Speeches 2003

July 9, 2003

Remarks by Ambassador Linda E. Watt Dedication of the Pacora Bridge and Road for the Future Screwworm Plant

It is exciting to be here today. We are marking another milestone in the extraordinary cooperation between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Panama's Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA).

It has been almost thirty years now since the signing in 1974 of the Foot and Mouth Prevention Program, better known as COPFA. Thanks to the great work between our two countries under that agreement, Panama, Central America, Mexico, and the United States remain free of this highly contagious and deadly livestock disease.

U.S. taxpayers have contributed more than 20 millions dollars to support this effort. And Panama has sacrificed by limiting its animal production in order to maintain, in the Darien, a barrier to infestation from South America. We hope this limit on production will not have to be permanent. Colombia and the rest of South America are making great progress in eradicating foot and mouth disease.

Of course, what brings us here today is a ceremony in connection with another agreement. In 1993 the USDA and MIDA signed a Cooperative Agreement for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworms. The region west of the Panama Canal is now free of screwworms, and eradication is close to being achieved in the barrier area east of the Canal. An accidental release of virile screwworms a few months ago was controlled in record time, thanks to outstanding cooperation between COPEG, USDA, MIDA, and the livestock industry.

An important element in the 1993 Agreement called for construction of a facility to produce sterile screwworms in Panama. Just three weeks ago a contract was signed committing four million dollars to the design of this facility that will cost 40 million dollars. The design company, some of whose members are here today, has begun its work.

Once the design is completed, we can immediately go ahead with construction - thanks to the access road and bridge over the Tataré River that we are inaugurating today. I am told this project was completed seven weeks ahead of schedule, a truly impressive achievement. Congratulations to all who were involved from USDA, MIDA, the Ministry of Public Works, and of course COPEG -- the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworms.

Once constructed, the screwworm plant eventually will employee about 300 COPEG employees and inject an estimated 7.0 million in salaries and operational expenses into the Panamanian economy.

This plant and its operation will do more than just bring employment to Panama. I was told that Agricultural Research Services, part of USDA, is now planning to relocate their research activities here. This will entail some of the latest scientific technology available in the world and will provide some exciting research opportunities for Panamanian students and scientists.

I have also been informed that the OIE - an international organization that collects, analyzes, and disseminates the latest information on animal disease -- is relocating its American Regional Office from Argentina to Panama. This is just another indication of Panama's growing stature as a science and technology center.

In closing, I want to mention that I had the pleasure of visiting Darien province just a few weeks ago. I was extremely impressed with the dedication and commitment of the COPEG employees I met there. They have made a visible, positive impact on the lives of Darien residents.

All of Panama and the United States can be thankful that the screwworm program has been such a tremendous success. Thank you all for being here today.