Author Archives: Don Ray

About Don Ray

US retiree living in David, Chiriquí Panama. Chiriquí Warden for the US Embassy in Panama City.

Message for U.S. Citizens: Victims of Crime

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Following is the latest message from ACS.

The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens living, working or traveling in Panama, that we are aware of concerns over crime against foreigners in various areas of the country. In addition to urging the U.S. community to take all necessary precautions to avoid becoming a victim of crime, the embassy encourages U.S. residents and visitors to Panama to immediately report crimes to the police.

Below is a brief outline on how to report a crime in Panama:

  1. Police – Initial Response
    1. The police response in Panama is different than in the United States.  The police will respond to provide immediate assistance and protection to victims, will arrest suspects if they are still on the scene or nearby (assuming they have probable cause that the suspect indeed committed a crime) and, if necessary, call for DIJ investigators (see more about DIJ below).  The Police will NOT take a report or conduct follow-up investigation.  They may take some data for statistical purposes, but they are not empowered to file reports or conduct investigations.  If your call to the police is not timely (i.e. when the crime is discovered) there is little the police can do.  If you delay in reporting the crime, or if it is minor, you should go straight to DIJ.
  2. Fiscalia (Attorney General’s Office)
    1. Matters are taken up with the Fiscalía once the DIJ investigation has begun.
    2. During this step of the crime reporting process, you will need a lawyer or a public defendant to represent your case
    3. On average, it takes 2 to 4 months to investigate a case, and prosecution can take years.
  1. DIJ (Dirección de  Investigación Judicial/Department of  Judicial Investigation)
    1. DIJ is the bridge between the initial police response and the investigation for prosecution of a crime.  They are actually an arm of the Fiscalia (Attorney General’s Office).
    2. If DIJ responds to the scene of a crime, they will conduct an initial investigation, however, they cannot conduct a full investigation or a follow-up investigation unless you go to the local Denuncia Center and file an official report.  Filing a Denuncia is the ONLY way to open a case and get a case tracking number.  Once you have filed a Denuncia and obtained a Denuncia number, you can use that number to follow up on the status of your case.

 

In addition to reporting crime to Panamanian authorities, U.S. citizens are encouraged to provide information on criminal incidents to the U.S. Embassy. This information will assist the embassy in tracking crimes against U.S. citizens in Panama, and to follow up with authorities.

When reporting a crime to American Citizen Services unit of the Consular Section, please provide the following information by email to panama-acs@state.gov or by visiting our website and clicking on the crime report link which will be on the website shortly:

  • U.S. Passport Number of victim
  • DIJ Report Number and Date Filed
  • Type of Crime Committed
  • In-depth narrative of the crime you were victim of including the following information:
  1. Location of crime (province, city/area, neighborhood, etc.)
  2. Number of US Citizens affected
  3. Date and approximate time of day the crime took place
  4. Monetary amount of valuables/objects taken/destroyed (if applicable)
  5. Action taken after crime was committed (police report, etc.)

 

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For updated information on the security situation in Panama, please contact the American Citizen Services Unit of the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at (011)-507-317-5030.  The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located in Clayton, Building 783, in the Clayton section of Panama.  The Embassy web site is http://panama.usembassy.gov/ and e-mails should be addressed to Panama-ACS@state.gov.  The after-hours and emergency phone number is (011)-507-317-5000.

ORION StarMax 127mm Equatorial Telescope For Sale – $400

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Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

Something to put under the Christmas tree.

At the end of 2002 or the first of 2003, prior to moving to Panama, I purchased an Orion StarMax 127mm EQ Maksutoif-Cassegrain Telescope. I was planning a house in Boquete and thought it would provide a diversion. There was a room in the house I was building with a view all the way to the Pacific. That was my plan.

However, as life sometimes alters your plans, the house didn’t become part of my retirement and I have had the telescope stored for over 10 years now.

It is about time someone gets some use out of it. If you are not familiar with telescopes, then Maksutoif-Cassegrain may not mean anything to you. Basically this is a design that uses folded optics and allows a longer focal length in a shorter body.

Here is a YouTube video that will give you a little more information on this telescope.

The telescope came with a 90 degree diagonal attachment for the eyepiece, and I added a 45 degree diagonal. The 45 diagonal is shown in the telescope photo and the 90 diagonal is in a separate photo.

I also bought a T ring to allow me to attach my SLR camera. The T ring is shown in the photo with the 90 degree diagonal along the Manual.

The telescope comes with a nice canvas carrying case which provides space for accessories as well as the telescope. The equatorial mount is very heavy duty and once the scope is mounted on it, it is not moving even if there is a slight breeze blowing. This is not like most of the cheap beginner telescopes you are probably familiar with.

I have seen this telescope priced at $937 in Panama and Amazon is selling it for $669 without the 45 degree adaptor.

When I was assembling it, I found that one of the knurled knobs on the bolt that attached the telescope to the mount had broken. The is shown in one of the photos. Some good epoxy or superglue may fix it, but this is a cosmetic problem and not one that affects using the telescope.

I am asking $400 for this setup. Feel free to email me if you have other questions.

Wounded!

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Following is my granddaughter’s recent post on Facebook. Being a math major in college, I can’t keep from feeling a little hurt. At least her writing skills are not suffering.

I would just like to publicly announce that today I finished the last math class I will ever take!! So long logarithms and quadratic functions, thank you so much for the many migraines and worry lines you created. I’d also like to thank my elementary school math teachers, whose math lessons turned out to be the ONLY math I’ve ever used out in the real world. And to the rest of my teachers who told me I’d use linear systems of equations in everyday life. You’re all to blame for my trust issues. Last but not least a special farewell to Mr. X, who better be grateful I spent the last 9 years finding out what number he represented! X, you owe me big time. So adios useless scalar multiplication and hello good old fashion calculator whose magical powers will now guide me through any and all mediocre math problems that come my way! :) — feeling accomplished.

Well I’ll Be a Mother Feeder

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I confess. Sunday I was an honest to goodness Mother Feeder. For Mother’s Day I escorted four beautiful ladies to lunch at Mosto Bistro. Two were officially mothers and the other two were just celebrating the day.

I had made reservations the previous night, which was fortunate as I saw a few turned away because they hadn’t.

The menu offered an appetizer, main dish and dessert for $25. The two mothers also received a complimentary glass of wine.

I am including a copy of the menu and photos of the dishes that we ordered. Cuatro and Mosto Bistro are always at the top of my list for special events. This time Mosto Bistro got the nod.

Great food. Great company. Mother Feeding at its best.