Costa Rica, Panama Consider No-Passport Travel Treaty
President Laura Chinchilla met with her Panamanian counterpart Ricardo Martinelli at the Sixaola southern border days ago to inaugurate a new bridge that will connect both Central American nations.
The initial border crossing will be a provisional Bailey bridge, and it is expected to remain in place until both nations obtain $30 million in funding for the permanent structure. Aside from presiding over the inaugural ceremony, both Presidents mentioned their intention of enacting a treaty that would allow citizens of Costa Rica and Panama to cross the border without a passport.
The proposal from both Presidents has raised some eyebrows on both sides of the southern border, including those of Minister of Public Safety Mario Zamora. According to a news article written by Alvaro Murillo on national newspaper La Nacion, Minister Zamora made the following statements soon after the Presidents mentioned their intentions:
“This is not in writing and, at any rate, it would not be implemented immediately. The idea is to add some flexibility to the border crossings (of Paso Canoas and Sixaola) without sacrificing national security.”
Prior to the statement above, Minister Zamora also commented that the proposal was initially considered months ago, and has been under evaluation ever since. Since both countries share the use of a unique national identification document, citizens of either country would be allowed to cross the border by simply presenting their cedulas.
Minister Zamora is not the only public official who has expressed concern over eliminating passport requirements on the southern border. In the past, legislators and other high-ranking government employees have described the southern border as being “very porous”, meaning that members of organized crime groups and opportunistic criminals with ties to drug trafficking have entered Costa Rica thanks to the relaxed immigration policies of Panama, and the reported economic miracle that is transforming that nation.
