letters
Canal expansion, Panamanian history, etc.
Don't build a third set of locks, because...
After reading in the business section of the Panama News that the ACP may recommend a larger set of locks that can handle post Panamax-sized ships, this letter was written to cast another point of view.
An initial survey of the two major alternative proposed strategies to expand the capacity of the Panama Canal: the first alternative solution being able to handle the post Panamax-sized ships, and the second strategy being able to handle only Panamax-sized ships and smaller, would show that the first alternative solution would be too expensive because the marginal increase in cost will exceed the marginal benefit (marginal revenue) if the third set of locks is built to handle post Panamax-size ships, making this alternative unattractive when looking at the benefit versus the cost estimates.
For the ships using the Panama Canal, there were two bottlenecks: one was recently the Gaillard (Corte de Culebra) Cut and the other is the Gatun Locks.
Before widening the Gaillard Cut, the Panama Canal had an estimated maximum capacity of 40 lockages where 45 percent could be large vessels. After the widening of the Gaillard Cut, the maximum capacity was estimated at 41 lockages per day, where the mix of ships would include 67 percent large vessels.
Because Gatun is the slowest of the Canal's three sets of locks, its capacity of 41 transits per day becomes one of the bottlenecks as the "capacity utilization" of this server begins to saturate. That is, as the percentage of daily transits per day approaches the capacity of the Gatun Locks (41 transits per day), the Canal Water Time (CWT, defined as the sum of queuing and transit time for ships using the Canal) will also grow. Just like when too many persons arrive to get a haircut from a barber, the waiting line begins to grow. With the average amount of transits per day being 37 transits, the capacity utilization of the Gatun Locks would be 37/41 or 90.24 percent, causing a growth of the Canal Water Time because the greater probability of the server (Gatun Locks) being busy.
By designing a third set of locks at the Panama Canal to handle the post Panamax-sized ships, the cost of expansion would be higher: 1) all three locks (Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores) would have to be expanded simultaneously; 2) additional water reservoir(s) would have to be built to increase the Canal's watershed; 3) the Canal's shipping lanes would have to be made deeper; 4) the Gaillard Cut (Corte de Culebra) would have to be made wider for the larger post Panamax-sized ships to turn the sharp angles.
First, with the Canal handling post Panamax-sized ships all three locks would have to be expanded simultaneously: The Canal's average daily traffic capacity is presently determined primarily by the Gatun Locks, the slowest of the tree locks (traffic handling capacity in transits per day: Gatun is 41, the capacity of Pedro Miguel Locks is 60, and the Miraflores Lock is 80). If the third locks are made to only handle Panamax size ships and smaller vessels, only the Gatun Locks would have to be expanded in the near future, with a third lock of the same size width as the first two locks at the Gatun Locks; but if the third lock is made wider to handle post Panamax-sized ships, then a third lock would have to be simultaneously made wider at Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores Locks, making the Canal expansion more costly --- not only in the building of more locks but also in terms of water consumption.
Second, there is enough water in the Canal's watershed to handle the present maximum capacity of the Gatun Locks (41 transits per day) and also a high percentage of a third lock's water needs at Gatun Locks if used by the Panamax-sized ships and smaller. However, if the post Panamax-sized ships should start using the Canal, as a wider lock system would be needed a higher amount of water would be dissipated per lockage --- to the point where an additional water reservoir may have to be built ahead of the third locks, anticipating the higher demand for water.
Third, the Canal's shipping lane would have to be made deeper. Although there is now an international trend to build mega size ships (post Panamax), not all ports can handle these larger ships because the port has to be made deeper (at least 52 feet deep). Since the Canal is presently built to handle the Panamax-sized ships and smaller, the depth of the Canal would have to be made deeper if the larger post Panamax-sized ships are to use the Canal's traffic lanes.
Fourth, because the Gaillard Cut was not built on a straight line, post Panamax-sized ships using the Canal would demand the widening of the Gaillard Cut at the points where there are curves so that the longer ships can navigate around them.
So, from a marginal analysis point of view, expanding the Panama Canal to handle only Panamax-size and smaller ships would be more attractive than expanding the Canal to be able to handle post Panamax-sized ships. More resources should be allocated to studying the feasibility of building a more energy efficient third locks at the Gatun Locks, to reduce the 26 million gallons of water needed in the Gatun Lock's chambers to handle Panamax-sized ships and smaller, to use other energy sources that are not totally dependent on water, like solar energy --- making more water available for the Canal without having to build new lake(s) in the future as a water reservoir for the third and fourth locks... (ad infinitum).
El Chorrillo
I read the article comparing Chorillo to Guernica with much interest. In 1989 I was assigned to Ft. Kobbe with the 1/228th Avn. Your aurthor is right that the invasion was about far more than removing Noriega. If that was all we really wanted it could have been acomplished during the coup that October. The forces necessary to stop any reinforcements in their tracks already existed in country.
We in the military also heard the theory of the PDF starting the fires that destroyed the neighborhood. This never holds up to comon sense thinking: A major firefight in the middle of the night in a heavily congested area with everything from small arms to artillery and you don't think rounds missed the target? As to casualties: To honestly believe that only a couple hundred people died when the near century-old buildings started burning in the middle of the night with no warning time and a battle raging at their doors defies the imagination. I've always viewed what happened as an unnecessary tragedy that should and could have been avoided.
Looking for his daughter
My name is Arthur Lloyd, I was stationed in Fort Davis for three years, 1991-1993. My daughter was born in a Colon hospital-Sep 14, 1992. The mother of the child's name is Mariana R. Gooden Croosdale, my daughters name is Christina Elania Lloyd. What must I do to make contact with the mother or daughter?
The Caribbean Diaspora Empowerment Conference
The Caribbean Diaspora Empowerment Foundation (CDEF) has announced its selection of the Washington DC, the home of the US Congress, as the site of its 1st Caribbean Diaspora Empowerment Conference (CDEC), to be held April 12-14, 2004. The Conference is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates from throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean.
Upcoming Caribbean media personality Mark Jacobs, producer of Voice of Guyana, a Gold Sponsor, must be commended for his great vision of the positive outcome for such a conference. Support is growing for this event, especially from "Caribbean Friends" including Dr. Peter Njang, Executive Director of the Africa Civil Rights and Legal Center, Bishop Royce Woods, Founder of the Next Generation; The Medical Practices of Dr. Aleem Iqbal, Dr. Sudaka Punja and Dr. Kempanna Sudakar (Bronze Sponsor).
Strategic Partners include CARICOM, Howard University Caribbean Association. Further official support is expected from Regional governments, their Chambers of Commerce and US Congressional leaders.
"This will not be your typical executive rhetoric which the grassroots is calling to cease," said CDEF Founder Ms. Juliette Adams. "They are crying out for action and CDEC will hear them!" In her many "one on one" personal interviews, the message heard was the same, we are tired of conferences which leave us with no action and follow up. One of her most touching interviews was with Mr. Zamal Sankar, editor of the Caribbean Daylight newspapers in New York, July 2003. He stated very emphatically, the first step to Caribbean empowerment, is a collective synergy of Caribbean organizations. Adams, herself was very strong with her personal cry of unity and reaching to the grassroots, at the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) meeting hosted by the Caribbean Diplomatic Corp and held at Howard University, July 13, 2002. " We will deliver the long awaited Action Conference, one which respects civil society and empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things," she shared smiling.
Already CDEC has showed support for over seven grassroots initiatives including the Hanover Education Institute (Jamaica), Projet Route CABALAL (Haiti), The Next Generation (USA) and Jay Bee Medical International/CIMBUX Community Health Initiative (Guyana).
Global Community empowerment is not a new concept for Adams, a former representative leading a team of eight in a Caribbean Faith Based Initiative with the UK, amidst where she preached on the sermon "Youths Together Building Bridges." She strongly challenges the Caribbean to greet globalization with strength, it is a Diaspora responsibility to support their Caribbean brothers and sisters or be left out in the cold and Caribbean people are not good cold survivors.
The CDEC is a conference will be self perpetuating with global speakers and moderators presenting topics including: Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean, Caribbean Agriculture in the 21st Century, the Role of Caribbean Culture in the InterCaribbean Movement, Biodiversity for Sustainability, and The Emerging Critical Role of Nonprofits in Community Development.
The conference format will be one of open debate: An expert will present the topic, followed by discussion and debate on the effects to the Caribbean and the Diaspora. A continuing session will result in which at least two specific actions will be outlined. Once all of the topics have been debated and specific actions outlined, follow-up conferences will be scheduled within months to formulate and draft an action plan and implementation on each issue by the Task Force.
"We as a Caribbean Diaspora must understand," continues Ms. Adams, "The time to Act is Now!" We must embrace change together or we will allow our region then the Diaspora to be swept away. We cannot exist as a Diaspora without our region.
It is anticipated that CDEC will:
• heighten the level of awareness of the positive changes of globalization for civil society and businesses
• empower individuals from a personal and organization and regional level to embrace that change through empowerment so as a People the appropriate respect will be commanded
• attract government, private sector, civil society and institutional stakeholders to be engaged in active dialogue on Regional Development in the Caribbean amidst global economic issues; and
• provide the opportunity for the Diaspora to bargain with regional leaders to substantially include their contribution, as a part of the country's development strategy with substantial compensation.
Both CDEF and CDEC will put individuals, organizations, businesses, projects and initiatives together to address their changing pivotal role in the Age of globalization. It will demonstrate that small size can become a great power through partnerships and networks combined with capacity building.
The immediate involvement appeal is being made to the Caribbean Business leaders to support this conference and any other initiative that will reduce total economic and social destabilization of the region.
"We are requesting every media channel in the Caribbean to carry this story. We are requesting regional leaders both from the ruling and opposition parties to stand with us. This is a Caribbean Cause, not a party cause. It is our cause and by standing with us, others will continue to stand in support, " says Adams.
This is a practical way to reach out and embrace and empower our sisters and brothers home through initiatives and projects. It is one way of economically empowering our region and ourselves. For more information on early bird preregisteration. Email: info@cdef-usa.org or visit www.cdef-usa.org.
The Caribbean Diaspora Empowerment Foundation is an organization formed to economically empower Caribbean peoples living throughout the world.
Founded in 2003, the CDEF has undertaken the Caribbean Diaspora Empowerment Conference (CDEC) and other tasks as it moves to fulfill its charter to support the peoples of the Caribbean. The focus of the CDEF can be found in its mission and vision:
Vision:
An economically sustainable Caribbean Region interconnected by a unified Caribbean Identity.
Mission:
1) Poverty eradication through Diaspora Initiatives and Projects.
2) Capacity building through strong diverse networks and partnerships.
3) Building inter-generational wealth.
The Caribbean Diaspora Empowerment Foundation
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