letters

Thank you for the superlative job you continue to do reporting Panama's news --- straight, clear and very interesting.

The expose about San Cristobal was very helpful for everyone and Panama. There is another scandal that needs publicity --- it is getting some in the Panamanian media, but not really the straight, sad story as shown here.

Nancy Hanna
President, Panamainfo.com

I appreciated your recent article about fraudulent activities here in Bocas and the raping of gringos who come here to invest in fabulous deals. It's a very serious problem giving a black eye to Panama for one and especially to the USA, for most of the crooks come from there. The US Consulate can't do any thing about it?

A worse situation lies in the avoidance of taxes when selling and purchasing property, a situation I found myself to be involved in after purchasing property here in Bocas.

My deed from the Panamanian government, a legal document I understand was falsified by the Island Realty attorneys who drew it up. It showed that I paid $19,500 for the vacant lot in a so-called subdivision here in the Bocas area, when in actuality I paid $52,500 for said property.

I understand that the purposes of this falsification is to save the developer from paying Republic of Panama taxes on the amount over $20,000, a two percent tax.

Also, this falsification saves a buyer from from paying annual land taxes on the amount over $20,000, a 1.75 percent tax.

A double whammy against the Republic of Panama conceived by attorneys who are supposed to be honest, loyal and true to the Republic.

I insisted to the legal firm, Martucci & Martucci, that my deed be corrected, which eventually about five months later was accomplished.

Yes, I have now paid installments on taxes owed on my land, and will continue each year to make these payments.

I did not use falsified documents where I lived my life before retiring in the United States. I did not move to Panama to cheat the Panamanian government out of legitimate taxes due them. I will pay my share of taxes due here.

To find that some Panamanian lawyers falsify official records is very disheartening and I feel that these types of lawyers should be disbarred from practice.

John P. Lanigir
pensionado visa

I don't know what you were thinking by putting down everything that happens in Panama. It happens that is Miss Universe. What is wrong with that?

It is a good chance to make Panama known and open to tourism and a nice place to visit.

Why are so many people upset about that? Maybe they are not Panamanians, or at least bad ones.

I am a Panamanian proud to be so and there is no need to put down Miss Universe, Mr. Trump or any investor who wants to come here --- welcome to all of them!

One one last message to the bad Panamanians who still insists on staging strikes or demonstrations precisely (oh... they didn't know the date was June 3) on the day of the Grand Finale. Give me a break.

Those guys (SUNTRACS, FENASEP and other infamous unions) only want to damage Panama's image internationally by making Panama be the worst place to invest, visit and so on. There is no longer a secret that those infamous guys (University of Panama students and unions) are PAID to stage such riots. Who are they thinking are they cheating? What are they protesting? Unemployment? I am unemployed and I speak three languages and have a PhD but I don't make noise. C'mon. Whom are they cheating?

Believe me, the average Panamanian is open to the world, open to new changes, open to tourism, and show respect and friendship to all the nations of the world.

Cecilia Henriquez
Panama

Here's your quote: "If the majority of Panamanian girls see all the white beauty queens from Latin American countries with nonwhite majorities and conclude that white is beautiful and since they're not, they're not, then it would be a major cultural and psychological tragedy."

"Psychological Tragedy in Panama?"

Are you implying that there should be a balance of majority judgment and a minority judgment in the name of diversity and over-all self-esteem?

So tell me, why can't people be people ?

Have you noticed in the past few years that most of the Miss USA winners have been "non-white women," most of which have not qualified as finalists in the Miss Universe contest? So what's your point --- political correctness? I thought everything was in the eyes of the beholder... In these cases --- the judges....

Your opinion on a Psychological Tragedy, could well be a minority judgment also. Just an opinion kid.

Arturo A. Hassan
Los Angeles, CA

I really admire your courage in a racist country. Are there no Clarkes, Browns, Brathwaites, Greenes, Collins, Jordans (black/chombos) that have any backbone to make a statement? The big thing here in NY is that we here have not seen one prieto in all the gala. Please let me know if there were any. How long will those people accept the second class status? please!!!!!!!!!

GC
New York

We're not sure if you assigned the following headline, or if VHeadline News (who reprinted the story) did, but we find the use of the term "pro-coup" to be quite confusing, as it could be construed as either a) pro-1992 Chávez coup or b) pro-coup April 2002. Of course, the story later makes clear that it was the latter.

Peter Watkins
USA

Editor's note: The headline, "Pro-coup Venezuelan media magnate used Miss Universe pageant for politics," was mine. Latin America's English-language online press sometimes share articles, and in this case our Venezuelan counterpart, VHeadline, reprinted the article without changes and with permission.

Read your report on VHeadline, and I've got to ask someone like yourself who's in the know on what's been happening in Chávez's Venezuela:

Is Gustavo like Dubya --- a rich kid who didn't have to work or strive for any kind of success, while his family and friends told him throughout his life that he's special and superior to the poor people? So today he's in a position of power, the results of which are this recent Miss Universe PR stupidity, botched coups, and "general strikes" that only shut down the rich suburbs? I guess if they put him in charge of a TV station, he can't be the sharpest tool in the anti-Chávez shed, but still --- is there any way we can get Gustavo and other "opposition" leaders' IQ ratings, school transcripts, SAT scores, etc.?

Joe
Los Angeles, CA

Editor's note: The problem with the old Venezuelan elite, of whom Cisneros is an apt representative, is not that they're stupid. They played all sorts of ingenious games for many decades, but that did nothing for most Venezuelans. Hugo Chávez happened to be the alternative to whom disenchanted voters turned. Chávez's success, which won't last forever, is based upon vote totals rather than test scores.

After five years of reading the uninformed, unprofessional, unbalanced, poorly written and researched theater "reviews" in The Panama News, I believe that Eric Jackson has finally topped himself with "THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER." I am the President of the Board of Directors at the Theatre Guild of Ancon, an institution that has been producing English-language theater in Panama for more than 53 years. For the past five years, I have directed, written, produced and consulted on more than 25 productions at the Theatre Guild. I have worked with over 100 students from several school during my years at the Guild, training them in every aspect of performance and stagecraft.

Eric Jackson's review of May 25 did the International School of Panama's outstanding cast and crew of "THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER" a great injustice. In a style that has become all too well-known to Panama News readers, Mr. Jackson proceeded to write about himself and his own 1960's experiences with long hair and drug abuse, details of his personal life that had no business in an article discussing the merits of a 1939 comedy classic. I find Mr. Jackson's style of writing crude, extremely offensive and unprofessional. I also find it peculiar that he never exhibits such aggressive behavior when he is confined to writing about art exhibitions or literary events around town.

For three months, a group of 35 hardworking students and teachers gave up their personal lives to rehearse for hours after work and school every day to prepare for this wonderful show. The set was built over six days, with the construction and set decoration work taking place for eight or more hours at a time without electricity (due to power outages). The only "profit" from this sold-out event was education and friendship. Over the two days of presentations, the cast and crew received standing ovations by the crowd of parents, friends and Guild regulars. I believe now that Mr. Jackson came in that night with his own agenda to smash and destroy that goodwill with his opening attack: "Ooooh, what an opportunity for critical cruelty...

I only wish in my past life as a journalist, I had the delicious opportunity to "review" Mr. Jackson's work. But in my heart, I don't have that kind of cruelty in me.

Catherine Hopkins
President, Theatre Guild of Ancon

Editor's note: You can read the review in question here, if you have not already done so. I don't think that I was mean to the kids in the play, but I'll leave that judgment to the readers.

Note that Ms. Hopkins's allegation that the review includes discussion of my "1960's... drug abuse" is a crude and inflammatory misrepresentation of the article's content. There is nothing at all about drugs in that review.

Yes, Ms. Hopkins and I disagree about journalism --- starting with the first principle, which I say is to tell the truth.

Just a few lines to say thanks for keeping me up to date on all the happenings in Panama. I am 37 years old and married to my wife of 17 years whom I met in Panama and married there as well. As soon as our oldest goes off to college in three years we plan to move to Panama and open a small bar.

Mr. Tracy Rose
Mesa, AZ

Please condemn, in the most energetic terms, the unfair, immoral and illegal competition of the City of Knowledge (Ciudad del Saber) renting two and three bedroom houses at rocket bottom, below market prices in the former Canal Zone. To have the government compete with the private sector is plainly immoral and wrong!

It's kind of obvious that they didn't mortgage these properties and are not paying banks for loans on them! It's a bargain hurting Panama's struggling real estate sector, thanks to the directors of Ciudad del Saber who rented these properties behind the backs of the ARI (Interoceanic Regional Authority).

Mr. Alfredo Arias, head of ARI, correctly pointed out the illegality. Ciudad del Saber were given these properties to establish colleges and universities and research facilities in that site. They were not given these properties to rent them at below market rates, unfairly competing with Panama's real estate sector.

Perhaps there is a Presidential candidate nobody has thought of up till now in Panama, and the real estate sector of Panama should propose and push for the Chief of ARI, Alfredo Arias as a candidate.

Good, common sense is missing in Ciudad del Saber and other sectors of Panama.

name withheld

My name is Thomas Jakits. I'm Austrian, have lived in Panama for roughly 10 years, have been married to a Panamanian for seven-plus years and have a three-year-old son --- and that's where I just got bad vibes. When I took my family to McDonalds in Balboa (the old railroad station....), mainly because my son enjoys their playground.

To understand my present disgust with at least this particular franchise read the following copy of a letter to McDonalds headquarters in USA, for the lack of an e-mail address of the Panama headquarters of McDonalds:

The following was addressed to McDonald:

Although I am actually complaining about a McDonald in Panama, Central America, I hope you can forward this complaint in this case; unfortunately I was unable to find an email address for the Panama Headquarters.

My complaint is about the installation of computer game consoles in the playground area. From the make up of the playground I guess these are supposed to be for children from 2-10 or so.

In the McDonalds in Balboa, Panama, Republic of Panama, there are three video machines installed. A sign on the wall advises that these machines are for 14 year old and older. Now this would be of little concern, BUT two of the three consoles are of extreme violent content. One being about street fighting with the looser resulting being dead.

The other about "The living dead" --- a handgun targeting game. The goal is to shoot as many "Living Dead" as possible. In the course of the game these characters get limbs, arms, heads blown of by the shootings, parts of their body getting ripped out, leaving gapping holes --- short: a pretty bloody mess.

And this in front of youngsters two years and up.

(The third game is a racecar competition.)

I do not understand what crossed the minds of the responsible people that allowed these game machines to be placed in the children's playground!

Besides my personal opinion that any such games should be prohibited for people under 18 or 21, certainly I appreciate if McDonald headquarters would issue a note to ALL its franchises worldwide, that the placement of violent games of any nature is not in accordance with McDonalds Efforts regarding Social Responsibilities.

I hope that this leads somewhere.

I do like McDonalds food now and then (about twice a week), and my son (three years old) enjoys playing in the McDonalds playgrounds, as these are commonly safe and clean.

However these machines are too attractive for youngsters. I placed a McDonald suggestion sheet with the franchise, and hope they will act upon, for their sake. I do prefer McDonalds, but I have no problems to change for the competition, if this keeps my boy out of the reach of violent games. Furthermore I will advice all friends I can reach, especially those that have little kids and ask them to not visit McDonalds anymore until this situation is changed.

I guess this says it all. If you wish go there and check for yourself.

Thomas Jakits

Congratulations on the piece "Victoriano Lorenzo, a Century After His Execution." It is the most lucid bit of writing I have read so far about this important revolutionary figure. I was particularly impressed with the discussion of Victoriano Lorenzo's relevance with regards to this, Panama's centennial celebration. Many thanks.

Silvio Sirias

Ever since John Ashcroft became Attorney General of the United States, the ordinary citizen has become worthless and subject to each and every deprivation and human rights abuse one could possibly imagine at the hands of our judiciary and law enforcement agencies, all this IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM!

The government is torturing the Talibans and suspected Al Qaedas in Guantanamo Bay, including American and British citizens found over there, to the point that more than 30 have attempted suicide and more than 20 attained it. The difference between Nazi Germany and the current United States of America has narrowed.

But Ashcroft does not see that, he looks the other way. The anti-American sentiment this is generating throughout the Arab world will translate into hand grenades thrown on our troops, shots fired at our government officers abroad, and terrorist blasts perpetrated against our ordinary citizens abroad and at home.

Then Ashcroft will not blame himself for the consequences of his Patriot Act, which is now used against Arabs and suspected terrorists, but can be equally applied tomorrow against ordinary USA citizens that voice disagreement with US government policies. American dissidents will be branded potential terrorists tomorrow by our own law enforcement agencies, wrongly given powers the Founding Fathers never wanted for them.

The Pandora box has been open: its key is The Patriot Act.

May God save us and our children from the consequences we and our children will endure thanks to John Ashcroft, the IRON CHANCELLOR of the present US government administration.

name withheld

The lifting of the traveling to Hong Kong, but with this endorsement from the WHO that Hong Kong has contained the outbreak of SARS, we want to use this letter to ask business visitors and tourists alike to consider coming back to Hong Kong.

The Chamber wants our future visitors to Hong Kong to know that despite this victory, Hong Kong intends to keep up our infection-control alert and to maintain measures to ensure the good health of all who live and visit here. For example, at all border checkpoints and at the airport, temperature is taken of every incoming or outgoing person. Hong Kong has a transparent system with top-notch medical care, and your readers will find that citizens of Hong Kong are well informed on preventative measures to curb the spread of SARS. We will be vigilant to ensure that you will find Hong Kong even safer and cleaner.

Furthermore, the Chamber hopes that some discriminatory practices against travelers and goods from Hong Kong will be dismantled, since there is no reason --- and WHO endorses this view --- either to quarantine perfectly healthy travelers who come from Hong Kong or to be suspicious about goods shipped from Hong Kong which scientists say cannot possibly contain any virus.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's strengths as a regional business hub, and its hard-earned reputation for resilience and flexibility, make Hong Kong as important to international business today as it was before the emergence of SARS. It is an excellent location to be a springboard into China. China --- and it is beginning to contain its own SARS problem --- will continue to be the fastest growing economy in Asia which cannot be ignored by any far-sighted company. And Hong Kong provides business people a comforting and efficient location to do business with China.

Finally, with the WHO travel advisory lifted, the Chamber hopes to see many of you here in Hong Kong soon. Hong Kong business people are all geared up in reengaging with customers and potential clients. In the next few months, in addition to company travel and dealings, a series of city-wide high profile activities, ranging from trade fairs, mega sales, discount travel packages, large scale international conferences, cultural events, etc. will be organized. You can discover for yourself that Hong Kong, the World City of Asia, remains a magnificent place for you to do business and explore.

Eden Y. Woon
CEO, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

I have been trying for months to locate my brother, Richard Zaleski, without success. I have no street address or telephone number. His email address is shut down. He is a US citizen, ex-military man and a diver and sailor, who is also a member of the Balboa Yacht Club. He has been in Panama for many years, and was supposedly involved in establishing air ambulance service in Panama with other ex-military personnel and Bell Helicopter. He had been employed in a hydrographics business, and diving on a Spanish galleon wreck off the coast. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions from you regarding attempts to make contact with him. My brother, Robert Zaleski, who is an editor of the Madison Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin, was there two years ago to visit, and wrote a front page story about Panama. But none of my family have been able to contact him recently.

Michael Zaleski

Editor's note: Robert Zaleski, if you read this your brother wants you to contact him.


My name is Charlie Moore.

I have a good friend that has been in the Panama canal area for quite some time --- about 14 years or so and I have lost contact with him.

His name is Mike Johnston, a/k/a "Captain Mike." He lives aboard the "Mary Ellen" and I have not communicated with him for far too long.

If you know of him and he has email, could you please forward his contact info to me?

It would be greatly appreciated. I hope this is not an inconvenience, but I really would like to get back in touch with a good friend.

Charlie Moore
Broomfield, CO
cmoore9180@aol.com

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