Thursday, December 31, 2009

Sewing in (my) history

The idea for this post, which will perhaps be the first of a series, is my husband's.  He found me wasting time on the www trolling for vintage patterns.  It's all Carolyn's fault... well, for today, that is.  I have several "vintage" pattern websites bookmarked which I look at compulsively.  I'm searching for the patterns from my past, you see.

I made my first garment (a dress, pattern lost) in grade 8 which was many decades ago.  Through high school, I sewed and sewed.  At the very beginning, I favored Simplicity patterns.  It was the late 60s and they were fresh and cute.  Later on into the early 70s I made Butterick patterns - the ones designed by Betsey Johnson and Kenzo were my favorites but I continued with Simplicity, especially the "Young Contemporary" ones.  Only later, in university and beyond, would I graduate to the occasional Vogue.  I can only remember ever making a couple of McCalls patterns and I don't know why they didn't grab me.  That was my entire world of possible sewing patterns, then.

I have many of my patterns from the university days but unfortunately, most of the ones I made before then were lost when my parents moved (sniff, Mom & Dad, maybe I'll forgive you someday...).  They would have been gone forever but the internet gave us all a way to reacquire the ephemera of our past lives.

Here's a little dip into my sewing memories and my collection.

I'm still looking for the very first dress pattern I ever made.  It was ca1968 and it was (natch) a mini dress.  I made it out of a lurid cotton print featuring hot pink flowers, which had a nice substantial weight and texture.  It was A line with puffed sleeves, a square faced neckline and big patch pockets.  But the most astonishing feature of the design (I can hardly credit that I chose, and successfully made this pattern for my FIRST EVER garment project) was the bust darts.  They originated in the side seams, charged out horizontally at a level just below the bust and then took a hard (square) turn upwards.  CUTE!  But DIFFICULT for a beginner, no?  My Home Ec teacher must have sighed deeply when she saw it, but kudos to her for not insisting that we all make the same boring and ugly navy blue cotton top with back zipper and V neck that would never be worn.  I wore that dress a lot, and the positive charge I got out of making it set me on my way as a lifelong sewer. 

While I can't show you the 1968 dress, I can show you another pattern which was perhaps the 2nd or 3rd one I made, and has the same kind of darting.

You can best see the darts on the pink dress but the great shape they gave to the dress is more evident on the white one.  Every time I look at this picture, I smile.  I remember those flippy hairstyles (which my hair would never ever do) and those little skinny knees (unlike mine at the time) and the cute girls in grade 9 (which I wasn't).  I remember that I made this dress twice.  I vaguely remember that there was a first pink version but my total favorite was another substantial cotton print with a warm mid-beige background and abstract print in yellow, a nice fresh green, white, black and perhaps other colours.  I think the coordinating scarf was green poly chiffon (way to go ME for tackling this difficult fabric, if I made it, which I can't remember).  I must have made that dress in 1970 since I think I was wearing it for my grade 10 photo.

My memory of the cute girls in grade 9 has had a serious boost recently as my mother found and returned to me my yearbook of that ancient day, only this Christmas.  She gave it to me along with my report card from grade 1 (where is the museum conservator for this ancient paper?).  I got a huge laugh from the report card when I read as follows:

ART
Shows self-expression ... yes
Evidence of particular talent or unusual ability ... no


MUSIC
Enjoys musical activities ... yes
Evidence of particular talent ... no



Can you who are parents imagine reading this about your little darling, whose every accomplishment is a marvel and whose lives and futures stretch out, unblemished and full of promise?  Boy, they really knew how to throw cold water on creativity in those not-politically-correct days at the Mountainview Elementary School!  (To their credit, I don't think my parents put any stock in the artistic judgment of my grade 1 teacher, and I like to think she was a little bit wrong.)

Since I am reminiscing about grade 1, there I am, sitting nicely in the front row of my class picture in regulation navy box pleated tunic and white shirt, complete with skinned knee.  I didn't realize I was doomed to have no artistic or musical talent! 

Anyhow, Simplicity 8805 was lost to me until I acquired it from one of my favorite vintage pattern sites, Lantez Living.  I have considered making it again, though a bit longer.  What do you think?



One more for today, accompanied by a photo of yours truly wearing it at her high school graduation (with BF of the day). 


OKAY YOU CAN STOP LAUGHING NOW!

For your information, the dress was made from a soft and beefy but seriously synthetic knit fabric in shades of off-white and dusty rose.  One side was a check, and the other was a heathery solid.  I used the contrast for the collar and cuffs.  Looking at the photo, I believe I would have thought the dress a little on the long/modest side.  I used to measure the "right length" in those days by whether the tips of my fingers brushed the hem, and I have short arms(!).

I didn't like this pattern enough to buy it again (and it was the wrong size by a mile) but I saved the image. 

Tell me if you found this post (a) illuminating or inspiring, (b) amusing, or (c) embarrassing.  Based on your responses, I'll decide whether to share more of my ancient sewing history, or sulk and keep it all to myself.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Launch of a new label?



Woo hoo!  Now, how do I attach a picture to this blog instead of the canned masthead provided by Blogger?

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Update

In the latest sewing news chez The Sewing Lawyer ...


The Christmas shirts were well received.  The boy's shirt fits as intended.  I made him a 52 (Burda equivalent to US size 42) which I figured would be a size too big.  Now having measured him, it's 2 sizes too big but just the way he likes it - loose. 
Same for the Trilobite shirt.  I knew exactly how it would fit, having made this pattern gazillions of times before.
In other developments, my husband's legendary shopping skills turned up an astonishing "Hawaiian" print at one of his favorite thrift stores.  There's enough for another Aloha shirt, at least.  Look closely.  Evolution?


I am avoiding working on my coat.  Sometimes this happens.  Often it ends well.  If I persevere, and finish the project, it may defy my worst fears and become a loved and much-worn object.  I pride myself on the fact that I VERY rarely end up with UFOs in the sewing room.  However, keeping at some projects is a serious chore, and I'm afraid this is one of them. 

My last-week-of-2009 resolution is to finish it well before January 1, 2010 so I can start another more fun project.  I had better get on with it!

Next up is this jacket from the January 2009 issue of Burda, which I am going to make in a loud orange plaid.  There.  If I say I'm going to do it to a big enough audience, I'll have to, right?


Surely that will be more fun than my coat...

 

In the non-sewing-related category, this is the closest I'll get to the 2010 Winter Olympics that get underway soon in Vancouver, British Columbia.  At my brother's house, one of his guests had been selected to carry the torch in the Olympic relay.  There are 12,000 people participating in this rather strange exercise which sees the torch carried through more than 1,000 communities over 106 days.  Each participant gets a white track suit, hat, mitts and the torch he or she carried.  The runner I met brought her torch to the Boxing Day party and of course, I had to have my picture taken with it.  (I'm wearing a blouse I made from a sari - reviewed here.)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Christmas ornaments???

In wasting time on the www this morning I was looking through Spoonflower's Flickr album and came across this astonishing example of what to do (or what not to do) with Spoonflower fabric.


 
More like Voodoo doll! 

Turns out there are a lot of sites which give instructions for making crafty tree ornaments.  Maybe some day when I turn into Martha Stewart I will remember to look for these bookmarks and do up my house (HA!). 

I don't like the excruciating how-to videos (skip the introductory ad - an AD on a craft video??).  However there are many tutorials out there. 




Sewing/crafting is a logical choice given the target audience for these (Country Stitcher's Ornament).  However I find them a bit "Becky Home-Ecky"...












Winter themes are also logical (Better Homes & Gardens).  These are particularly *cute*.








These paper snowflakes are quite lovely. 





If anyone is out there reading, I hope your holidays are happy and safe.  See you in 2010 (or maybe there will be another post before the end of the year, who knows?).

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Panama bank offers gold for sale to the public


Panama: Credicorp Bank Now Offers Precious Metals

Source: Prensa.com
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The bank will offer its investment clients gold and silver bars and coins.
The product was born as a request from the customers, who demanded investment alternatives, specially in gold, a commodity whose price has grown around 60% in the last 12 months.

"Called 'precious metals' the product comprises the sale of gold and silver bars and coins, refined exclusively for Credicorp Bank (BVP: CRED) and certified by Swiss company Argor-Heraeus", reported Prensa.com.

According to the newspaper, Credicorp is the first entity offering this product in Panama.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Trilobite Shirt - completed!

I'm checking back in with some pictures of the completed trilobite shirt and to put in another plug for Spoonflower

 My husband has wanted a trilobite-print-fabric Aloha shirt for some time and since he was able to supply the fabric, I cooperated by making it up - it'll be formally presented on Friday as a non-surprise Christmas present. 

As for Spoonflower, what a concept:  "a website that gives you the power to print your own designs on fabric". If you can come up with an image or design in a suitable e-format (TIF, JPG, PNG, GIF), you can upload it, preview how it will look printed on yardage (play with different tiling of the design), and order it printed on one of six different types of fabric: quilting cotton, linen-cotton canvas, upholstery weight cotton twill, organic cotton sateen, organic cotton interlock knit and 60-40 bamboo-cotton rayon. It's wise to order a sample size piece (8" square) first to see how it will look "in real life" for $5. The fabric sells at between $18 and $32 per yard.  I think I already mentioned that my husband got 2 yards of the cotton-bamboo rayon printed up.  It crocked a bit in the washer & dryer, and in the sewing, but this just adds to the slightly distressed and rock-like appearance of the dark background.  


I've made this pattern, long out-of-print McCalls 4115, many times before both as a Hawaiian or Aloha style shirt as designed, and with long sleeves as the top for seriously goofy but classic PJs.  Check these out!


 
The blue ones are a Joe Boxer print of breakfast items, including a frying pan with eggs and bacon, and a pound of lard (!). The colourful ones on the right are festooned with all manner of vegetables.  It's hard to believe that the commercial fabric printing companies could come up with these designs, and yet they didn't have a single trilobite print in their catalogues!




Details:





Spoonflower sent us a coordinating label so I added a back facing I could sew it to.  Even though I was short of fabric I was able to match the patch pocket perfectly.  All seams are flat-felled so the inside is as nice as the outside.  


More details and links can be found in my review on PatternReview.


Maybe now I'll have to get back to my winter coat.  


Happy holidays, everyone!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Another one done!

I'm not sure why sewing this shirt was such a prolonged effort.  I finally girded myself to sew the buttonholes and attach the buttons, and now it is done.  Hooray!  On to the next one.

Here are some pictures of the completed shirt.

The bias cut placket looks pretty good, and nicely disguises the fact that my cutting was off-centre at the CF.

The back is very plain - no pleats or gathers at the yoke.  The pattern called for 2 vertical darts but I did not sew them.









I am pretty happy with the way the collar turned out.  I used techniques from David Page Coffin's book Shirtmaking.  I heartily recommend this book if you don't already have it.

I cut the sleeve placket on the bias to continue the theme.  The pattern and instructions are found in the DPC book.

Full review is here

Next up...  the trilobite shirt.

Can I obtain a turista pensionado visa and not relocate to Panama?


Objet: Question
Date: Dimanche 20 Décembre 2009, 7h33

Is it possible to obtain a turista pensionado visa and not relocate to Panama? I have herad you can do this with a multiple entry permit. Also,is there a major backlog to receive these visas and how long is the time for these visas to be issued? Thanks
Yes, you can. However, one visit has to be made for the actual application of the visa and then no more than 1 year after actual approval to be served of the approval.
A multiple-entry permit must be requested when leaving the country after filing. However, you have to budget a $25 monthly fine if you do not return to Panama after the 3-month multiple-entry permit expires to have it renewed.
Backlog of applications has reached new records with the new Administration, with delays going into 14 months from the time of filing.

Canada Trade Mission / Opportunities for Your Company in Panama

January 25, 2010 - January 29, 2010
Opportunities for Your Company in Panama
Deadline December 17, 2009

Join other Atlantic Canadian companies and travel to Panama to discover business opportunities for your company.

Following a successful trade mission to Panama in June 2009 with 10 Atlantic Canadian companies, NSB Inc. is currently recruiting companies to participate in a follow-up trade mission to Panama in January 2010.

Key sectors in Panama include building products and construction, information communications technology, environmental industries, and professional and educational services.

For a registration fee of $500 you will receive:

One-on-one business meetings tailored to your business goals;
Ground transportation to and from your business meetings;
High-level networking events to assist you in your entry or expansion into the market.
You are responsible for the cost of round trip airfare, accommodation and meals.

Space is limited. Register today. Fill out the
application form and return to Jennifer Dunbar at jdunbar@ nsbi.ca

Cost: $500 (Cheque payable to World Trade Centre Atlantic Canada)
Application Deadline: Friday, December 17, 2009
For additional information:
http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/en/home/events/eventscalendar/details.aspx?ec=bW9kZT01JmV2ZW50PTI4OCZkdD0yMDEwLTAxLTI1
http://ttns.gov.ns.ca/en/home/eventsnews/eventcalendar/eventdetails.aspx?ec=bW9kZT0zJmV2ZW50PTIwMCZkdD0yMDEwLTAxLTI1
Peter Giffin
1-902-424-4212
pgiffin@ nsbi.ca

Monday, December 14, 2009

Ssshhhh! Don't tell anyone!

(I'm sewing presents.) 

First up, I made silk chiffon scarves based on the "Quick to Make" feature of Threads Magazine in the October-November 2003 issue.  I've scanned the instructions and they can be found here:  Page 1; Page 2.  The Threads instructions are fine if your 2 fabrics are the same width.  However, if they are not you have to sew them together before making the centre loop.  I did it this way:

  • Choose 2 coordinating silk chiffon fabrics - you will need 2 40cm lengths.  
  • Sew the pieces together along one selvedge edge giving you a 40cm wide scarf whose length is the width of each fabric added together. 
  • Fold this long scarf in half to locate the mid-point, which will not be at the seam if your fabrics are different widths to start.  Mark this point.
  • Now fold the scarf in half lengthwise, and sew a seam 30cm long at the centre of the entire length (i.e. 15cm to either side of the mid-point you marked at the last step).
  • Turn the scarf right side out.  It will have a 30cm long tube in the middle.  
  • Continue as per the Threads instructions, step 4.  
I used a short 1.5mm stitch length to sew the seams, then sewed a second line of stitches parallel to the first, approximately 2-3mm away from it.  Then I trimmed the seam allowances very close to the 2nd line of stitching.  For the hems, I used a narrow 2-thread rolled hem sewn on the serger.



I had fun choosing the chiffon fabrics to coordinate. 

When worn, the look varies pending on which side of the scarf is worn "out".


Here are the other two.

 

I am also almost finished a shirt for my son.  I picked up some lovely plaid Viyella (cotton & wool) at the Fabric Flea Market this year.  I'm using a pattern from the March, 2009 issue of BurdaStyle (as they now insist on calling it).  Here's the line drawing.
It's a perfectly ordinary men's shirt.  It's described as "slightly fitted" and has 2 vertical darts in the back, which I did not sew.

Now my fabric is an even plaid and I carefully matched it while cutting - except I FORGOT to think about how there should be a smooth match at the CF.  ACK!

So here's the shirt fronts showing how the unmatched fronts end up with two heavy dark vertical lines running together.

And here is my fix/disguise.  I cut a bias band for the CF which fills the space between two dark vertical bands perfectly, and disguises the fact that the whole thing is off centre.  HA!  When the buttons are on, the disguise will be perfect!


 I used David Coffin's Shirtmaking book for better instructions than Burda's.

I like the collar technique from this book - for once the collar stand curves smoothly down to the front edges - no ugly lumps and bumps. I'll post pictures of the finished shirt with details soon, but here is the method.

First, you attach the collar stand to the shirt body, and the inner collar stand to the inside of the shirt body.  Then, carefully rolling the shirt inside the collar stand, right sides together, you sew around the leading edge of the stand ending at the exact point where the collar will attach to it.  Trim and grade those seam allowances very close to the stitching.  If you trim down to 3mm or so, there is no need to clip in the curved area. Clip to the point where you stopped stitching, however.   Then turn the whole thing out and admire your handiwork.  Here's a picture of the collar stand at this stage.


Nice, huh?

Next, sew the collar.  I used 1cm seam allowances around the entire collar, collar stand, and neck edge.  Of course, I then promptly forgot and sewed the collar (the first one) with 1.5cm seam allowances.  DOH!

I did the second one properly, and I even remembered to scootch the top collar down so there would be room for the turn of cloth once it was sewn into the stand.


Here's a picture.  Hopefully you can see that the top layer is bigger than the bottom layer.  When this is folded down inside the collar stand it lies perfectly smoothly with no rippling and no bulk underneath.  Magic!

The collar is then sewn to the inner stand (top collar to inner stand) and the outer stand seam allowance is simply pressed down and the whole thing is edgestitched.

At this point  I have the shirt mostly finished - just the buttonholes and buttons to do. 

I used my seam ripper A LOT while sewing this shirt.  However, it is turning out well.  I SURE hope it fits and he likes it!


Friday, December 11, 2009

Real estate agent liability Re: Any recourse?

Objet: Real estate agent liability Re: Any recourse?
À: "panama laws for expats"
Date: Dimanche 8 Novembre 2009, 11h57

http://www.kuluttajavirasto.fi/Page/60662588-3611-4ed9-9ca7-20896bd7df40.aspx#
  • The real estate agent's liability for defects

The agency is not responsible for concealed defects in the apartment

The agent does not have general liability for defects in the apartment, for example damage from humidity discovered after conclusion of the sale or other concealed defects. The seller of an apartment or real estate is liable to the buyer for defects - including the information provided by the agent prior to sale and any defects in that information.
The agent is not liable for e.g. incorrect information on the house manager's certificate, unless the agent had reason to believe that the information in question was incorrect. The seller is liable in such situations.
On the other hand, the agent has a far-reaching liability for the legality and quality of his brokerage work.
  • For instance, if information regarding a humidity defect is noted in the brokerage contract, but the agent fails to disclose this to the buyer, the agent has made a mistake in his work. Under such circumstances the agent is liable for any damages suffered as a result of the mistake.
  • If the agent's work performance is not up to the agreed standard, the customer may request that the commission is decreased.
Get help from the consumer advisor and file a complaint if necessary
If you have questions on any ambiguities regarding the work of real estate agents, contact the consumer advisor. The consumer advisor gives counsel regarding the legislation and rules governing the work of real estate agents and, if necessary, directs consumers forward, for instance to file a complaint with the Consumer Disputes Board.
Disputes over real estate transactions are sometimes unclear as to who is liable for incorrect or incomplete information supplied with regards to the apartment - the real estate agent or the seller. In this case the complaint should be filed against both parties.
Complaints regarding real estate agents may be filed with the State Provincial Office. The State Provincial Office may issue a warning to the real estate agent, force temporary closure of the agency or have them removed from the register of real estate agents. The State Provincial Office may not, however, order a real estate agency to pay damages or compensation.



http://www.ncrec.state.nc.us/bulletin/vol11-2bulletin/courts_rule_on_issue_of_misrepre.htm
COURTS RULE ON ISSUE OF MISREPRESENTATIONS

Summarized below are several recent court cases involving misrepresentations in real estate transactions. These cases illustrate what appears to be the current trend in judicial thought away from the traditional concept of "caveat emptor" (Let the buyer beware) and towards the more modern, consumeroriented philosophy of "caveat licensee" (Let the licensee beware).


WASHINGTON -Summary of Facts: A "listing broker" gave a "selling broker" an incorrect description of the boundary lines of a property. Although information on file with the listing service clearly contradicted the listing broker's statements to the selling broker, the selling broker relied on the listing broker's statements and transmitted the incorrect information to a buyer. The buyer discovered the error after closing the transaction, and subsequently filed suit against both the listing and selling brokers, alleging misrepresentations. Decision: The court ruled in favor of the buyer, stating that the listing broker (although an agent of the seller) was, nevertheless, liable to the third party for the misrepresentations- that the listing broker was also liable for the actions of his subagent (i.e . , the sell ing broker) whom he authorized to transmit the incorrect information; and that the selling broker was also liable because he failed to exercise reasonable care and skill to discover the error.

MAINE-Summary of Facts: A purchaser of a lot filed suit against a seller for fraudulently representing that the lot had been approved for installation of a septic tank; the purchaser made no independent inquiry to determine the accuracy of th 11 representation. Decision: The court ruled in favor of the purchaser ' stating in part that "A plaintiff may justifiably rely on the fraudulent misrepresentation of a defendant, whether made intentionally or recklessly, without investigating the t'ruth or falsity of the representation. Reliance is unjustified only if the plaintiff knows the representation is false or its falsity is obvious to him". (Although the defendant in this case was the seller, the same reasoning would also seem to apply equally to agents of a seller.)


IDAHO-Summary of Fact: A broker had made representations to a buyer which were based upon i'ncorrect information supplied by a seller. The buyer filed suit against the broker for making misrepresentations, but the broker claimed that he was only acting as a "conduit" for information flowing from the seller to the buyer. Decision: The court, in its ruling, stated that "(T)he real estate agent (broker) will be liable to a prospective purchaser if he knew or should have known that the representations were inaccurate or if he could have, by reasonable investigation, determined the accuracy of the representations."


ALABAMA-Summary of Facts: A seller who knew his house had a faulty septic tank did not reveal this defect to his broker. A subsequent buyer of the property filed suit against both the seller and the broker for failure to disclose this defect. Decision: The court ruled in favor of the buyer stating that although the broker did not have actual knowledge of the defect, the broker (as agent for the seller) was obligated to learn about any deficiencies and to inform prospective buyers of such defects.


TEXAS-Summary of Facts: A broker who was selling his own property failed to advise the purchaser that the foundation of the structure on the property had settled and needed repairs. The purchaser subsequently filed suit against the broker/seller. Decision: The court ruled in favor of the purchaser, stating that a seller has a duty to reveal known defects to purchasers. (Although the defendant in this case was a seller, the same reasoning would also seem to apply equally to agents of a seller.)


NORTH CAROLINA -Summary of Facts: A purchaser of a house and lot filed suit against a builder, alleging that the builder had failed to disclose that the house had been built on "disturbed soil" (the house was constructed over a large hole filled with debris and then covered with clay). Decision: The court ruled that "Since this defect in the lot and the house . . . was not apparent to plaintiffs (the purchasers) and not within the reach of their digilent attention and observation, defendant (builder) was under a duty to disclose this information to plaintiffs". (Although the defendant in this case was a builder/seller, the North Carolina Supreme Court held in a related case that a real estate agent would also have come within the rule applied in this case if the agent knew or had reason to believe that the builder had constructed the house on "disturbed soil" yet withheld this fact from the purchasers.)


Although several of the cases cited above were not decided on the basis of North Carolina law, North Carolina real estate brokers and salesmen should be well aware of the principles set forth in all of these decisions: These principles, simply stated, are (1) that a real estate agent who intentionally or unintentionally gives a purchaser incorrect or incomplete information may be held liable for such statements even though the source of the incorrect information was the seller or another broker, and even though the purchaser could have verified the information himself; (2) that a seller and nis agent have an affirmative duty to disclose to prospective purchasers any latent (hidden) defects connected with the property (for example, faulty septic tank, leaky basement, etc.) about which they are aware or should reasonably be aware,- and (3) that although a real estate agent owes his primary loyalty to his principal, (usually the seller), the agent must treat all parties in the transaction fairly.


Furthermore, if a licensee has actual knowledge of material facts regarding a property (or should reasonably have known of such facts), but the licensee fails to disclose these facts to a prospective purchaser, then such nondisclosure may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the North Carolina Real Estate Licensing Board.


--From information published in the Idaho Real Estatement, California Real Estate Bulletin, Mississippi Real Estate Hotline, and the Washington Real Estate News.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Up to 15 hours in line for residence visas in Panama

The article by Eliana Morales Gil is a revealing expose about the backlog in residence visas applications in Panama. The new administration inherited 15,000 applications filed more than one year ago. However, bad habits die hard: users complain about a limited number of applications received per day and of "privileged" users gaining entry without standing in line.
In an age when passport information is entered at airports by scanning a barcode, current applicants (including spouses and children) are ordered to have their picture taken every 3 months IN PERSON before an aging Polaroid camera at Immigration offices with no air conditioner and insufficient seating, which involves losing half a day of work or school. Holders of expired 3-month cards - and even permanent residents with "E-" cedulas - are subject to detention without probable cause at jail cells in Curundu and at Immigration offices. Pensionados only endure this uncertainty for a limited period because they are granted an indefinite visa but spouses and dependants who cannot live as perpetual tourists have to spend mornings at Immigration offices every 3 months, along with another day at Motor Vehicle offices IN PERSON to renew a driving license for the same period.
This is rarely disclosed to prospective investors at road shows abroad or "Invest in Panama" seminars.

See also:

Immigration the setting for complaints of racial discrimination http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_15/issue_15/news_04.html

Immigration reform group on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=162007622227





LA CRÓNICA DE UNA LARGA ESPERA PARA REALIZAR UN TRÁMITE MIGRATORIO
Esperan hasta 15 horas por un turno en Migración
La administración se defiende alegando que se heredaron 15 mil expedientes con más de un año de retraso.



TRÁMITE. El Servicio Nacional de Migración atiende a unas 200 personas por día. 1298703
Eliana Morales Gil mailto:emorales@

El pasado viernes 20 de noviembre es una fecha que, difícilmente, Rosario Pérez* podrá olvidar. Ese día tuvo que esperar 15 horas para que le llegara el turno de ser atendida por funcionarios del Servicio Nacional de Migración.
Había llegado a la sede de esa entidad en la Ricardo J. Alfaro a las 4:30 a.m., pero no fue hasta las 6:19 p.m. cuando fue atendida. Ella, al igual que otros abogados panameños y extranjeros, esperó de pie y sin probar alimentos para que le admitieran su expediente.
Y pasó de todo. Al filo de las 4:00 p.m., todos los que allí estaban se quedaron boquiabiertos cuando los turnos fueron interrumpidos para recibir los papeles de una persona que no había hecho fila. Un funcionario de la entidad les explicó que la dirección había dado la orden de recibir los expedientes del recién llegado.
En ese momento el sistema se cayó, lo que provocó más retraso. Ese viernes, Pérez pudo presentar sus papeles a las 6:19 p.m., pero otros usuarios, narró, se quedaron hasta más tarde.
La larga espera no es de lo único que se quejan los usuarios en Migración.
Un abogado, que pidió el anonimato, contó que por estos días tramita el caso de un extranjero que prefirió vender sus propiedades y sacar una suma importante de dinero del Banco Nacional, porque su esposa fue víctima de malos tratos en esa entidad, cuando hacía diligencias para sacar un carné.
Otros tachan de groseros a los funcionarios y agentes de seguridad que trabajan cerca de la Dirección General. “Uno de los encargados de anunciar a las personas que van a ser atendidas por la dirección, no contesta ni los buenos días”, dijo una mujer visiblemente molesta.
HABLA MIGRACIÓN
Eduardo Peñaloza, subdirector de Migración, dijo que no comprende cómo las personas pueden llegar en la madrugada, cuando la entidad abre sus puertas a las 7:30 a.m., y pese a que cierra a las 2:00 p.m., los funcionarios siguen atendiendo a las personas que están en la institución a esa hora. “A veces se quedan hasta las 8:00 p.m. atendiendo a los usuarios”, dijo. Aseguró, además, que hay algunos abogados que presentan hasta 20 expedientes al mismo tiempo, y eso les quita horas a los que reciben los documentos.
Y es que, según Peñaloza, esta administración heredó unos 15 mil expedientes migratorios con más de un año de retraso. Por ejemplo, explicó que hasta la fecha han logrado ponerse al día con papeles que llegaron a la entidad en mayo de este año.
Migración también emitió un comunicado de prensa para informar que los funcionarios de esa institución no pueden otorgar boletos numéricos a los solicitantes de trámites. Indican que se atenderá de acuerdo con el orden de llegada.
Peñaloza también informó que actualmente se trabaja en cambios a la Ley 3 del 22 de febrero de 2008 (ley de Migración), para lo cual ya se han empezado a reunir con abogados y la Cámara Marítima, la cual debe atender trámites relacionados con los marinos que llegan a los puertos panameños, entre otros grupos.
El Servicio Nacional de Migración atiende diariamente a unas 200 personas. Según estadísticas divulgadas por su oficina de Relaciones Públicas, hasta la fecha han entrado al país un millón 212 mil 995 extranjeros, y han salido un millón 22 mil 892 . Los estadounidenses y colombianos lideran la lista de extranjeros con más entradas a Panamá: 196 mil 428 y 164 mil 826, respectivamente.
(*El nombre fue cambiado a solicitud de la fuente por temor a represalias en Migración).




DRAFT TRANSLATION

THE CHRONICLE OF A LONG WAIT FOR AN IMMIGRATION PROCESSING
They wait until 15 hours by a shift in migration The administration defends the ground that it inherited more than 15 thousand cases a year late. STEP. The National Immigration Service caters for about 200 people per day. 1298703 Eliana Morales Gil emorales@prensa.com On Friday November 20 is a date that hard, Rosario Perez * will forget. That day he had to wait 15 hours for his turn came to be attended by officials of the National Immigration Service.
He arrived at the headquarters of that entity in the Richard J. Alfaro at 4:30 am, but it was not until 6:19 pm when it was served. She, like other Panamanians and foreign lawyers, stood and waited without food for which they admitted their application.
And everything happened. At exactly 4:00 pm, all those present gasped when shifts were interrupted to receive the papers of a person who had been queuing. An agency official explained that the management had given the order to receive the files of the newcomer.
At that time the system crashed, causing further delay. That Friday, Perez was able to present their papers at 6:19 pm, but other users, narrated, stayed up later.
The long wait is not the only thing users complain Migration.
One lawyer, who requested anonymity, said that these days handles the case of an alien who preferred to sell their properties and get a large sum of money the National Bank because his wife was abused in that state when he made inquiries to draw a card.
Others accused of being rude to staff and security officers who work near the DG. "One of the managers to advertise to people who are going to be addressed by management, not answer nor good morning," said a visibly upset woman.
MIGRATION TALKS
Eduardo Penaloza, assistant director of Immigration, said he does not understand how people can arrive at dawn, when the institution opens its doors at 7:30 am, and although close at 2:00 pm, officers continue to serve people who are in the institution at that time. "Sometimes they stay until 8:00 p.m. light users, "he said. It added that there are some lawyers who have up to 20 files at the same time, and that takes away hours to receive documents.
Because, according Peñaloza, this administration inherited some 15 thousand cases of migrants over a year late. For example, he explained that to date have been catching up with papers that came to the institution in May this year.
Migration has also issued a press release reporting that the officials of that institution can not give tickets to applicants numerical procedures. They state that will be addressed according to the order of arrival.
Penaloza also reported currently working on changes to Law No. 3 of 22 February 2008 (Migration Act), for which have already begun to meet with lawyers and the Chamber of Shipping, which must meet procedures related to marine arriving in Panamanian ports, among other groups.
The National Immigration Service serves about 200 people daily. According to statistics published by the Public Relations office to date have entered the country 995 million 212 thousand foreigners, have left one million 22 thousand 892. The U.S. and Colombian topping the list of foreigners with more tickets to Panama: 196 thousand 428 and 164 thousand 826, respectively.
(* The name was changed at the request of the source for fear of reprisals from Migration).
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