Way To Go Boquete
Jun 25th, 2008 by Don Ray
It had been implied HERE and HERE that tourists have recently undergone a form of harassment by uniformed officers checking passports and visas of clients in some restaurants in Boquete. They even were escorting those, that did not have cedulas/pensionado cards or passports on them, to their hotels to verify that they were here legally.
A follow up account, HERE, presents the other side of the story. Now that the second account has come out, it appears that a little inconvenience can be a good thing.
I know every time I drive to the Frontera, I have to show my identification. When I first moved to Panama, and didn’t speak any Spanish, it was a little bit intimidating. Now that I know how many cars are stolen and taken to Costa Rica and how many drugs traffic across the border, I think that the stops are called for.
With the recent crime wave, that went on in Boquete, I am pleased to see that there is a visible response being taken. Way to go Boquete.
Glad to see that Lee did some fact checking re: the immigration officers’ visa checking in Boquete.
Seems the other gentleman from “Panama Investor” is not so diligent. AND he’s trying to sell property in Panama. Kinda self-defeating.
Don and my “scariest” experience in Central America was in Costa Rica. We were returning via bus from the Caribbean (Cahuita) to San Jose, about 4 yrs ago.
Police armed with automatic weapons stopped the bus between Cahuita and Limon, made all of us Gringos disembark. Pulled us over to the side of the road, by the jungle. Then signaled each of us to show our passports. This took some time. Just standing there thinking too many “scary thoughts”. And our Spanish at the time was below marginal.
Finally, they returned our passports and we were allowed back on the bus to be on our way.
Probably looking for Gringos illegally tromping around Costa Rica. Drug runners of Gringo descent? But. Wow. Pretty intimidating.
Glad that the intent in Panama/Boquete is to curtail crime, and not just a “gestapo” (as Mr. “Panama Investor” implied) harassment of Gringos.
Reality check. Here in Portland, OR, we are often wary about calling in the police if there is a situation, because over the past several years, they’ve been a bit gun-happy, and more than a few people have lost their lives via “cop”, who were actually no threat, or not even a problem.
Oh Well. Alls well that ends well.
Bye-the-way, we are both big fans of Ruben Blades, and think he’s doing an excellent job as Tourism Embassador. Think he’s just trying to get the Govt to define/distinquish between those seeking residency and actual “tourists”. Could be wrong. Have been before. May be that we need more fact-checking info. on that one.
Take care. Charloe Newman
Hi Charloe,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I think it is good to see evidence that Panama cares about curtailing crime in this area. If they didn’t do it soon then it would get worse faster.
It does appear to be intimidating but as my further digging has uncovered the Police have said they are responding to the requests of the community for law enforcement. It is easy to complain but the police are using the tools they have to respond to political pressure as Panama is coming into an election year.
Hi Lee. I was glad to see your second post. Your first post had said the police had been very professional and the second just amplified that they have been listening to the requests for help.
Although Costa Rica has a tourist friendly reputation, it was my experience that officials in Panama were much more professional and courteous.
Hi Tom. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I have never been treated badly by any Panama representative.
I think there is too much “leaping before you look” with the expat community here…this current hullaballoo being a prime example. Seems that every time a law or regulation changes, paranoia rears its ugly head and a flurry of reactive excitement escalates. Then, just as in the current case, someone becomes educated and draws a logical conclusion and the furor wanes. Need to stop, take a step back, breathe deeply, talk to local folks and remember this is the Republic of Panama. You’ll save yourself a lot of wasted anxiety and energy, and then life for you will be what you wanted it to be when you moved here.
Hi Wendy. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Another thought on this subject.
Imagine what it’s like to be Latin and Legal in the U.S., and to be approached by “gringo” police. Or for that matter, to be anywhere in the “more colorful end of the crayola box” to paraphrase Sherman Alexi, a prolific writer of short stories and novels, a screen writer, and a Coer d’Alene Native American from Spokane, Washington. (He’s a really good, fun, writer, by-the-way.)
Anyway, just a thought about keeping perspective re: The Law and the citizen. I think “gringos” in Panama could gain a bit of insight by contemplating this. Not used to it being them “approached”. And the motivation of authorities in Pnama sound to be much less menacing, plus the consequences rather an inconvenience, than a potentially life threatening circumstance.
Best, Charloe Newman
Hi Charloe. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
WOW! Looks like all the responders here pretty much have missed the point:
Aside from a few seedy characters here & there in CA, most of the trouble is NOT associated with ‘gringos sans papers’!!
Most of the trouble has to do with DRUGS period. Here in CR it’s just infuriating to see that the judicial system is beyond a joke and practically licenses these thugs to return to their trade soon after being deported to their home country (ie: Columbia) mostly. Checking passports on gringo tour buses is a joke. Shaking down diners in Bouquete is a joke. I’ll bet the perps in all the Bouquete shenanigans ain’t no gringos! We gringos need to band together and help each other in any way we can. Even if the cops showed up to your place 1/2 to 8 hours after an occurance, how much is that going to help your constitution?
On the other hand, what are you going to do? Wise off to the local fuzz? I have and have had no problem letting them know they’re looking for the wrong guy. You’ve got to stand up for yourself no matter where you are. People of all walks respect that!
Furthermore, the only place I’ve ever been shaken down by cops in in Panama. Also the goofs at the Frontera (Aduana specifically) seem to have a penchant for pilfering pesos under the guise of ‘not bothering to check your trunk’ for stuff you may have and saving me time in the abbreviated process.
Other than that,
PURA VIDA
KK
Actually, I think the responders were right on target. Everyone to their own opinion.