An Interview with US Ambassador to Panama William Eaton

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - During the recent trip to the Embera Indian village of Parara Puru on the Chagres River I was able to get a little time with the US Ambassador to Panama William Eaton:

Panama-Guide: On the free trade agreement and Pedro Miguel Gonzalez; Do you think the Free Trade Agreement is going to pass?

Ambassador Eaton: I think it's still unclear. You've seen a lot of comments from influential Senators and Congressmen that have concerns about the agreement now. The election next November adds a new dynamic to the political discussion in the United States about free trade. We don't know what the new congress or the new president will think about free trade. So I think we're entering into a period of uncertainty. (more)

Panama-Guide: With regards to the Panamanian judicial system; I know you've spoken several times on the uncertainty of the judicial system in Panama. There was an article that came out yesterday saying there are some 7,000 people in the Panamanian prisons that have not yet been before a judge. Is the US in any way helping or consulting with the Panamanian government to improve that?

Ambassador Eaton: Yes, as a matter of fact we are. We have programs through the USAid to work with Panamanian magistrates, with the Ministry of Government and Justice, in terms of trying to improve judicial procedures. We're also working with the Attorney General and the Public Ministry, trying to help improve aspects of the judicial system. We're also working with them to improve conditions in the prisons. For example we've got one program that we're doing through Southcom to work with the prisons on tele-medicine, so that those prisoners that are in some of the jails in Panama get first-class medical attention through tele-medicine.

Panama-Guide: I've been looking at Bocas del Toro and some of the problems up there, especially dealing with land disputes over Rights of Possession land. Are you familiar with any of that?

Ambassador Eaton: Yes, very much so.

Panama-Guide: In a lot of those situations it's Americans vs. Americans fighting over the land in Panama. Where do you come down on that?

Ambassador Eaton: Part of the challenge is trying to regularize the land title system in Panama. That's something that President Torrijos personally has advocated. The ACP has also been working on trying to get proper land titles for the property. And that's what you need, because the disputes arise when there are gray areas in terms of possession - who owns the property. With an effective land titling system then you can avoid a lot of those disagreements over who owns what pieces of land.

Panama-Guide: Thank you very much, I appreciate you taking the time.

Ambassador Eaton: No problem, those were easy...

Copyright 2007 Text and Photo by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.