Save the Cruces Trail National Park

Oscar Sogandares G.

Incidentally today Saturday (Jan 8,2005) I had the opportunity to take part in a rally in Clayton (I hadn’t been there since base closure in 1999) just outside the new US consulate at  Bldg 520 (and below Bldg, 519) behind which is planned the urban development project CL35  (not to mention the larger 45 hectare C43 lot beside the Cardenas River) which curiously bears the name “Hacienda Las Cruces” whose prime proponent for both is a Mr. Pasco (not Pazco), who is also the developer of the “Camino de Cruces” project behind the Chinese School in El Dorado (where there have also been complaints about environmental violations).  It certainly seems this “gentleman” is in “love” with the area, especially the “wooded” areas.

All got underway as planned with the purpose of creating a “human chain”.  There were aproximately around 300 plus including friend Ezequiel Miranda and the group from Chiriquí against the Camino “anti-ecológico”, to reinforce the Panama and concerned Clayton residents group.  As the morning progressed the group decided to “march” all the way towards the main entrance of Clayton where the Ciudad del Saber has its facilities, since we had word of a meeting of UN undersecretary for the environment (PNUMA) Mr. Maurice Strong with Panama officials, also including Ligia Castro de Doens (ANAM director). The meeting was being held at Bldg 128.

Our group continuously chanted slogans as “los bosques no son para vender sino para defender” which literally means “forests are not to be sold but protected”.  Since the late ARI had changed all the rules and in its quest for new money is simply selling off to the best suitor all wooded areas which were to become part of the Camino de Cruces National Park. Our group was finally addressed to and several of our leaders such as Mrs. Raisa Banfield and Ariel Rodriguez were allowed upstairs to the meeting to lay down their points. As soon as the meeting finished we were informed that the UN official Mr Maurice Strong was pleased with our movement.  Mrs Ligia Castro de Doens as she was leaving greeted our friend Ezequiel Miranda and also addressed our group. She seemed to imply that everything must be done in a “legal” way.

As soon as everyone left we finally got the chance to become acquainted with the “Cruces Trail” tract lying just behind Bldg. 519.  Surprisingly not many of us left for this venture after all this rally. We got off near Bldg 519 which presently is concession to the Caja del Seguro Social. There we ventured along some uncut grass way along the slopes and entered into the wooded area.  About 50 meters into the forest we spotted a portion of the Cruces Trail which was recently uncovered beneath leaves and soil on the forest floor.  If anyone who has trekked the Cruces Trail especially along Summit or Soberanía can tell its characteristics.  The well laid cobble stones, in the typical pattern approximately 3 feet wide.  Our guide Mr. Pinzón told us that this portion was recently uncovered and shown to the press.  There is more of the Cruces Trail there to be uncovered after lying peacefully unused for so many decades.  The ironic part is that the Parque Nacional Camino de Cruces was enacted to precisely “protect” this historic trail and surrounding rain forest and this vital portion is “curiously” left out.  Panama finally receives this historical and natural “treasure” from the US in 1999 and before anyone has the chance to even “discover” it; it is systematically being destroyed forever.

Years ago when I worked with the Army I would usually wonder about the trail lying beneath the forest while parked in the 519 parking lot, so I suggested we follow the pathway around the building to get there and do a little “exploring”.  There we found a “bivouac” for Pasco’s construction workers.  We also noticed many orange “stakes” along the ground marking the project lanes.  After several attempts to get over the thick underbrush we finally exited to the rear 519 parking lot above.  There I gazed upon the now abandoned parking lot.  I remember this as a bustling place full of cars and people, now it is just abandoned covered with leaves.  We ventured back past the building front entrance and could only see insulating material strewn along the driveway.  I didn’t wish to stroll beneath the front door, perhaps not to catch the deplorable condition the building was in.  I wonder, instead of resorting to such destructive projects, why not restore (actually it was in perfect shape the last time I saw it in 1999) Bldg. 519 with its exceptional size, historical value and large parking lot into a bustling hotel or commercial mall, or a tourist attraction. I really hadn’t wished to witness all this.  We left the area with the sense that this country especially the ARI has not done what it was called upon by its citizens to do.