Land for Sale
At the end of last year when the Interoceanic Region Authority (ARI), the state body charged with selling real estate handed over to Panama in the former U.S.-administered Canal Zone was closed down, there were still US$4,000-million in property assets not adjudicated. These properties remained under the administration of the Ministry of Economy and Finances (MEF), with the name of Administrative Unit of Reverted Properties (UABR). Last week-end, this body published in various newspapers advertisements in which it called for participation in a public tender for the land involved.

Carter Torrijos
On the 25th anniversary recenty of the death of former Panama strongman Gen. Omar Torrijos, former US president Jimmy Carter recalled the pragmatic way in which general Omar Torrijos finally gained control of the Canal for Panama. The former American president also emphasized the "strong love" that Omar Torrijos felt for his country and his objective to achieve the administration of the waterway. Carter stated this in a letter sent to the present Panamanian president, Martin Torrijos.

To Clean The Bay
A Panamanian company obtained the contract to build one of the first plants of the project to clean up the bay of Panama, contaminated mainly by sewerage, street and industrial water. Professional Engineering Consultants (COPISA) will construct the first phase of a sanitary sewer system in various residential sectors of Panama City for a total cost of US$7.1-million.

Toxic Waste
The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) were investiganting workers of a company that has been attending to two tankers intending to remove from the port of Rodman (on the west bank of the Canal) a highly toxic cargo considered dangerous for the environment and the health of Panamanians. The tankers belonging to the company Trans Canal Services S.A., were detained by the AMP at Rodman, with waste and oily material that had been sucked from a Japanese military ship that transited through the Canal and that was intended to be dumped in a river in the suburb near Tocumen known as 24th of December.

Prepare for Free Commerce
The National Economic Council (CENA) authorized the Ministry of Economy and Finances (MEF) to sign a convention for a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (BID) for a total of US$5.500.000.00. The loan will support the process of reform that the government is implementing for macroeconomic stability, to improve the climate of investment and to prepare the country for the adaptation to free commerce, according to a note from the MEF.

The Digital Gap
In Panama only 3.2% of the population has Internet access, according to the studies of Cable & Wireless which announced the creation of a fund of US$1-million to reduce the so-calle "digital gap" in the country.

At the same time Cable & Wireless handed $93.9 million dollars to the Panamanian treasury comprising $87.2 million in dividends for the 49% of shares the government holds in Cable & Wireless in the company, and $6.5 million in taxes.

Representatives of the workers received $3.3 million dollars in dividend payments as owners of 2% of the company, which also announced the start of $70 million dollar investment program.

Bank Fusions
Since 1995 to 2005 the International Banking Center of Panama has registered 13 banking fusions. Three Panamanian banking groups absorbed others in nine of the fusions, while the other four were absorbed by foreign banking groups.

Ag Loans Up
In the first six months of the 2006, the Bank of Agricultural Development (BDA) has made 1,123 loans to Panamanians primary producers and has disbursed US$13,660,327. This figure represents almost double that of the same period in

2005. The increase is due mainly to more flexible credit policies. The bank dropped the interest rate from 7.5% to 6 and 5%.

Gambling Addiction
A draft law seeks to regulate the entry of people to the casinos according to their income. In Panama 14 complete casinos are operating, two more than in 1997.

The casino Administrators’ Association in investigating the problem of compulsive gambling. The Association has contracted a group of professionals willing to identify those addicted to gambling. An executive of the Associaiton indicated that the system would operate with the same parameters and confidentiality as the associations of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Mega Port
Five port operating companies participated in the delivery of documents for the pre-qualifying bid on the mega port project planned between Farfan and Palo Seco at the Pacific entrance to the Canal which is an adjunct to the proposed widening plan. The companies are from Denmark, China, the United States, Singapore and Hong Kong and delivered their proposals to the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP). An evaluating commission comprising six people - three from the private sector and three from the government, will choose the best proposal.

Meanwhile, The Supreme Court admitted an appeal against the resolution of July 4, 2006, which rejected a resource of illegality presented by Panama Ports Company for the act of pre-qualification for the design, construction and administration of the Mega Port. Panama Ports Company had presented the resource of illegality to a court, to suspend the resolution of the Panama Maritime Authority, which excluded this port company from bidding.

With the arrival of three more Panamax container cranes at the Balboa terminal of Panama Ports Company (PPC), this port is advancing rapidly towards its goal of becoming a mega port.

Mr. Eaton on Corruption
The US ambassador, William Eaton, declared yesterday that the does not intend to interfere in the internal matters of Panama. According to Eaton, his recent comments in which he indicated concern about corruption in the Panamanian judicial system "should be interpreted as the concerns of a good friend".

Mr. Eaton, was later invited by the president of the Supreme Court, Graciela Dixon, to converse on the convention of mutual cooperation with American agencies. Judge Dixon, said she considers prudent to invite figures such as ambassador Eaton to talks, given his recently expressed concern on the matters of the administration of justice of the country.

Captured by Indians
Indians of Cerro Pelado in the Ngobe Buglé region, "captured" four employees of a company that carried out exploratoy mining work in their territory. After negotiations with the authorities in the province of Veraguas the employees were released and said they "were not mistreated".

Loma Bonita, a small rural community in the Province of Cocle in the Republic of Panama, is the site of a solar energy project to provide electricity in the school, a battery charging station, and solar lanterns for electric lighting in every home. The project will culminate during the installation on August 10th-12th, 2006.

The project, “Luz Buena para Loma Bonita”, is a pilot project associated with a study on the national outlook and feasibility of solar energy in Panama conducted by Allison Silverman, Fulbright scholar from the United States.

The community, consisting of approximately 300 residents, has long been waiting for electricity, but their hopes have been stymied by the slow extension of the power grid and the prohibitive costs of running lines through the hundreds of kilometers of rural Panama left without access. Due to the lack of electricity, community members rely on what in other parts of the world are obsolete energy sources such as candles, flashlights, and kerosene lamps in order to see at night.

The project will provide lights for the classrooms in the school, enough electricity to power a TV and DVD for multimedia education, and adequate power to support a laptop computer. In addition, there will be a solar powered battery charging station and solar lanterns for each household. Both the rental of the solar lanterns to households by the community and the use of the battery charging station will generate a sustainable community fund to support Loma Bonita in its development.

The importance of this pilot project is not limited to Loma Bonita. Harnessing the sun's energy to generate electricity could be an important tool for rural areas throughout Panama. While the costs of conventional electricity continue to grow and remain unpredictable, solar energy provides a competitive, reliable source of electricity well-suited for rural electrification. While the upfront costs can be prohibitive and other challenges remain, Silverman believes that incentives and smart policy can level the playing field and allow solar energy to become a vehicle for rural electrification in Panama.

"The thrust of this project is sustainability – both environmen-tally and socially. In working with the community and preparing for implementation, we have continually sought out ways to make long-lasting change, leverage existing resources, and provide new opportunities for community members," said Allison.

She continued, "Virtually all residents have spoken to me directly about the need for electricity. As we worked together to bring solar energy to Loma Bonita, however, we realized that, on its own, electricity does not really change much. While it is important that we do not discount the impact that electricity can have in a community where the lights go out when the sun goes down, in thinking about the goals of rural development – enhanced education, income generation, improved health care, etc. – it is important to think of electricity as a means to an end rather than an end in and of itself."

The funds from the solar battery charging station and the monthly rental fees for the solar lanterns will be collected and managed by the community itself, empowering residents with the tools to make them actors in the struggle to improve quality of life in Loma Bonita. A recently formed Community Committee of Electricity and Sustainable Development will be responsible for the funds and for planning events and activities around this new resource.

Community members have begun to organize night classes for adults and community activities and celebrations. They have also brainstormed ideas of how best to use the future funds. Ideas range from providing grants for students who desire but cannot afford to attend secondary school, purchasing a computer, and buying more solar panels.

While the community of Loma Bonita will soon enjoy some modern energy services for the first time, there are many other communities in Panama that are still without electricity. According to the 2000 Population Census, 19% of households in Panama do not have electricity.

"Ideally, my study and this pilot project will help motivate the government and NGOs to focus on solar rural electrification or other forms of renewable energy if more appropriate. It is my hope that, like throwing a pebble into a pond and starting a tidal wave, the project in Loma Bonita sparks a rush of activity in this field," she explained Silverman is optimistic. The project has involved the Fulbright Association of Panama, an NGO that has helped with fundraising locally and internationally, and Fundación Natura, a conservation-minded grant-making organization. Many government agencies such as the Office of Rural Electrification, ANAM, and the Political Energy Commission (COPE), among others have been supportive.

She is working to ensure that the alliances that have formed throughout the process of the project are long lasting by organizing a solar energy association. The association will continue the work of bringing solar energy to rural communities in Panama and promoting partnerships and policies that remove some of the barriers to using this renewable technology.

Months of work and collaboration will culminate in a celebration at the school in Loma Bonita on August 12, 2006 at 4 PM and run into the night (in order to show off the new resource). Loma Bonita, a community of 94 families, is located in the Corregimiento of Las Lomas, southwest in the district of La Pintada (situated in the Cocle Province).

For more information, call Ally Silverman, 6486-3794.

Canela.

A new feature this issue is: "Pets’ Corner", promoting animal welfare in Panama.

Our first pet is puppy Canela ("Cinnamon" in spanish), a seven-month-old bitch who loves children and is looking for a permanent home. She currently weighs seven pounds.

Canela's picture was sent to us by Adoptamascota.org, a non-profit animal protection organization based in Clayton. Call Patricia Palacio, 993-2928, cell: 669-60502.