ACROSS the isthmus

Panama. The Global Positioning Systems that by law will have to be installed in all public buses will automatically control the vehicle’s speed. According to Ivan Carrera, technical representative of Core International which represents the Mexican company that manufactures the devices, the GPS’ will be controlled by satellite and no matter how hard the driver tries to accelerate, bus engines will be modified to go no faster than the maximum set speed. Each GPS will cost around $200 and will be paid for out of government funds.

Panama. The head of a statue of US president Franklin D. Roosevelt has reappeared nineteen years after it disappeared during demonstrations in San Miguelito. The head which has been in storage in an office in the Treasury was finally handed over to the Minsitry of Economy and Finances nine years after the original order, following a written request by the Treasurer, Carlos Vallarino. According to the treasury, the head was not handed over earlier because nobody was assigned responsibility to take possession of it.

Chiriqui. Three people were arrested after being found in possession of 500 shark fins. The two Panamanians and one chinese man who has an export licence were detained by the authorities as they headed towards David from Puerto Armuelles. Shark fins are considered a delicacy in some Asian countries but overfishing is endangering the species.