It turns out that this year's cayuco racing schedule puts the competitions on the same weekends during which The Panama News is laid out. Thus, though we have photos and complete results of the Copa Club de Yates de Balboa, the season's first event, you'll have to wait until the next issue to get the Gamboa Regatta results. Time will be made to get the story of the main event, the Ocean-to-Ocean race, in a timely manner --- that is, in the next issue along with the Gamboa results.

It was a bit difficult to make the right arrangements this time because we're short of staff and money, and because there were other important stories. Certainly the EXPOCOMER trade fair is always an event that we cover in detail, and not only because it's an important economic indicator in a country where government figures aren't regularly published and not to be relied upon in any case. This year we also took advantage of the event to take a look at one of Panama's important Latin American trade relationships, that with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The politicians are outdoing themselves at alienating the population, and that's largely covered in our News briefs. La Prensa says that a poll it commissioned shows that both the PRD and Arnulfistas would be slaughtered by an unspecified independent if presidential elections were held today, and a TVN-commissioned poll shows fewer than eight percent of Panamanians accepting the legislators' arguments against setting aside the entire Legislative Assembly's immunity for purposes of investigating the ongoing bribery scandals. Those of you who read Spanish may want to peruse the presidential anti-corruption commission's report, and know that President Moscoso made no friends at all when she blasted her own commission's first recommendation, an end to nepotism.

How do the politicians think they can get away with it? By suppressing news coverage, of course. I am one of 84 journalists facing Panamanian criminal charges for my work --- bogus charges brought by presidential advisor Alvaro Antadillas, who wants me thrown in jail for publishing a story in 2000 that tended to call into question an expensive monopoly that his kidney dialysis clinic holds over a US-funded health care plan for pre-treaty PanCanal retirees. The Inter-American Human Rights Commission was in town to look into Panamanian politicians' nasty habit of filing criminal charges against journalists, and we cover it in both our English and Spanish sections, the latter a bit more extensively. President Moscoso's administration declined to meet with the OAS commissioners, maybe because they might have inquired into not only the abuses, but also her broken promises to curb them.

Meanwhile, however, there are a few bright spots amidst the clouds, especially on the cultural and economic fronts. The Theatre Guild of Ancon, which started this season with a war-related cancellation, got back into stride with a well-done and well-attended production of On Golden Pond. That's especially good news because they, like virtually all Panamanian cultural institutions, have been having difficult times in a bad economy. The innovative and fun San Felipe Festival is underway in Panama City. Though the figures have yet to come in, it seems that at least from the perspective of the number of visitors, this year's EXPOCOMER was a success. Also, fears that the events of September 11 would ruin our tourist season have proven unfounded. Cruise ship tourism is growing, a lot of European tourists are to be seen around Panama City, and a caravan of motor homes recently came down from the states and went back after a week's visit. (The only place that was properly equipped to handle them was XS in Santa Clara --- the parking lot of the Plaza Paitilla Inn, with the aroma of Panama Bay sewage and lack of shade or many amenities will probably not get many repeat visits --- so this looks like a business opportunity for someone willing to take the initiative and risk.)

The situation next door in Colombia is increasingly worrisome, and it is addressed in our English and Spanish News sections, our Opinion pages, and even among our reviews --- our Cool Internet sites are not entirely that cool this time, as they include the websites of all of Colombia's warring factions, among whom I see no side worthy of support. Willy Gutman weighs in with an Opinion column on what to tell children about things like war and terrorism, and I get into the dilemma of what a journalist should do when truth has become a casualty of war.

We have plenty of Letters this time, which are all on one page this time. I am taken to task for allowing the possibility that the old ship found near Nombre de Dios may actually be the Vizcaina that Columbus abandoned, which is fine, but you may want to hit the button above on the right to read my stories about the discovery and decide for yourself whether the criticism is justified. I make no claims of infallability and welcome your letters and articles, including those that express opinions opposed to my own.

Our situation remains precarious, which is something we have in common with a lot of small businesses in Panama. The first months of the year are always hard in the Panamanian newspaper business, so those who have purchased books or ads, or who have donated money toward the cause, are deeply appreciated.

Thanks.

Eric Jackson
the editor

© 2002 by The Panama News All Rights Reserved For information or problems with this page contact: editor@ThePanamaNews.com
News Business Editorial Opinion Letters Arts Reviews Community Fun Travel Galleries Calendar Outdoors Dining Science Sports Español Archive Front Page