Panama City is, generally, quite a safe city to visit, in comparison with other cities around the world. However, just like all cities, it has its spots that are less safe, and, indeed, less than safe. In an earlier post I mentioned El Chorrillo, the area close to the colonial city of Panamá, which is regarded as a hotbed of crime. There is another area, called San Miguelito (Little Saint Michael - the Archangel. In Spanish, the use of the diminuitive indicates affection), which also has its problems.
San Miguelito is the area that immediately surrounds the seminary where I am staying. It is where I went on two Sunday's to say Mass in the area known as Santa Librada. It is an area approximately the size of Finglas or Tallaght. On yesterday's news it was announced that this area alone has had 253 murders this year - so far!!! This is just in this one barrio - the figure does not take account of murders committed in other parts of the city; nor does it say anything about those who were wounded and injured as a result of shootings!
Most of these murders are never solved and no-one is ever tried for them. When he was questioned as to why this is so the Commander of Police said: "Most of these murders are committed by people who kill somebody and then run away!!!" I suppose that if the murderers were a bit more cooperative there would be more arrests.
As is so often the case, San Miguelito is also one of the poorest areas in the city - poverty and crime very often go hand in hand. Drugs are part of the problem, and another big part of it is Gangs. Street gangs of young people who attack each other viciously, often leading to death or serious injury. Parishes do a lot of work with young people in the area and every parish, without exception, has an active youth group - it just is proving not to be enough.
Cars don't generally get stolen very much in the city - not much point, I suppose, with the dreadful traffic jams! However, on the open roads and motorways assualts are know to happen from time to time. One of the common ways in which these assaults take place is that a car collides with the target vehicle and when both have stopped the driver of the target vehicle is robbed.
It is against the law here to transport livestock after 6pm (in other words, they must be transported during daylight). This is to make it more difficult for the livestock to be stolen and for the thieves to make a getaway under cover of darkness.
However, and this needs to be said, the Panamanians are, generally, a very polite and helpful people and I have felt very safe here at all times. Like every country they have their problems but they are not as widespread as in some countries. The Police maintain a very strong presence on the open roads - partly to control speeding (which is incredibly common, and incredibly fast), and partly to provide security. Apparently, it is normal, when stopped by the Police, to offer a bribe - anything from 10 - 50 dollars depending on how fast you were speeding. That hasn't happened to me but it is something that I have been told by quite a few Panamanians.
I suppose that if I start driving here it might be wise to keep my wallet with me!
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