Real or Bochinche this is still good advice

[Lee Zeltzer]

Hi Folks,I have heard that some foreign residents have been sending their passports to the border with a "gofer" in order to circumvent having to go themselves and leave the country for three days as the Panamanian visa laws require. I have also heard that one of these gofers created a stamp of his own (to save himself the trouble of going to the border at all) and that the customs officials are now refusing re-entry to those caught with these illegal stamps and that all such passports are now completely invalid. Anyone who has used the services of such a person in the last six months had better sit up and take notice right now. One Bocas resident is in the process of being deported, two have been refused re-entry from Costa Rica and are in embassies in San Jose to get new passports made. The U.S. Embassy Consul and some aides will be in Bocas this Friday at Hotel Angela from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (see the full notice below). Anyone with questions needs to be there. For further information, contact Larry Shane here in Bocas (e-mail and phone contact info also below).Allene BlakerThe Bocas [e-mail]