By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

For years some perpetual tourists here have faked their exits and re-entries into the country with the use of compliant immigration agents.

These are the residents, mostly North Americans, who are required to leave the country to renew their tourist visa every 90 days. In fact, the perpetual tourist is a resident but someone who chooses not to file for residency.

Some complain that the residency application is too costly, citing lawyer’s fees of up to $2,000. Others just do not have the money to post to be a rentista and do not have a valid pension to qualify for pensionado status. Others are in flight from some crime up north and cannot provide a clean police record.

For years there have been intermediaries who would carry the expat’s passport to a border crossing where for a fee an immigration agent would fake the exit and re-entry. On the Caribbean coast there was a notorious taxi driver who did this at Sixaola. In the Central Valley there was a criminal ring that simply faked the immigration stamps in the passport. Elsewhere there always were extra official stamps that could be used to fake the exit.

When Mario Zamora Cordero became director general de Migración y Extranjería he was well aware of the ongoing illegalities. He ordered that new stamps be created, each with the name of the immigration official who would use it.

Zamora is now head of the Ministerio de Gobernación, Policía y Seguridad Pública, the ministry that includes immigration. He is conducting an anti-corruption effort that includes immigration as well as the Fuerza Pública and the Policía de Control de Drogas. There have been arrests of members of all those agencies.

The latest was Friday at Sixaola on the southeastern border

Ministerio de Gobernación, Policía y Seguridad Pública photo
Investigator takes the names and other personal data from U.S. passports that were confiscated when an immigration agent came under arrest in Sixaola.

with Panamá when investigators detained an immigration agent and confiscated U.S. passports.

The man has his first court appearance Monday in the Juzgado Penal de Hacienda del Segundo Circuito Judicial de San José. He faces a fraud charge. Presumably the owners of the passports that were confiscated will be receiving visits from investigators because they are suspects in a bribery probe.

The man is the third immigration agent to be arrested in recent months by the Unidad de Investigaciones of the Policía Profesional de Migración, the ministry noted.

For the expats involved, there could be serious repercussions. Some may own businesses or real estate here, but they are facing possible expulsion that would prevent them from returning to Costa Rica for a number of years, if then. They also may face a criminal charge.

www.amcostarica.com

Agreement of San Lorenzo signed!

An agreement was reached last night, 8 February 2012, just after 6:00 pm, between the Panamanian government and the Ngäbe Bugle people that ended protests in Panama. The leadership of the Ngäbe Bugle people warned that protests will resume if the agreement is not honored but expressed optimism.

Our people on the ground tell us that the road blocks around Changinola and Almirante have been cleared and the roads are in good condition. Caribe Shuttle began operating its normal schedule today. The special temporary boat service between Bocas del Toro and Puerto Viejo is suspended.

Panama-Guide posted the following report from Prensa about the agreement:

Dialogue ends 7 days of anxiety

At 6:15 pm yesterday afternoon, with the signature of the general chieftain, Silvia Carrera, the agreement of San Lorenzo ended the anxiety of the Ngäbe Bugle people on the item they required to be included in the special law on mining. Prior to the signing, and behind closed doors, applause could be heard coming from the classroom of the Manuel Tapiero Miranda Technical Vocational Institute, located in San Lorenzo. With a “Hallelujah!” the bishop of the diocese of David, Jose Luis Lacunza, opened a press conference in which he revealed to the country the ten points contained in the agreement.
After seven days of protests, road closures, and even violent days that left two dead, it was agreed that the National Assembly will give urgent attention – starting today – to the notoriously thorny Bill 415 to discuss Article 5, which prohibits mining and hydroelectric projects in the traditional territories (comarca) of the Ngäbe Bugle people. It was also agreed that the Ngäbe Bugle people would cease their protests, that the riot control police would withdrawal from the area, that cellular telephone communications would be restored, that the protesters who had been arrested would be released, and the family members of Jerome Rodriguez Tugrí, who was killed in the protests, would receive compensation. It was also agreed that the complaints filed in the Public Ministry related to recent events would be withdrawn, and that human rights organizations would be asked to conduct a thorough investigation of what happened.
The Catholic Church will continue in their role as a mediator and guarantor in the process of dialogue, with members of the Evangelical Church participating as observers, and as rapporteur the United Nations and the rector of the University of Panama.
Warning – After reading the agreement, the chieftain Carrera thanked Lacunza and said she believed this time the agreement will be fulfilled, and they would not see a repeat of what happened last year. “Our people had to be suppressed in order to enter into this dialogue … I hope (the government) will fulfill what is agreed here in this document; I’m going to sign it, but I hope we will not have to be closing roads in the following days, because people have told me that we do not want hydroelectric projects and we do not want mines.”
For his part, the Minister of the Presidency, who led the official delegation of the dialog, said: “We mourn the death of a Panamanian as was Jeronimo Rodriguez Tugrí. The national government will take all measures to compensate the family … something that is very difficult to do when a parent dies, as was Mr. Rodriguez (…) we are willing to speak to the Coordinator, with the chieftain and the monsignor. ”
“My gratitude to everyone who composed the table,” said Lacunza.
The Indigenous leaders posted on the side of the Pan-American highway reacted with cheers when listening to their leaders, while the business sector expressed the importance that the entire society learn the lesson of resolving conflicts through dialogue. (Prensa)

We have a temporary solution to the road blocks between Bocas and Costa Rica. We found a qualified captain that will take travellers between Bocas and Manzanillo. Caribe Shuttle will provide transport between between Manzanillo and Puerto Viejo.

IMPORTANT: When travellers arrive to CR by sea or depart from CR by sea, they must get a maritime entry or exit stamp in their passports from the immigration office in Limon. We will offer a van that will take clients to the immigration office in Limon before the departing boat trip and after the arriving boat trip.

Schedule – Bocas to CR:
Meet at Caribe Shuttle office at 8:30 am to go with our representative to the immigration office in Bocas. Directions to Bocas office at http://caribeshuttle.com/contact-us/. The boat will depart from our office after immigration. The boat ride takes approximately 2 hours, more or less depending on ocean and weather conditions. The van to Puerto Viejo and to the immigration office in Limon will depart after the boat arrives.

Schedule – CR to Bocas:
Than van to Limon immigration office will depart from Manzanillo around 7:00 am, Puerto Viejo around 7:30 am, and Cahuita around 8:00 am. After immigration the same van will turn around and pass through Cahuita around 10:30am (be ready and waiting by 10:00am) and Puerto Viejo around 11:00am (be ready and waiting by 10:30am) on the way to the boat in Manzanillo, but that depends on how long it takes at immigration in Limon. The boat will depart from Manzanillo after the Van arrives from Limon. The boat ride takes approximately 2 hours, more or less depending on ocean and weather conditions. After the boat arrives at our office in Bocas, our representative will go with you to the immigration office in Bocas.

Price for Boat:
$60 per person

Price for Transportation to Immigration in Limon:
$10 per person (with minimum 5 passengers)
We can arrange transport for less than 5 at these rates:
4 passengers – $10 each
3 passengers – $17 each
2 passengers – $25 each
1 passenger – $50 each

IMPORTANT NOTES:
- ALL Passengers must have the proper maritime exit stamp before boarding.
- YOU MAY GET SOAKING WET! If the wind is blowing, you might get soaked with sea water. If it is raining you will get soaked. If there are choppy waves you might get soaked. We suggest bringing a heavy poncho and plastic for your laps. The boat has a roof for shade, but no side or front windshield to protect you from the water.
- YOUR LUGGAGE MIGHT GET WET! We will provide plastic trash bags for your luggage. Please treat them gently so we can reuse them many times and not waste plastic.
- YOU MIGHT GET SEA SICK! This trip goes out into the open ocean, which can have large swells. We recommend that you take Dramamine as directed BEFORE the boat trip starts. If you are prone to motion sickness, please sit in the back of the boat, sit at the railing, and bring a barf bag. We all thank you and hope you feel better soon
- Trip may cancel if we get less then 7 passengers (that could be 3 in one direction and 4 in another, or 0 and 7, whatever). That is unlikely to happen in the next few days.

To reserve please fill out or normal shuttle form here:

https://creator.zoho.com/johnwheatley/bocas-shuttle/form-perma/Reservations/UyXhwsKtOeauxPGPOaEVYf71ZHYJ9ntWqJbK4hfExupaPaUUjxBVHfn4sBevPOKxTqPJhgJd9JfwKMAObDU428eTOrYYf4utMtaa/

TAHNKS!

Panama Guide Posted this at about 2:45 today:

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com – There are reports that protesting Indians have returned to close the Inter American highway at the bridge over the Cobre river in the province of Veraguas. Also, the riot control officers of the National Police have reportedly taken control of the town of San Felix, and are now moving past the town towards the comarca. In David a photographer from La Prensa was briefly detained, after he took photos outside of the police station. They reviewed his photos and let him go after ten minutes.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

The border between Sixaola, Costa Rica and Guabito, Panama closed early today and it is not clear if it will open tomorrow. Also our people on the ground in Changinola say the situation is getting worse with more road blocks between Changinola and the border. It does not look like chances are good that we can get clients to their destinations. Unfortunately we are canceling the Bocas Shuttle for tomorrow and until further notice.

If you are an agency that have clients with reservations traveling from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo or Cahuita or  vice versa, tomorrow or in the future, please help us by contacting your clients to inform them of the situation.

We are working to find a way to transport those needing to get back to Costa Rica by boat, but as yet it is unclear if we will be able to do this, when, nor the cost. Inform travellers that they can meet a Caribe Shuttle representative at the dock at Bocas Marine tours at 8am tomorrow morning to get more information if we have any. After that a representative can be found at our office. See Contact Info for directions to the office, etc.

For faster updates go to our Facebook page and “Like” it – http://www.facebook.com/CaribeShuttle.

I just heard that the Panama – Costa Rica border at Guabito and Sixaola closed early today and may not open tomorrow. And we have reports of new road blocks between the border and Changinola. Unfortunately we are forced to cancel the Bocas Shuttle until further notice.

Early this morning riot police clashed with protesters at several blockades along the Pan-american Highway in Northwestern Panama. Reports of violence between protesters and police have been reported; however stories differ from police and protester sources. Don Winner’s Panama Guide claims that a Chiriqui hospital confirmed that a man in the area died from a gun wound without giving further details about how he got shot.

Apparently the police succeeded in opening the Pan-american Highway, and traffic is flowing. However, there are reports of rocks being thrown at passing vehicles. It sounds like the town of San Felix is in a state of mayhem with reports that protesters are trying to burn down the police station in retaliation for clashes at the road blocks, while other reports say that San Felix police chopped trees into the roadway to stop riot police from entering town, and other reports say that the Panamanian Representative for San Felix is asking riot police to stop firing tear gas into San Felix. It is also reported that more demonstrations and road blocks are being planned for tomorrow in the area.

I do not recommend travelling through the area unless absolutely necessary, and if you must, be prepared to get stuck at anytime. It seems to me that although the road is open now, the situation is very tense and could change quickly.

Meanwhile in the Province of Bocas del Toro, police have not tried to clear road blocks, saying that for now their priority is the Pan-american Highway. In fact, I am told that new road blocks went up this morning between Changinola and the border, and more are planned for later today.

Caribe Shuttle was able to get passengers to their destinations this morning. If more road blocks are erected Caribe Shuttle may need to cancel service until further notice. We will do our best to provide alternatives where possible. We will keep you informed here and on our Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/CaribeShuttle. At this point we recommend flying if possible to better ensure successful passage.

Panama Guide seems to be a good source of information about the situation along the Pan-american Highway – http://www.panama-guide.com/

We need your help to keep us informed about what is going on around the Province of Bocas del Toro so that we can keep our clients and other travellers in the area informed. You can coment here, or contact us. Thanks.

For information on Caribe Shuttle routes, schedules, rate, or for a link to reservations, please visit  http://caribeshuttle.com/rates-schedules/

According to TVN News in Panama, the  director of SINAPROC (Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil) announced that a bus operated by Ticabus traveling between Costa Rica and Panama with at least 40 tourists was detained today by indigenous Panamanian protsters today in Vigui, province of Veraguas. This is on the Pacific Northwest of Panama along the Pan-american Highway. The Director said it is a “dangerous and delicate” situation.

According to the Director, the protesters warned that the tourists had been detained as a warranty. He further said that protesters would not let authorities provide food and water to the tourists.

However, from comments I have received, it seems many Panamanians and others are skeptical, indicating that the bus or the passengers on it could have left of their own free will.

A Costa Rican reporter from Teletica told TVN that Costa Rican President, Laura Chinchila, had been in direct contact with Panamanian authorities to coordinate the release of the toursts trapped in the protest.

Caribe Shuttle will not attempt to cross protest road blocks. We will go around them when possible or cancel the trip.

The full report can be read in Spanish at http://www.tvn-2.com/noticias/noticias_detalle.asp?id=68250.

Strikes in Panama have blocked roads at several points blocking the route between Almirante and the border with Costa Rica. The route from Almirante to David, Boquete and the Pan-american Highway is also blocked. These strikes have effectively cut Bocas del Toro off from the rest of the world, except by sea and plain. As far as we know, for the moment Caribe Shuttle is the only way to get from Bocas del Toro to Costa Rica or vice versa at a reasonable cost. To bypass the strikes, Caribe Shuttle is using private boats to shuttle clients through the canals to a finca outside of Changinola. This ads a lot more cost to operations, so Caribe Shuttle is asking an additional $6 per person. On the bright side, this is a very pleasant, scenic trip, more time in the boat, less in the van. Also, in case there are delays and to better insure that our clients can get where they need to go, for now Caribe Shuttle in only operating the morning shuttle. It is not clear when the strikes will end. We will keep you informed.

The US Embassy for Panama sent out a correspondence this morning warning about strikes along the Pan-american Highway but did not mention the labor strikes around Changinola. In part, here is what the Embassy said:

“The U.S. Embassy in Panama City alerts U.S. citizens to continued disruptions and blockages along Pan-American Highway near the San Felix area in Chiriqui (Ngobe Bugle region) and El Higo in Veraguas due to ongoing mining law protests. Anti-riot police are stationed near the area. However, demonstrators have obstructed the road and are controlling access. Most traffic on the road is stopped and the Pan American highway in these areas is effectively closed. . . .”

For the latest information contact our office – contact info here.  You or your clients can find schedules, rates and online reservations HERE.

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