letters

I am a British author researching a new book on the building of the Panama Canal, with a focus on the personal stories of those who took part. I would be delighted to hear from anybody with diaries, letters, memoirs or just stories from the construction period. Please write to me c/o Judy Dixon, Box 64618, El Dorado, Panama, or email me on mpmparker@aol.com.

Matthew Parker

I am a US resident living in South Carolina. I initially went online to find out more about the country and travel there, etc. I then wondered if you had any suggestions for me of where I could get some help there finding my daughter's grandparents. They are residents of Panama, but I'm not sure what province. All I have is their last name, Ayala, as my daughter carries it. Her father, Eric Ayala is gone and I knew so little about him. We were together for 3 months and he disappeared. I don't know what happened to him. I loved him with all my heart. He left me a beautiful daughter who is 2 years old now. I desperately want her to have a family connection.

I believe one's heritage plays a huge role in who they are and who they become. I would do anything to know more. If you can help me find the right person to help us, please let me know! You can email me at ibtrishb@yahoo.com

Desperately Seeking Family,

Trisha

After a deep analysis of the situation that's going on in Bocas del Toro, where with much regularity American investors and those of other nationalities who come to that place with the aim of acquiring a place to vacation or retire are defrauded, I have been able to discover the form in which the irregularities tend to be committed when those affected are suffering the consequences.

The analysis is as follows:

First: Over the Internet, a group of people offer to sell PROPERTIES and LOTS in various islands or insular regions in the province of Bocas del Toro, in imaginary tourist developments.

Second: As they offer marvelous discounts, to the point of discounting from the sale price the costs of moving to Bocas del Toro, many fall into this trap, and under constant pressure that they would lose their discounts, etc., etc., etc., they sign contracts in English that they must deposit the purchase money when they arrive at their residences

Third: Being in Bocas del Toro and then having seen the lands in question, they sign English-language contracts, in which the lot is described very superficially and in which phrases like "possession rights" or "rights of possession" are used, which to a lay person tend to mean title to property.

Fourth: It is the case that the terms "possession rights" and "rights of possession" don't exist at law --- what you're dealing with is an interested and poorly done translation of what is known in Panama as "derechos posesorios," which is in no way a form of property ownership in Panama, but rather juridical fact that permits a possessor to in due course acquire by purchase the land from the Office of Agrarian Reform if and when the land is used for a social function or is productive by having been planted, or else that said land can be acquired by prescription after a lapse of 15 years.

Fifth: What in Panama is known as "derechos posesorios is in the English legal vocabulary known as "adverse possession," and the title acquired that way is known as "squatter title."

Sixth: The fraud is that the public is not offered "adverse possession" but "right of possession," which is done to confuse buyers, and afterwards they claim that they were sold possessory rights.

Seventh: If they will offer "adverse possession," when what they presumable have are "derechos posesorios," nobody would pay a cent because in North America and England this way of acquiring property is absolutely free and may not be transferred to a third party at any price.*

Eighth: The scandal about this is worse than the scandal about McMurrain and his teak plantations, since there is the suspicion that it also involves functionaries and former functionaries of the Agrarian Reform Office in Bocas del Toro, as well some lawyers and law firms that represent the people involved.

Ninth: Now the US Consulate in Panama is warning of this situation and has issued notices about the particulars.

Evans A. Loo
Attorney at Law

* Editor's note: In most Common Law jurisdictions a person can acquire rights under adverse possession from a predecessor, and buy the first squatter's time of possession toward the maturation of squatter's rights. For example, someone who has been squatting on a piece of land for 14 years can sell it to a person, who would have the same rights as if he or she had been on the land for that time and hold on for the required extra time to get a valid title against all other claimants. But then, sixth months after such a sale, someone with better title could come and evict the purchaser, who would then be left with only the right to sue the seller for the sale price. This is why few people do such a foolish thing.

PLAIN & SIMPLE:

Until the so-called Spanish or darker people of Panama wake up and realize that part of the problem of poverty in certain areas is due to race discrimination, the problem will be never be solved.

First there has to be a acknowledgement from the masses that racism and corruption are making their lives a living hell.

THERE IS A NEED FOR A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

Rich

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