PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PANAMA 001102

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB OTRA AFIN PM NU
SUBJECT: PANAMA COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR CONSULTANT KJELL ENGE

REF: SECSTATE 085481


1. Country Clearance is granted to Department of Labor
Consultant Kjell Enge, from Juarez and Associates, for
travel to Panama June 1-5, 2005.


2. Purpose of this visit is to provide technical assistance
and conduct workshops with USDOL grantees on project
performance monitoring issues concerning two USDOL-funded
Child Labor Education Initiative projects. The USDOL
grantee for the Education Initiative in Panama is Creative
Associates.


3. As per reftel, no Embassy assistance is required.


4. Embassy point of contact will be Political Officer Debra
Steigerwalt, telephones: office (507) 207-7122, residence
(507) 321-0742, cell (507) 616-5271, fax (507) 207-7418,
email:SteigerwaltDA@state.gov.


5. The American Embassy in Panama is located on Avenida
Balboa and Calles 37 and 38, and the Clayton Building is
located on Demetrio Basilio Lakas Street (formerly Building
520, Clayton). (Note: When taking a taxi to the Embassy,
please be sure to specify the exact address where you
intend to go. If your business is in the Chancery, you
should ask to be taken to the Avenida Balboa location. The
Consular Section, FCS, MGT, PD, and CIS (formerly INS) are
located on Demetrio Basilio Lakas Street, Clayton. Taxi
drivers have sometimes taken our visitors to the Clayton
Building when in fact they wanted to go to the Chancery.
The Embassy telephone number is (Country Code (507) 207-
7000 during duty hours. After duty hours, the telephone
number is (507) 207-7200. End Note.)


6. Use taxis for transportation between the Embassy and the
hotel unless other arrangements are made. Taxis in Panama
do not use meters and fares should be agreed upon in
advance.


7. U.S. currency is accepted in Panama and major credit
cards are widely accepted. However, visitors are warned
that large denominational bills ($50 and larger) are often
closely scrutinized or refused due to counterfeiting fears.


8. During the May-to-December rainy season, Panama City
experiences heavy rain most days, often with brief flooding
in the streets or walkways. During the rest of the year,
rains are less frequent. The temperature is warm.
Travelers are advised to pack accordingly.


9. All official USG travelers to Panama should enter on
passports with appropriate diplomatic or official visas.


10. American visitors or TDYers departing from Tocumen
International Airport must pay a 20 USD user fee. However,
officials accredited to the American Embassy in Panama are
exempt.


11. Security Assessment: There is no specific information
to indicate that criminals or terrorists target official or
private American travelers to Panama. Criminal statistics
indicate a steady increase in drug use and related criminal
activity to include robbery, assault, auto theft, larceny,
and sexual assault. The emergence and establishment of
youth gangs, in specific areas of Panama City and Colon,
has been noted, yet has not reached the critical levels
that it has in other countries in Latin America. Armed
violence in the high crime areas of metropolitan Panama is
not uncommon; a curfew enacted for juveniles remains in
place. Police checkpoints have become commonplace on
weekends in Panama City and Colon, checking for everything
from drunken driving to valid drivers licenses, to
searching for weapons. Based upon reported incidents, the
high crime areas around Panama City are: Chorrillo, Ancon,
Curundu, Rio Abajo, Veracruz Beach, Panama Viejo, and the
Madden Dam overlook. In addition, U.S. citizens should
exercise caution when visiting the campus of the University
of Panama. Despite improved policing and more police
officer visibility on the streets during business hours,
urban crime continues to be a problem akin to what one
would find in most mid-sized cities in the U.S. The border
region of Panama and Colombia, the Darien, is unstable -
and sometimes violent - due to narcotics trafficking and
spillover from the Colombian civil conflict. The region is
not developed and there is no ready access. All travel for
official Americans to the area is restricted, and travel
for pleasure is not allowed. Advice to American travelers:
Exercise good personal security practices and always be
aware of your surrounding environment. Minimize the amount
of cash, credit cards, jewelry, and other personal
valuables you carry with you and avoid going out alone,
particularly after dark. Choose restaurants and
establishments that have adequate security. Radio taxis
are safe and recommended. Contact the RSO to report any
security-related incident. For updated security
information, contact the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section.

MCMULLEN