You keep referring to Linda Ellen Watt's previous position as the "director of public relations" at SOUTHCOM. I believe she was the political advisor to the commander-in-chief of SOUTHCOM. The "director of public relations" (public affairs) position is a military position usually filled by an Air Force colonel. I also believe Ms Watt is a career foreign service type and your constant labeling her the "director of public relations" won't win you any points.

Bob Sullivan

(Editor's note: You're right, and The Panama News stands corrected. Though winning points with the US Ambassador is not one of our major concerns, accuracy is. Linda Ellen Watt's biography, as outlined on the American Embassy's website, says that "[p]rior to her nomination by President George W. Bush on June 27, 2002, she served as Foreign Policy/Political Advisor at the U.S. Southern Command, an assignment she took up in July of 2001."

Thank you for publishing the article by Mr. Carlos Hassan re: Broadband Internet usage in Panama. It was/is very informative. So much so that I entered into an ADSL contract with Cable & Wireless. Once again, thanks for continuing to keep the public informed.

Arthur

Can you accept credit card contributions (or a voluntary "subscription?")

I have been reading your newspaper for free and I'd be happy to pay to be able to continue the privilege.

My husband and I are moving to Bocas del Toro next summer. I'd be happy to
volunteer in any possible "virtual" (online) way. I could do some copy editing or anything else when I get there that might help and that could be done online. We are building a house on Isla Cristobal and will have a satellite dish when we are ready to move.

In the meantime, let me know if I can donate with my VISA card.

Susan

(Editor's note: At the moment we can't handle credit card transactions. We're looking for a new bank and the ability to deal with credit cards is one of our goals. We need help in a wide range of writing, editing, webmastering, cartooning and photography genres, from folks with a variety of interests and points of view.)

Do we have a calendar for the season's country fairs? Thanks.

Lorraine

I am planning on coming to Panama in February for a vacation and I was wondering if you knew the date of the Chorrera Fair? Last year it was about two weeks before Carnival. Any help with this or other events we could plan to attend while there (2/13/03 thru 3/18/03) would be appreciated..

Thanks,

Darren Curry

(Editor's note: In our Calendar section we have the immediately upcoming fairs. We're working on something more comprehensive and substantial. The Chorrera Fair is from January 22 to February 2 this year.)

Thank you for publishing, in my opinion, a first class magazine. I peruse your magazine when I want to find out what is happening in Panama. Being a former soldier stationed in Panama, and marrying a beautiful Panamanian woman, I have an affinity for everything Panama.

I would like to know what are the estimates for the number of foreigners that will be in Panama for it's centenial celebrations. I would like to surprise my wife with our first trip back since the reversion. Although I will no doubt be staying with my in-laws, I need to know the hotel occupnacy situation, because I would like to throw a get-together with family and friends living in Panama. I will not be able to confirm exactly if I can do this until March due to business obligations the company I have just started, so I would also like to know if March is too late to reserve a room at either the Miramar, Ceasar Park, or the Marriot.

Thank you in advance for any hel[ you can give me.

A dedicated reader of The Panama News

I ran across your interesting newspaper, and wondered if you would be able to help me locate someone in Panama.

I was born In Panama 73 three years ago, and emigrated to the US since 1951 and lived in Puerto Rico for 45 years. While in college in PR, I had two good friends; Jose Mendez Lay, and Ronald Galvez who is a dean at the University of Panama. If you locate either of them, I would appreciate your giving them my address.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Edwin Pacheco
3027 Rothbury Drive
Pearland, TX 77584

Greetings!

My name is Richard Tait and I am from Jamaica. I'm not sure if you will be able to help me. I am trying to find a friend of mine. His name is Rolando Enrique Tejeira-Sanchez. We worked together onboard a cruise ship named Discovery Sun, which sailed daily from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Freeport, Grand Bahama. He was a Deck Cadet on board. We both served on board from 1997 into 1998. Rolando was from La Chorera and attended a Naval Academy in Panama. I would be so grateful if you could point me in a direction, for example, perhaps a list of naval academies in Panama or maybe a telephone number. Anything would be greatly appreciated.

Rolando was a good friend of mine and he contacted me here in Jamaica after I had left the ship (he had left some months before I did), but we have since lost contact.

Thanks in advance.

Richard Tait
Kingston, Jamaica