NATION ASSISTANCE / HUMANITARIAN AND CIVIC ACTION PROJECTS

Principal nation assistance projects conducted throughout the country since early 1990, in addition to providing training opportunities for the U.S. troops,  included upgrading or constructing roads and bridges; refurbishing or constructing additions to schools, medical clinics, and other public-use facilities; drilling water wells; and constructing or repairing sewage and water supply systems.  The majority of such facilities had deteriorated because of lack of maintenance during the two decades of military rule (1968-1989).

Before work began in 1990, civil affairs assessment teams, directed by the Military Support Group (MSG), evaluated and surveyed those public facilities together with Panamanian authorities.

FUERTES CAMINOS AND COSECHA AMISTAD ENGINEER PROJECTS

From 1990 through 1994 under Fuertes Caminos and Cosecha Amistad engineering exercises, a total of 807 building or repair projects have been completed by the U.S. military throughout Panama (287 schools, 88 medical clinics, 372 kilometers of roads, 57 bridges, 50 water wells, and over 300 other community projects). Such projects conducted in 1990 alone saved the Panamanian Government an estimated $2 million that were used elsewhere in the reconstruction of the country. 

While the military engineers built vertical and horizontal structures, U.S. military-Panamanian medical teams provided health and dental care to children and adults and veterinarian teams provided care to domestic animals in remote areas of the country.  Medical treatment included vaccinations, medical exams, and PAPA smears for women.  Dentists offered prophylactic treatment, fillings, and extractions.  Veterinary services included vaccination and de-worming.  Additionally, a preventive medicine team trained local residents on the importance and benefits of practicing environmental, home and personal preventive medicine.  During the period of Promote Liberty, the many medical, dental and veterinarian teams served more than 73,000 patients and over 22,000 animals throughout the country. 

Support throughout those exercises/projects was provided by active-duty soldiers generally from U.S. Army South's 41st Area Support Group and the 128th Aviation Brigade (with UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters).  Security was provided by the U.S. Military Police units and Panamanian National Police.

Affected Panamanians in countless communities which received such assistance as well as Panamanian Government officials were very appreciative of the assistance.  Panamanian President Guillermo Endara stated the projects "are a symbol of the friendship between our nations... and proof of what can be accomplished when a common objective is shared , and when we put forth our best efforts."  His Minister of Public Works Alfredo Arias noted "The U.S. soldiers labored shoulder to shoulder with our farmers and workers in the quest for a better Panama, a Panama where progress will bring better education and health along with a respect for life by free citizens."

Scope of  Fuertes Caminos and Cosecha Amistad Projects

In the early stages of Operation Promote Liberty more than $2.1 million worth of medical supplies and food were distributed to Panama from the United States.  Under another humanitarian aid program, the U.S. military in 1990 donated to the Ministry of Health for several Panamanian hospitals more than $6.7 million in medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.  That aid package was arranged by the Department of Defense, with the U.S. Army Medical Material Agency in Maryland serving as the purchasing agent and Gorgas Army Community Hospital in Panama serving as transferring agent for the supplies.

In July 1990, ten mail trucks and 26 pallets of post office equipment and tools were presented to the Panamanian Postal Service by the U.S. Naval Station Panama Canal.  The items donated -- collected and shipped to Panama through the U.S. Navy's long-standing Project Handclasp -- included four one-ton trucks, six half-ton trucks, mailboxes, filing cabinets, desks, counters, sorting and storage racks, stools, tables and tools.

Alos during 1990, more than 4,500 items of excess school equipment were donated to the Ministry of Education for use in Panamanian schools.

U.S. Southern Command elements provided timely disaster relief assistance to villagers in Bocas del Toro province struck April 22, 1991 by an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale.  In a joint-service rescue mission, U.S. Army helicopters evacuated 16 seriously injured Panamanians to hospitals in Panama City, while U.S. soldiers working in that area on an engineering projects provided first aid to injured residents of Almirante.  Relief projects by U.S. soldiers included transporting water treatment equipment and supplies by road and boat to the area from U.S. bases in the Canal Area; clearing by bulldozer the only road between Almirante and Changuinola; repairing two hospitals, one medical clinic, a school, and the Changuinola airport runway; and demolishing a number of buildings devastated by the earthquake.  

As part of the U.S. effort to assist Panama's economic recovery, the Southern Command established in 1990 a "Buy Panama" policy to increase the military's purchase of Panamanian goods and services, including items sold in the military commissaries and exchange/retail facilities.

Since the early 1980s, the purchasing of goods and services procured from Panamanian sources steadily increased, in keeping with provisions of the Panama Canal Treaty.  Article 8 of the Agreement in Implementation of Article 4 of the Panama Canal Treaty stated "the United States forces shall give preference to the procurement of supplies and services obtainable in the Republic of Panama.  Such preference shall apply to the maximum extent possible when such supplies and services are available as required and are compatible in quality and price to those which may be obtained from other sources."

TERMINATION OF OPERATION PROMOTE LIBERTY