public safety

Insecurity hinders Colón

High crime and crumbling infrastructure prevents the city from realizing its potential as a tourist destination.

la prensa

taking action: Residents and politicians backing a new security committee in Colón City hope it will be the first step in attracting more visitors to the economically-depressed region.1165480

With two cruise ships ports, an international duty-free market, dramatic colonial-era ruins set against white sand beaches and a good portion of lush jungle, the Colón province is one of the country’s many gems in the rough.

A glance at the rough conditions of Colón City, however, makes clear why even the most ambitious tourism developers fear to commit. Rife crime, poverty, overcrowding and inconsistent sewage and water service continues to haunt the town once gilded by the booty of Spanish raids and the 19th century gold rush.

Despite the seemingly insuperable obstacles facing the region, there is a growing group of citizens and representatives joining the struggle to achieve a new image to the Caribbean city.

Police Chief Francisco Troya recently collaborated with the Ministry of Justice to create a committee that involves both security entities from the public and private sector and civil society. That committee is chaired Colón province governor, Julio Kennion. One of the committee’s plans is to install surveillance cameras in different parts of the city.

Long-time resident Virginia Scott said more needs to be done. The 65-year-old reminisced about the days when Colón was known as the “cup of gold,” in part for its history, but also because it boasted clean streets, a burgeoning economy and people felt safe. She added that the government needs to step up and invest in the city if it’s going to overcome its problems and exploit the area’s potential as a tourist destination.

Jair Salazar, 21 and unemployed, is convinced that the best way to invest in the province would be to train its youth for jobs within the service and tourism industry.

George Ng, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industries of Colón, was wary of rushing to invite visitors while the region’s rampant crime remained unresolved.

Co-Vice President of the Association of Free Zone Users George Punjabi insisted that updating the Panama-Colón highway is vital not only for sustaining tourism, but for trade and the community. Punjabi said that the road’s poor condition has put a strain on transit between the Free Zone, Atlantic ports and the Gatún Locks.

Manual Valencia, owner of a leading taxi service catering to visitors, commented that the city’s Achilles heel when it comes to wooing tourists is the high rate of robberies that befall visitors en route to the Free Zone. The taxi entrepreneur estimated that 20 incidents where armed assailants robbed both taxi drivers and their passengers were reported last year.

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