with morons like him. However, it's illuminating to see how his growing frustration manifests itself in continued childish attacks against me. Jerry Ray Hall is a childish punk who thinks he can bully others, particularly with lies published on the Internet. He threatens to notify the authorities about offenses he himself invents in his wracked and addled brain. He flashes a phony badge and presents himself as a member of law enforcement.

Jerry Ray Hall Never Answered The Question: For the record, Jerry Ray Hall never answered the one simple question I have for him - why does he call himself a "doctor"? Jerry Ray Hall has strung behind him such a long and endless pile of lies that it's actually very easy for a person like me to uncover the truth about him. All you have to do is poke gently into any of the crap he says and almost instantly you uncover problems, lies, and inconsistencies. In spite of everything that's been written and uncovered about the "Doctor of Fake" Jerry Ray Hall in the past month or so, he still has apparently never considered the possibility that maybe, just maybe - the person with the problem is him. While I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, I suspect Jerry Ray Hall suffers from some kind of mental health malady which prevents him from seeing or understanding reality - even when it's still smacking him right between the eyes. In other words, I think he is quite simply incapable of comprehending the truth about his situation. He continues to take these kinds of childish actions against me in attempts at retribution and vengeance - even to his own detriment and ignoring the possibility (probability, certainty) of significant negative consequences. And while I don't have any training as a mental health professional, I can't wait to see what the Panamanian psychiatrists and psychologists have to say about this whack-job. He's got some kind of problem, that's for damn sure. And when I get a copy of that report, I'm going to publish it right here. "Read all about it - Panamanian Doctors Confirm Jerry Ray Hall Is Completely Nuts." Well, they might choose other words, but I'll be doing the translation so let's see how that works out in th long run. Do you think it might hurt his chances for 2012?

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

Former Panamanian president Ernesto Perez Balladares said yesterday he would not post a $5 million dollar bond as established by the Second Tribunal of Justice in order to be released from house arrest on bail. Perez Balladares's lawyer Guillermina McDonald said in a statement his decision is based on the fact they consider the amount of bail established by the Superior Tribunal is unfair. "It results in a denial of freedom for the former president, a right belonging to every citizen," said McDonald. The lawyer contends Perez Balladares acted within the law during his administration, and the application of the supposed crime of money laundering by the Specialized Prosecutor for Organized Crime did not exist at the time (1994 - 1999). "It is false that to the bank account of the company Shelf Holding Inc., money was transferred in cash, and as well we deny that any kind of links exist between the former president and the the companies PTY Adventures, Joyas del Mundo, Grupo Granate, S.A.; Progress Center Enterprises Inc, Krestel Management Inc, Lucky Games and Cirsa", said McDonald. Ernesto Pérez Balladares remains at his home in Altos del Golf, where he is complying with a house arrest order imposed by the Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime. (Source - La Critica)

Editor's Comment: The $5 million dollar bail applied to Ernesto Perez Balladares was the highest ever established in the history of the Republic of Panama.   

The start of the new school year today caused traffic jams in some parts of Panama City this morning, in spite of the operations conducted by the Transit Authority and Traffic Police. José Domingo Díaz Avenue was opened to allow for three lanes of vehicles to enter the city and one to leave towards the suburbs. The same measure was applied to Via Israel, with only one lane headed out of the city starting from 76th Street as far as the old school of Las Esclavas, in an effort to streamline the flow of traffic in the areas around Paitilla, said Jaime Braddick, the National Director of Transportation of the ATTT. He added they would be opening the third lane from Villa Lucre to Villa de las Fuentes until 8:30 am every morning. Braddick warned bus drivers that they can only charge students 10 cents to ride the bus. He said they have given special permits to "ferry" buses to transport students, however these vehicles must have special permission and they cannot play music. He also talked about an accident in Chanis, apparently caused by a drunk driver. This accident affected the flow of traffic to the Southern Corridor. Transit Authority officers will be deployed in th area of the Rubiano school to assist in the flow of traffic there. In spite of these operations, some buses suffered mechanical problems, forcing many passengers to get off through the back door and to try to get on the next bus, which was already completely full. (Source - TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: Today is "back to school day" for the entire Republic of Panama. Hundreds of thousands of students and their parents headed off to a new school year this morning, and traffic was all hosed up in many parts of the city, as it is every year on this day. Within a week or two people will settle down to their new routines. Bus drivers for private schools will know where the kids live. Parents will have their kids into a routine. And, traffic patterns will return to somewhat normal. The next phase of this cluster will happen this afternoon at about 2:00 pm when all of these kids get out of their first day of classes.   

Planning and preparations are underway for a visit by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to Panama. Adolfo Urso, the Vice Minister of Economic Development and Foreign Trade of Italy, arrived in Panama recently, according to the Italian Embassy in Panama. Urso arrived on Sunday, accompanied by representatives from various Italian business sectors. This group will meet with businessmen from the Panamanian Chamber of Commerce. Among other items on Minister Urso's agenda is a meeting with President Ricardo Martinelli and Vice President Juan Carlos Varela. (Source: Telemetro)   

"I'm not cut out for this crap," said Ricardo Martinelli, who said he would not support any effort to change the constitution to allow for his immediate reelection, and that once he's done changing the country he said he would "go enjoy my life." While dismissing the possibility of his immediate reelection, Martinelli said he supports the idea of making changes to the Constitution, but to improve issues such as the way judges to the Supreme Court are selected and the possibility of eliminating reelection for Deputies to the National Assembly. Martinelli's statements were made during an interview on the Channel 13 Telemetro morning news program, during which he stepped out to defend the quality of the school book bags that are being handed out to students this year, the tax reforms currently being debated in the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, and rumors of the possibility of an impending effort to change the Constitution so that he could seek reelection.

Martinelli said he accepts constructive criticism - "if we have to back down, then so be it" - he said, but not without saying that those who are complaining most about the tax reform plan are the rich who do not want the country to change. When asked about the possibility of reducing the ITBMS from 7% to 6%, Martinelli said they would then have to increase taxes on banks and airlines. "We ended (the year) with a deficit of 1% - after paying off a pile of debt we inherited (from the previous administration of Martin Torrijos) such as the Coastal Strip, and now it falls to me to determine if it is necessary to raise taxes because the money is being hidden somewhere else." "I will continue to decline in the polls, but in four years I will have an acceptance rate of 90%," he said.

As for his call for unity, Martinelli said referendums will used to decide national issues.

In speaking about recent criticisms made against him by the Arab League over remarks he made while in Israel, and calls from the National Christian Holy Land Coalition to have him declared "persona non grata" Martinelli said his comments were taken out of context, since he made his statements originally in English and they do not mean the same thing in Spanish. Martinelli downplayed the situation, because it does not affect the international relations of Panama in any way. "Here they are looking for the cat's fifth leg," he said.

Backpacks & Scholarships - "To say the backpacks are not of good quality is a dirty trick," said Martinelli, who added it is easier to do nothing, or simply steal $10 dollars for every backpack, as they did during the last administration. The universal scholarship consists of a $20 monthly payment - for nine months - for every student in public school.   

By BRYAN G. ROBINSON Sun-Gazette Correspondent - MANSFIELD - About 20 years ago Kenneth Sarch, now professor of violin and viola at Mansfield University, was invited by the U.S. State Department as part of a United States Information Agency program to conduct the National Youth Orchestra in Panama. He returned the following five years to direct a camp and 15 years ago he was the guest conductor at the 10th anniversary celebration of the National Youth Orchestra. Now 68, Sarch of Williamsport was invited once again to Panama, this time by the Panama National Concert Association, to conduct two youth orchestras at the 25th anniversary celebration of the National Youth Orchestra Camp and Concert Festival at the end of January. Asked last Monday if the concerts were as highly emotional as he anticipated, Sarch said, "More so than I imagined." He said the rapport he had with the nearly 200 students during the two week camp, of which he was one of nearly a dozen faculty members, added to the emotions. Helping with that rapport was that he was able to conduct all the rehearsals in Spanish, since he had been to Central and South America and the Caribbean a number of times. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (445 words)

BY KATIE DEROSA, CANWEST NEWS SERVICE - VICTORIA — Heavily armed RCMP officers raided a sailboat at a Port Hardy dock Saturday, and are investigating a possible case of smuggling. The crew aboard the 40-foot sailboat — believed to be from Panama — failed to properly identify themselves as they were entering Canadian waters, so Port Hardy RCMP and an emergency response team executed a takedown as the boat docked. "When we have a boat that doesn't identify itself properly, there is the suspicion it's smuggling contraband," said Cpl. Darren Lagan, Island district RCMP spokesman. Lagan could not say how many people were aboard or whether they are in police custody. He also did not know if any drugs were found or if any items were seized. Mark Proulx, maritime co-ordinator at the Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, said the vessel was flagged by Fisheries and Oceans officials who look for illegal fishermen. Proulx said it's unusual for a vessel to make the long journey from the Central American country directly to Port Hardy without making landfall in Victoria or Tofino on Vancouver Island's western shore. Port Hardy is on the northern end of Vancouver Island. Proulx also said the sailors gave a false registration for the vessel. Victoria Times Colonist   

Nine scanners purchased by the National Customs Authority for $24 million dollars in December 2007 from the Chinese company Nuctech were never installed. The expensive equipment has been left to rust in the parking lot of the institution, while Customs inspectors continue to review commercial cargo manually at most checkpoints throughout Panama. The current Director of Customs, Gloria Moreno de Lopez, confirmed the situation with the scanners and said that for the moment goods passing through customs checkpoints are being inspected in an "intrusive" manner. Lopez Moreno said in September last year they began to operate the first scanner at the customs checkpoint at Guabalá in the province of Chiriquí, but it broke down after only three months. Other pieces of equipment are in the same situation. The National Customs Authority said they would sue for the guarantee for this equipment, however the sales contract from the company states the performance bond was only valid for "270 days, plus 60 months maintenance." La Prensa tried to obtain a comment from the former Director of Customs Vilma de Luca, but telephone calls to his office and email went unanswered. (Source - La Prensa)   

HELENA — A young girl has returned with her mother to Panama after a federal appeals court said a judge overstepped his authority in awarding custody to her father in Montana. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said if Richard Joyce, a professor at Montana Tech in Butte, wants to seek custody of his nearly 4-year-old daughter, he will have to do so in the girl’s home country. “I am very disappointed by the results and am considering the option of seeking custody through the Panamanian courts,” Joyce wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. Leyda Cuellar filed a petition under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction after Joyce brought his daughter to Butte without her permission in December 2007. The convention seeks to deter parents from abducting their children across national borders by severely limiting the reasons a judge in another country could grant custody to the abducting parent. In December 2008, U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull of Billings agreed with Joyce’s argument that “slum-like” living conditions, poor nutrition and medical care available to his daughter in Panama were a threat to her health and well-being. Cuellar lived in Butte from January through May 2009 and again from November through February, visiting her daughter while she awaited the results of her appeal. On Feb. 19, the 9th Circuit said Joyce’s “feeble showing ... falls far short of clear and convincing evidence” that the girl faced physical or psychological harm by living in Panama — conditions that would justify bypassing international custody laws. “I believe that the District Court’s conclusion was correct, even though the 9th Circuit points out that perhaps the evidence was not as strong as the 9th Circuit would have liked to have seen,” Joyce’s attorney, Ron Waterman, said. Kevin Ashby, the New York attorney for Cuellar, said they were pleased with the ruling, “which ordered the immediate return of our client’s abducted daughter back to her home country of Panama as required in these circumstances by both federal and international law.”    

The people who live in "El Potrero" are not talking about anything else. The $3 million dollar farm. Rumors are circulating everywhere, and everyone wants to know the location of the farm. There are very few people in the village who know the exact location of the farm which has been used to secure the release of 13 people on bail, including the former Ministers of Education Salvador Rodriguez and Belgis Castro, and the former Municipal Engineer Jaime Salas. The villagers are afraid of what might happen to their lands, once the authorities begin to investigate farm number 50728. Omar Osses wants the investigation to take place in order to avoid problems for the community. Osses owns one hectare of land. He, like many others, are wondering what will happen to their farms. They don't know anything, and they only know what they have read in the newspapers. There are others who hope the value of farm number 50728 could also apply to their lands. "I want to sell my farm to see if I can become a millionaire," said Jose Neri Gonzalez who also owns one hectare.

IN SEARCH OF THE LOST FARM - Our mission was not easy. None of the local authorities knew where the million dollar farm was located. "We don't know where that farm is," said Sacramento Guevara, the representative of El Potrero. Guevara even asked area residents if they knew of the farm or its owner. "Through conversations with the inhabitants we know that several properties have been sold in this area, but none with such a high price," he said. Not much is known about Rodrigo Muñoz Sánchez either, and the only thing for sure is that the farm in question was owned by Mariela Bernal and that she paid just $6,000 for it, compared to the $3 million dollars it's supposedly worth on the open market now. We finally reached the place. Twenty minutes drive from the entrance of El Potrero, and then after walking for half an hour, we found the millionaire hectare. There is nothing different about farm number 50728 that makes it different from the other surrounding properties. It's hilly terrain, surrounded by trees.

José del Carmen Pérez who owns the neighboring property said Mariela Bernal sold her farm to Edwin Guerrero, and intermediary. Now the intermediary, with whom La Estrella was able to talk, is considering selling their land in El Potero to become a millionaire. "The value Rodrigo gave the land is good for us," he said.

After the anomalies found with farm 50728 that was used to obtain multiple bail bonds, it was learned there is a draft of a new law in the works in the Public Ministry, that seeks to change Article 2162 of the Judicial Code, to which the following would be added: "In the case of bail bonds the judge or prosecutor may ask the Directorate of Land Registry to certify that the property being used as collateral to guarantee the bail bond actually has the value indicated to guarantee the security of the State." (Source: La Estrella)   

Since last Monday, 1 March 2010, more than 4,000 people in Panama have come down with vomiting and diarrhea. This outbreak has led health authorities to conduct studies to determine the cause - whether it be a virus, water, or food. Gladys Guerrero, The Chief of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Health (MINSA), told El Siglo they confirmed this outbreak last week, and said sanitation specialists are conducting studies of the water and other agents. Guerrero said if there was a problem with the water supply she would have expected more cases, but so far they have not ruled anything out. According to the doctor, they register more than 200,000 cases of diarrhea in hospitals and health centers every year. In 2007 there were 185,902 cases, in 2008 there were 175,343 cases, and in 2009 there were 184,164 cases. As of 27 February 2010 already 46,106 people had gone to hospitals and health centers with symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. In addition to these, they have seen another 4,000 cases just last week. Guerrero said children under five years of age are more prone to die from these causes, and recommended parents to take special care. She recommended parents should keep their kids hydrated with fluids, lots of water and if possible with Pedialyte. Anyone with diarrhea and vomiting for more than two days should see a doctor to receive proper attention, she said. (Source - El Siglo)   

Panama's Minister of Economy and Finance Alberto Vallarino represented President Ricardo Martinelli in a meeting of several Central American presidents in Guatemala, attended by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The goal of the meeting was to create a closer alliance combat drug trafficking and insecurity. They also discussed issues of international cooperation and trade. The event was attended by the Presidents of Guatemala, Álvaro Colom; Costa Rica, Óscar Arias; El Salvador, Mauricio Funes; the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, and Porfirio Lobo of Honduras. (Source - La Critica)   

Panamanian law enforcement authorities have made several important drug seizures in recent days in various parts of the country. Javier Carrillo, the Director of the Judicial Investigation Department said so far this year the pace of seizures is surpassing that of 2009. In just the first two months of the year, authorities have already seized 5.7 tons of drugs, while last year during the same period authorities seized 1.9 tons. For Carrillo, this is a good sign, but also a warning sign. He said seizures have increased however crime related to drug trafficking as well as domestic consumption of drugs must be controlled. The latest drug seizure came on the upper coast of Colon, where there were dead and wounded as the result of a firefight between drug traffickers, to which Colombians were linked. They found 421 kilos of cocaine in one of the boats seized. The 5.7 tons of drugs were destroyed in an incinerator on Friday. And, authorities have yet to add the seizures made this week to the totals. (Source - Telemetro Reporta)

Editor's Comment: 5.9 tons of drugs seized in just the first two months (59 days) of the year works out to 193 pounds of drugs seized, every day, on average. However, the DIJ director is playing the numbers game a little. If this 193 pounds per day pace is maintained throughout the entire year, then Panama will end up with 70,445 pounds or 35.2 tons of drug seizures. Last year Panama seized more than 50 tons, so maybe they seized more in January and February, this same numbers game won't hold up for other months in the year which saw large busts last year. Whatever. It's all just bean counting anyway. The story is this - Panama seizes a lot of drugs. Got it.    

Yesterday a few hours before the end of Expocomer 2010, business statistics patterned on this activity and the amounts of transactions completed during the event surpassed expectations. This year contracts worth more than $124 million dollars were signed, surpassing the $98.8 million signed during Expocomer 2009. Inocencio Galindo, the President of Expocomer 2010, who announced the figures yesterday, said more than 11,000 contracts were signed this year, compared to 6,545 last year. Galindo attributed this success to the preparation and supported the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture provided to the event this year, facing the challenge that Expocomer 2010 was preceded by the international financial crisis. "The situation warranted specific strategies be employed during Expocomer 2010 to ensure a remarkable financial performance," said Galindo. In preparing for Expocomer 2010 organizers decided to double the team specifically dedicated to coordinate the operations of business contacts - there were 8 people in 2009 and this year they hired 16 - and in addition to this, they established the goal of ensuring massive attendance of buyers at the fair. In this regard, Galindo explained that "fairs are not successful if exhibitors can not find buyers, it doesn't make any sense to have an exhibition if nobody comes to sign contracts." This is why the planning team contacted other organized groups of business people from all over the world. Thus, before the start of the event, there were already 1.233 buyers registered to participate in Expocomer 2010, increasing the number of contracts signed by 90% and the overall dollar value of contracts signed by 20%. (Source - Panama America)   

Panama's Special Prosecutors for Corruption, Organized Crime, and Drug Trafficking have asked the courts to revoke bail for fourteen people, among them the former Ministers of Eduction Belgis Castro and Salvador Rodriguez, as well as the former Municipal Engineer Jaime Salas. Panama's Attorney General, Giuseppe Bonissi, said he asked each of these prosecutors to revoke the bail for everyone who achieved their release through the use of farm number 50728. "They (the 14 accused) will have to speak with their lawyers who should recommend the replacement of the bond for those who meet the requirements," said Bonissi. The Attorney General also noted that it falls to the courts to decide if bail will be revoked or not. Farm number 50728 is located in pasture land near La Pintada in Penonomé, and was used to obtain bail for people involved in ten different investigations for crimes related to corruption, crimes against the public health, and money laundering, and it is now being investigated for alleged irregularities involving the over valuation of land. (Source: La Critica)

Editor's Comment: That's what I thought. Check out the farm in the photo. The owner swore out a statement to a Notary Public in November 2009 that this land was planted with 700 teak trees and that it was worth $1 million dollars. Then when he segregated the one hectare lot he swore out another statement saying it was worth $3 million dollars. I don's see any teak trees in that photo. This land is in the middle of nowhere, access by dirt road only, no water or electrical, and it's probably worth about $3,000 bucks, tops. Now - how many other people have obtained bail using this same trick? Obviously, the only reason they found out about this one was because the three notorious former PRD politicians are involved. This case has served its purpose of highlighting yet another deficiency in the Panamanian justice system. Apparently as long as you know how to crank out the right paperwork, no one will ever check to see if it's being done right.   

About 125 houses have been flooded, thousands of people are without drinking water, rivers are at their highest levels, and material damages are the result of a second cold front affecting more than 100,000 inhabitants of the Bocas del Toro province in Panama. Gladys Concepcion, the Provincial Director of the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) said they issued a "Green Alert" in the region and activated a Delta team to respond to any emergency that may arise in the coming hours. Meanwhile, the residents of Guabito are concerned about the possible collapse of the wall that protects their community from the fury of the Sixaola river, because it is crumbling thanks to the strong currents being produced by the river. This alerted the Ministry of Public Works, which began work to urgently repair the weakened wall that protects Guabito. The floods have also affected the banana industry, leaving hundreds of hectares flooded, putting exports at risk. Concern among the people who live in the region is growing, over outbreaks of diarrhea and the announcement that it will continue raining through today, Saturday. (Source - El Siglo)   

Recent earthquakes in other countries put on alert to Panama, and governmental authorities announced immediate action to improve the country's ability to respond. Following a meeting at the headquarters of the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC), headed by its Director Arturo Alvarado, in which also participated the Minister of the Presidency, Jimmy Papadimitriu, among other authorities, a training program for local governments was established. Alvarado explained Panama should improve its readiness, because earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted, which makes it necessary to verify both government and private infrastructure. They will also conduct inspections to unsure those skyscrapers under construction are prepared to resist a natural event of this magnitude. In the meeting it was established to give $20 million dollars to the Fire Department, for the purchase of equipment, and to improve education and training so they will be better prepared to react to any natural event. The training will begin in communities, schools and universities. In addition, the government will begin an evaluation of each of its buildings, and will request the Municipal government to stringently enforce requirements for the issuance of building permits. (Source - TVN Noticias)   

The Public Ministry has launched an investigation against Gustavo Perez, the Director of the National Police, for a kidnapping that occurred in December 1989. Several former officials were cited to testify, among them Jaime Abad, the former Director of the Judicial Technical Police (PTJ), and Osvaldo Fernandez, who served as Director of the National Police. Several days ago it was announced that Gustavo Perez was discharged from the National Police in 1990 for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of US citizens during the Just Cause invasion of Panama on 20 December 1989. Abad said he wants to trust the impartiality and straight acts of Attorney General Giuseppe Bonissi. He also said he hopes the investigation will be conducted in the most professional manner possible according to law. (Source - Telemetro)   

An error in forecasting the El Niño weather phenomenon caused Panama to buy an "emergency electrical insurance policy" for $55 million dollars, and now the government will have to decide how to best use those resources. In January, when an "imminent drought" threatened power generation in the country, the Electricity Transmission Company, Ltd., (ETESA) predicted there would not be enough water to sustain the continuity of electrical service during the summer months due to the El Niño phenomenon. Faced with the possibility of four hour long rolling blackouts, ETESA's predictions, which were based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States, and agency of NASA, led the National Energy Secretary in Panama to recommend emergency measures that resulted in the letting of a public bid held last December. The weather predictions said "there would be a drought, that we were going to have a dry year, and that the El Niño weather phenomenon would last until May or June. They also said there would be less water over the course of the entire year," said the National Energy Secretary Juan Urriola.

Within six days, the multinational company Agrekko PLC was awarded a contract worth $55.5 million dollars to rent thermal electrical generation plants with a capacity to produce 100 MW/h for one year. However, this summer it has rained in the areas around Lago Fortuna and the predictions of NASA, and therefore ETESA, were not met. There were even floods in Bocas del Toro. However, Urriola says the $ 55.5 million will not be wasted. "Agrekko plants will generate power during the months of March, April and May when the plants of Bahia Las Minas are changing from bunker to coal," he said, adding that "when we hired these plants we were faced not only with a shortage of water, but also with a series of failures in the thermal system. The government argues the country will be much safer because "rain is falling so we are fine, but at the same time there's not a lot of rain falling. God is on our side. The machines have been rented as a form of insurance for one year." Urriola explains the benefit of the contract awarded to Agrekko lasts a year, which we will cover not only this summer but next summer as well. "The machines will be used to provide a measure of guarantee to the Panamanian electrical system," concludes Urriola. (Source - La Estrella)   

A presentation on the various mining projects given yesterday by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) made clear the support being given by the government to the mining industry in Panama, provided it is done in a responsible manner, said Roberto Henriquez, the chief of the MICI. Henríquez said "we will enforce the law, we will be energetic, in Panama there is a mining policy and we see it as a sector of the country's development." He also said "in previous administrations, for ideological reasons institutions like the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) had policies are dedicated to shutting down the industry." Henriquez also said: "We will be very watchful of the projects, but we will not hamper them by hypocritically saying there's a mining policy and then preventing their progress by simply shelving paperwork for months so that the sector does not advance."

Projects - July Benedetti, president of the Mining Chamber of Panama said that during 2011 the mine at Cerro Quema could be activated, and that additionally there are another ten projects currently under study in the country. However, Henríquez explained the only mine with government authorization to extract gold is the Minera Petaquilla, which is being checked weekly. Faced with a possible increase of mining development in Panama, MICI plans to recruit more inspectors, and currently there are six on staff. Another action which could help the development of the mining industry in Panama would be a reform of the Mining Code, which dates from the 60's, said Henriquez. This is a plan backed by the ANAM Director Javier Arias, who said "We are always going to encourage the best mining practices in relation to the environment, the processes, and the communities so that they are protected to the maximum amount possible with the highest standards, through a reform of the Mining Code," and he added that his institution also lacks the personnel and resources to address these issues.

Regarding the Mining Code, Felix Wing, and attorney for the Center for Environmental Advocacy (CIAM) stressed: "It would be good to change the code because it ignores the issue of environmental care, but it should be clear that the law should not be changed in order to make life easier for those businesses who violate the collective interest." (Source - Panama America)   

BOGAMANÍ, Chiriqui - The Anti Drug Prosecutor inspected a Cessna small single engine aircraft with Costa Rican registration TI AUJ that landed unexpectedly on Thursday afternoon at a dirt strip of one of the banana plantations in Baru. The Anti Drug Prosecutor from the province of Chiriqui, Javier Soriano, said he could not give an interview or speak about the inspection they conducted. But he did say they did not do an ion scan of the aircraft and that they just conducted a visual inspection of the inside of the aircraft and they didn't find any suspicious items. Residents of the village said last Thursday afternoon a small plane flew overhead and then landed at the Bogamaní airport. They added that two people got out of the aircraft because there were two 4x4 vehicles waiting. The National Police cordoned off the area and later three Costa Rican citizens appeared together with one US national, who claimed they were the crew of the aircraft and that they landed there because they had made a mistake. The aircraft was guarded all night by agents of the National Police and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). (Source - La Prensa)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1 words)

(Media-Newswire.com) - Annapolis, Maryland—Panama’s busy Tocumen International Airport has inaugurated a new data link departure clearance service provided by ARINC Incorporated. Designed to enhance air safety and Air Traffic Control in Latin America, the service was declared operational February 22. ARINC developed the service at the request of Panama’s civil aviation authority, Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil, with significant support from Copa Airlines, a leading Latin American carrier. Unlike air traffic control in North America, where airport tower controllers issue Pre-Departure Clearance ( PDC ) through airline central computers, in Latin America the airport tower controllers and pilots traditionally use voice radio. ARINC’s new solution offers the benefits of computerized departure clearance without the need to modify airline central computers. It allows pilots to request and receive departure clearance directly from tower controllers using standard data link. Copa Airlines, which operates one of Latin America’s most modern fleets, tested the system extensively over a period of months. Copa subsidiary AeroRepublica, and Iberia, KLM, and FedEx also were involved in the system tests. “This very successful implementation is the result of a cooperative technical interchange between ARINC and Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil,“ stated Ron Hawkins, ARINC Vice President, Commercial Aviation Solutions. “We applaud their foresight in initiating this project, and we congratulate them for becoming the first Civil Aeronautical Authority in Latin America to offer this valuable new service for aviation.” “ARINC’s departure clearance service will enable a new level of efficient flight management for air traffic controllers in Latin America,” said Licdo Rafael Bárcenas, Director General Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil. “We greatly appreciate ARINC’s cooperation in creating a simple, efficient, and low-cost solution which will enhance the level of safety in our airport operations for years to come.” Tocumen International Airport, located 15 miles from Panama City, Panama, is the largest airport in the country as well as the busiest in Central America. It is served by 18 airlines carrying 5 million passengers a year, and is Copa Airlines’ “Hub of the Americas.” Copa operates 152 daily flights from Tocumen to 45 destinations in 24 countries in North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified.   

Bethlehem – Ma'an – Fatah Central Committee Member Nabil Sha'ath sharply condemned on Saturday President of Panama Ricardo Martinelli's remarks in which he referred to Israel as the "guardian" of the holy city of Jerusalem. "Martinelli’s comments did not only insult the Palestinian people, the Arab, Islamic, and Christian world, but also insulted international law," Sha’ath said in a statement. "After Martinelli became president of Panama, the whole policy of the republic changed and it became the only country in Latin America to vote in favor of Israel in the UN. Once again, the president of Panama is challenging its neighboring countries and international law during his visit to Israel. "He toured holy sites in the Palestinian Territories escorted by Israeli officers. The republic of Panama has the right to establish diplomatic relations with any country in the world including Israel, yet they shouldn’t support Israel’s violations of international law and human rights." Sha'ath said Israel’s "colonialism" in Jerusalem was repeatedly condemned internationally, by countries such as the US, the EU, the Vatican, Latin American countries, Islamic countries, and the rest of the international community. He added that Martinelli’s statement is "worrisome," and both Arab and Latin American countries should have a clear stance toward it. "Since, the president of Panama announces that Israel is the guardian of Jerusalem, he might need to explain the meaning of his words to the Palestinian families who lose their homes in Jerusalem every week. He might also need to explain to the millions of Muslims and Christians who are denied access to the holy sites in the city," Sha’ath added. During an official visit at Israeli President Shimon Peres' residence in West Jerusalem on 2 March, Martinelli addressed officials present, saying "As a citizen of Panama .. I say with great honor and joy: I will always support Israel, guardian of the world's capital, Jerusalem." "The Jewish heart is the same as Panama's heart."

Editor's Comment: President Ricardo Martinelli has apologized for the remarks and issued a statement to clarify his intent. All sides in the area have been at war for years, and they just wait for someone to slip up like this, so they can pounce and make political hay.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - According to a report from the US Geological Survey, a moderate earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter Scale struck Panama yesterday evening at 6:09 pm local. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the border region between Panama and Costa Rica at a depth of 35 kilometers. Reference distances are - 25 miles ENE of Golfito, Costa Rica, and 35 miles NW of David, Panama. This area sees frequent small earthquakes similar to this one. There were no reports of damage or injuries, and most people didn't even notice. USGS Event ID - us2010swew.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The Foreign Ministry sent a press release in which President Ricardo Martinelli clarified Panama's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After statements made by Martinelli, in which he referred to Israel as the "guardian" of the Holy City, the same words used by the Minister of the Presidency Jimmy Papadimitriu - Martinelli excused himself by saying there had been a misunderstanding. Martinelli's statement caused discomfort among the Palestinian community, since they perceived them as an insult. This is why Papadimitriu clarified Martinelli's message that had captured the attention of the inhabitants of these eastern lands. In the press release from the Chancery, the Panamanian President clarified that Panama "understands and respects the situation in the city of Jerusalem, an historic site of holy character, and hopes to contribute to the resumption of talks between Israel and Palestine with a view towards the peaceful coexistence between both nations." (Source - Dia a Dia)   

No one is safe! Colon businessman kidnapped in broad daylight. At around 10:00 am yesterday morning police discovered a red Mini Cooper with license plate number 857228 abandoned near the corner of 15th Street with Central Ave in the city of Colon. Witnesses told authorities that, moments before, the driver of the car was forced out of this vehicle at gunpoint and forced into another vehicle. This occurred near the entrance to the city of Colon in front of the Plaza Millennium shopping center. The driver of the Mini Cooper is a businessman of Lebanese origin. Normally well-informed sources said he was kidnapped, and the criminals quickly made contact the businessman's family members. They said the kidnappers demanded a payment of $100,000 dollars for his safe release, which was delivered. But instead of releasing him they demanded an additional $150,000 dollars, which the family members paid and the victim was released. The National Police said yesterday afternoon the case was registered as a possible car theft, but they also admitted they did not know the whereabouts of the driver of the car. The National Police never confirmed if the businessman ever appeared. (Source - El Siglo)   

The Prosecutor for Administration, Oscar Ceville, accepted a new complaint against the former Attorney General Ana Matilde Gomez, for the alleged crime of theft and concealment of public documents in the case against convicted Colombian scam artist David Murcia Guzman, who owned the DMG pyramid scheme. On February 5, Ceville opened an investigation and ordered that all necessary steps be taken in order to clarify the allegations made by defense lawyers representing Murcia Guzmán, who also is under investigation in Panama for money laundering. At the same time, Ceville sent a copy of the complaint to Attorney General Giuseppe Bonissi, which was filed by Roniel Ortiz, Carlos Augusto Herrera and Ruben Ortiz, which also asks for an investigation on charges of abuse of authority, abuse of functions, crimes against the public trust (abduction and concealment of evidence) against the former Attorney General, as well as the former Secretary General of the Public Ministry Rigoberto Gonzalez, the former director of immigration Clovis Sinisterra, the Second Drug Prosecutor William Parodi and the Special Organized Prosecutor Jose Ayú Prado. As part of this complaint others will also be investigated for the possible commission of crimes, such as Javier Fletcher, who served as an undersecretary of the Security Council and Luis Alberto Martinez, a former Auxiliary Prosecutor of the Republic. According to the complainants, these government officials violated David Murcia Guzman's right to due process, his human rights with regards to conventions on extradition, and his right to a legal defense. However, the prosecutor Ceville ordered the closing of another complaint filed by defense attorneys for David Murcia against Ana Matilde Gomez, alleging abuse of authority and abuse of functions in the handing over to David Murcia Guzman to the Colombian authorities. (Source - La Critica)   

The National Direction of Pharmacy and Drugs of the Social Security Fund (CSS) is analyzing to bottles of a commercial product called "guayacolato glicerilo" (glyceryl guaiacolate or Guaifenesin) from the San Rafael Laboratory of Panama, due to suspicions these products might be causing adverse health effects. The announcement came this afternoon from the Director of the CSS, Guillermo Sáez-Llorens, at a press conference. Sáez-Llorens said two girls, aged four and six years old, who live in the province of Bocas del Toro, suffered from adverse effects after ingesting the drug. The infants, explained the official, suffered from generalized edema. He said when the girls stopped taking the drug their condition improved. Given this fact, he asked the public to not use these medicines until the CSS has received the test results. He said the CSS distributed a total of 364,817 bottles as part of lot number 260808 in the provinces of Veraguas, Chiriqui and Los Santos. Staff members from the office of Pharmacy and Drugs have deployed to Bocas del Toro in order to realize the required testing, said Sáez-Llorens. (Source - La Prensa)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This afternoon Panama's Second Superior Tribunal fixed bail for former Panamanian president Ernesto Perez Balladares, who is being investigated by the Special Prosecutor for organized crime and who has been charged with crimes related to money laundering, at $5 million dollars. Perez Balladares has been locked up under house arrest since 14 January 2010. He is being investigated on charges related to concessions for slot machine gambling rooms handed out during his administration (1994 - 1999) and apparently he was still receiving kickbacks from those companies. If he makes bail, then he will be able to leave his house while he awaits trial. I suspect the prohibition on leaving the country will remain in place. And after what happened with the former Education Ministers Belgis Castro and Salvador Rodriguez, and the former Municipal Engineer Jaime Salas, I suspect the courts will be taking a very hard look at anything put forward to guarantee bail for one of the PRD's most prominent politicians, Ernesto Perez Balladares.

Copyright 2009 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 - This morning I drove the "close family member" of Denise Mullen Hiller - the American expatriate who was murdered in her apartment in Paitilla on Thursday evening, 18 February 2010 - back to the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. She had finished testifying and providing information to homicide detectives from Panama's Directorate of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) and inspectors from the Third Superior Prosecutor's office, and it was time to take Denise home. Those two offices are working together to compile evidence against the primary suspect in this case, a Panamanian named Daniel Moreno Melendez who had worked as a bartender at the Marriott Hotel in Panama City. Denise met Daniel at the bar in the hotel when she first arrived in Panama in September 2009, on contract as a consultant for the CH2M Hill company to work on the expansion of the Panama Canal. Denise and Daniel eventually became involved in a romantic relationship which turned lethal on that Thursday night. Denise's "close family member" who had the crucial information about the suspect flew to Panama and spent about a week here supporting the investigation and providing information about Denise's life here. She left Panama this morning, escorting Denise's remains back to Phoenix, Arizona for burial. On the way to the airport she told me homicide detectives using Luminol discovered traces of blood in Daniel's vehicle, on the floor carpet and pedals on the driver's side of his car. At this point there's very little doubt in anyone's mind the prosecutor's have charged the right guy with murder. Now, it will take at least a year or more before he's taken to trial where prosecutors will present their evidence in order to obtain a conviction. In the meantime, the suspect will remain behind bars in Panama's notorious "La Joya" prison, locked up with some of the worst Panama has to offer. It's not a nice place at all - more like "hell on earth" - and at this point it seems those accommodations seem appropriate. And once again, our heartfelt condolences to the friends and family members of Denise Mullen Hiller.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.