US embassy cable - 05PANAMA1102

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