Bonnie

It is reported on Facebook (Boquete Community News) that a young woman was robbed by a knife-wielding man at San Francisco Plaza.  The post is by a woman named AdelinaKathy Mancebo (no space between Adelina and Kathy), who says that the victim is her son's girlfriend. Allegedly, police told her they could do nothing unless she had the man's name and, if and when apprehended, he had her phone and other things (unspecified) in his possession at the time of the apprehension. Any number of people are outraged by this, as evidenced by the responses on Facebook.

Can this be true? If so, it leads me to ask exactly what the limitations are under which the police work here. While there is widespread dissatisfaction with law enforcement in Boquete (and perhaps all of Panama), there seem to be opposing factions that suggest different explanations for police ineffectiveness. One faction, most vocally represented by ACC Boquete, advocates support for the local police to enable them to do their jobs better. Another faction maintains that the police basically are lazy, have no interest in investigating and enforcing the law.  A third view is that the laws of Panama are so weak that the hands of the police are tied. I don't recall any of these viewpoints presenting much in the way of facts to support their positions.

 

I would like to hear the views of someone with more knowledge than I possess about criminal law and law enforcement in Panama. What is the true situation?

USTVNow no longer is available via Roku. How had you been getting it?

I haven't had USTVNow in months.

23 minutes ago, Keith Woolford said:

My point is simply that there’s some ‘attitude’ on both sides of the fence.

I certainly don't disagree with that. Sorry if I misunderstood.

1 hour ago, Keith Woolford said:

It's also pretty obvious from reading comments here, and on other social media, that there's certainly a lot of disdain by some extranjeros of the local population, the services they provide, and the decisions they make.

I have written earlier that, on the whole, I find Panamanians to be polite and helpful. I rarely have been treated badly on a personal level and most times have been treated extraordinarily well by individual Panamanians. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have “disdain” for many of the country's “decisions,” if I understand what you mean by this. Poor infrastructure planning, atrocious customer service, inadequate inventory control, a laughable criminal justice system, and the like may be cultural, but they should not be found acceptable—here, in Canada, in the United States, or anywhere else in the world. A mark of development for nations is advances in these areas. There are countries with a history similar to Panama’s that  have made great strides when Panama has not.

If the post didn't make it clear, emergency contact is available at all times, 24/7. Call 317-5000 and hold for instructions.

U.S. Embassy - Panama

Consular Section

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

The American Citizens Services Unit commits to a one business day e-mail response-time

 

In order to improve our customer service to our U.S. Citizens in Panama, starting October 9, the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit is happy to announce it will respond to all email inquiries in one business day.  If you have a routine question related to an ACS service, please email panama-acs@state.gov.  All routine questions will be routed through the one business day response time e-mail address.  If you have a life or death emergency, please call 317-5000 and follow the instructions for emergency calls.

The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) will continue receiving external calls from 10:30-11:30am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  The Embassy phone number is (507) 317-5000.  For automated information, please call (507) 317-5030. For Federal Benefits questions, we continue to encourage writing to FBU (panama-fbu@state.gov) by e-mail. 

Additionally, we would like to remind our customers that ACS and FBU operate on an appointment-only system for all services except emergency ACS cases and adult passport renewals.  

 

American Citizen Services

 

To schedule an appointment, please see the Embassy’s ACS page, which can be found here. 

 

Federal Benefits

 

To schedule an appointment, please send an email to Panama-FBU@state.gov.   

 

 EMBAJADA DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS – PANAMÁ

Sección Consular

 

INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE

 

La Unidad de Servicios para Ciudadanos Estadounidenses se compromete a un tiempo de respuesta de correo electrónico de un día hábil

 

En miras de mejorar nuestro servicio al cliente a nuestros Ciudadanos Estadounidenses en Panamá, a partir del 9 de octubre, la Unidad de Servicios para Ciudadanos Americanos (ACS) se complace en anunciar que responderá a todas las consultas por correo electrónico en un día hábil.   Si tiene una pregunta de rutina relacionada con un servicio de ACS, por favor envíe un correo electrónico a panama-acs@state.gov.   Todas las preguntas de rutina enviadas a través de correo electrónico se manejarán por medio de nuestro tiempo de respuesta de un día hábil.     Si tiene una emergencia de vida o muerte, por favor sírvase llamar al 317-5000 y siga las instrucciones para llamadas de emergencia.

 

La Unidad de Beneficios Federales (FBU) continuará recibiendo llamadas externas de 10:30 - 11: 30 am los lunes, martes, jueves y viernes.   El número de teléfono de la Embajada es (507) 317-5000.   Para obtener información automatizada, llame al (507) 317-5030.   Para preguntas sobre Beneficios Federales, seguimos recomendando que se escriba a FBU (panama-fbu@state.gov) por correo electrónico.

 

Adicional, nos gustaría recordar a nuestros clientes que ACS y FBU operan únicamente por citas para todos los servicios, excepto los casos de emergencia de ACS y las renovaciones de pasaportes de adultos.

 

Servicios a Ciudadanos Americanos

 

Para programar una cita, consulte la página de la Embajada bajo ACS, la cual puede encontrar aqui.

 

Beneficios Federales

 

Para programar una cita, envíe un correo electrónico a Panama-FBU@state.gov.

 

 

Assistance:

 

U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama

507-317-5000

Panama-ACS@state.gov

https://pa.usembassy.gov/ 

 

State Department - Consular Affairs

888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

Panama Country Information

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9 hours ago, Sassy Blake said:

They said they were aware of the quality of life issues with traditional treatments, and chose not to go that direction.

I wholly agree with the quality of life consideration when diagnosed with advanced cancer. If one already has received a death sentence, I would think that spending time left in the most comfort possible is a wise decision. This is distinctly different from a diagnosis of early stage cancer, however, which has been shown to be largely curable by conventional medicine. It is heartbreaking to witness cases like the aforementioned Steve Jobs who stood an excellent chance of recovery had he not opted for homeopathic treatment of his cancer. And anecdotal evidence isn't really evidence; it is chance and coincidence. I fail to understand how thinking adults cannot understand the validity of clinical trials but "educate" themselves with spurious, unproven studies and claims. As for the links between physicians and drug companies, there is no denying that it exists to some degree; that has been proven. But I will never believe that thousands and thousands of doctors, trained to do no harm, willingly relinquish this mandate, condemn thousands and thousands to death, for financial gain.

But, as you say, this is a personal choice. I recommend that anyone facing a decision about cancer treatment read the award-winning treatise The Emperor of All Madadies: A Biography of Cancer. by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee. for a history and understanding of the disease.

I certainly felt it here—plus a small aftershock a few minutes later.

17 hours ago, Lynda Rogers said:

Please don't blame Quick Fix for this young women's bad habit.

I believe this is the first time I've ever seen or heard theft being described as a "bad habit."

 I encourage anyone tempted to watch this to first read the following:

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-truth-about-cancer-series-is-untruthful-about-cancer/

It's unconscionable for anyone to promote so anti-scientific a program as "The Truth About Cancer." Adhering to its advice easily could be a death sentence. Remember Steve Jobs, folks.

10 hours ago, Brundageba said:

Puzzling the Spanish.   I'm anxious to hear what their answer is.   Only 40 seats.  Seems like if they are making all the effort,  the venue would be held where more than 40 would have the opportunity to attend.   

The library can accommodate 80 people. So I believe the 40 seats available takes into account people who already responded when the first announcement first was made last week. For the record, I encouraged them to explore a larger venue like BCP and the Animales building.

The above flyer is the promised "more complete information." I have asked why it is in Spanish if it is directed at expats, as noted.

There is a separate flyer, also in Spanish, for hotels. I am researching the best way to disseminate that information.

The Public Affairs division on the U.S. Embassy, Panama, has asked that I disseminate notice that they will be sponsoring a presentation on safety in Boquete on October 12, 2018, at the Boquete Library. New York City police officers will be addressing the assembly on issues of senior safety and burglary prevention.

More complete information is forthcoming, but the Embassy would like to gauge the level of interest so as to better prepare for the meeting. Those interested in attending are asked to confirm their interest by email to Julia Fong: FongJA2@america.gov.

Excellent to hear this. Progress at last at ATTT.

I received an email earlier this week saying they hoped to have additional information to me by Friday. It didn't come, so I expect it will be early next week. I understand they have reserved the library, so I'm assuming it's on.

That’s one reason I don’t have a checking account. The banks here are thieves and robbers. I wish I felt I could do away entirely with a bank account because the banks  here are a constant source of aggravation.

I have to assume the Newslady means a green collar, not a green color. It gave me quite a start. ?

Banistmo will have a lot of competition in that contest.

3 minutes ago, Marcelyn said:

Any idea when Panama will have a US Ambassador?

No.

I would like to register my opinion and experiences, but, as Citizen Volunteer Liaison (formerly Warden), I feel compelled to keep my own counsel. I will state the obvious, however: the Embassy would go a long way in restoring the faith of U.S. citizens if it would respond to telephone inquiries more than four hours a week and work harder to see that the federal benefits function is returned to Panama from Costa Rica.

Confirmation at last. Thanks, Keith.

As I read it--and I could be wrong--two people gain entry by bringing a potluck dish for 6. If they bring additional folks, it will be $10 per person.

"Glamping" is a combination of "glamor" and "camping." (I had to look it up.)

Since the heavy rains last night, the intersection at Bruna grocery and the derelict building is a real nightmare: deep, deep potholes. You want to avoid it if at all possible. I thought I was going to have to go into four-wheel drive to get through this morning.

I'd like to read this, but it requires that you subscribe to the Financial Times.

I daresay that Panama won't take kindly to the U.S. interfering into its diplomatic relations with other countries--if that, indeed, is what this is about.